Cindy Anthony, at times emotional, took the stand on the fifth day in the murder trial of her daughter, Casey, and seemed to contradict the defense’s claim that 2-year-old Caylee, accidentally drowned in the family’s swimming pool. Cindy told jurors that she never saw her granddaughter again after June 15, 2008.
On June 15, 2008, Cindy testified that she took Caylee to see her father on Father’s Day. Later that day, she said, she and Caylee swam in the pool at the Anthony family home. After swimming, she, Casey, and Caylee watched videos of her father that had been taken earlier in the day.
Cindy told jurors the pool is an above ground one, with an external ladder that must be attached to gain access to the pool. She said after Caylee and herself swam, she removed the external ladder and put it back in its usual position near the pool. She confirmed that a toddler would not be able to lift the ladder.
The Anthony defense has said two-year-old Caylee accidentally drowned in the family swimming pool on June 16, 2008, and that George Anthony, Casey’s father hid the child’s body and covered up the crime.
Cindy also testified about the numerous lies she was told by Casey, when she began to inquire about her granddaughter.
Testifying that she never saw Caylee after June 15, 2008, Cindy said she inquired about her granddaughter on many occasions from Casey who told her the following: Caylee was with a baby sitter named Zanny; Casey had to go to Tampa for negotiations related to her job; the negotiations had dragged on until June 21, 2008 and she was taking a couple extra days to spend sometime at the park; there was a car accident and Zanny was hurt but she (Casey) and Caylee were fine; an ex-boyfriend of Casey’s, Jeffery Hopkins, had come into town and she was going to try to re-kindle the relationship and Caylee would be going to a pool party for children at Universal Studios on July 4, 2008, where Casey said she worked.
On July 3, 2008, Cindy said she drove to Universal Studios where she believed Casey was working, to speak face-to-face with her on some money issues. Upon arriving at Universal and telephoning Casey, she was told she had gone to Jacksonville where Hopkins has an apartment.
“It was a shock and I was upset”, Cindy said.
Cindy also testified that, as she began to miss Caylee, she took the child’s favorite teddy bear and began to sleep with it, but that it went missing after about 4 or 5 days.
Judge Belvin Perry recessed the court around 1:00 pm, on Saturday.
Cindy Anthony is expected to resume her testimony on Tuesday, May 31, 2011.
Prosecutors have charged Casey with first degree murder in the death of her daughter Caylee. She has pleaded not guilty and initially said her daughter was kidnapped by a babysitter. If found guilty, Casey could face the death penalty.
