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Circuit Court Judge, Stan Strickland agreed on Wednesday to set a new trial date for the check fraud case in the State versus Casey Anthony.
Following the State’s request for a new trial date, Anthony’s defense team had argued that to take this matter to trial prior to the Defendant’s murder trial would hamper their ability to adequately prepare for the murder trial and it would be a distraction.
Strickland in his ruling noted that, the forgery case was a simple one and that he was unable to justify delaying the forgery case any longer. “This Court cannot justify making the victim wait even longer to have this matter resolved,” wrote Strickland in his ruling.
The victim in the check fraud case is Amy Huizenga, a former friend, whom Casey Anthony had defrauded.
The State’s request for a new trial date was accompanied by an affidavit from Huizenga, who indicated she had suffered “a great deal of mental stress…. great embarrassment” and was fearful that her chances of gainful employment would be hurt, given her involvement with the defendant.
Strickland would set a new trial date in the coming days and Casey Anthony could well be convicted on forgery charges, well before her murder trial begins.
Anthony is charged with first degree murder in the death of her two-year-old daughter, Caylee. If convicted, she could face the death penalty.
