No witnesses were called to testify and no jurors were seated in Saturday’s court proceeding in the State v. Casey Anthony trial, which was in recess at 9:45 a.m., several hours prior to expected end time.
The attorneys were in and out of Chief Judge Belvin Perry’s chambers for a meeting, that sources say was sealed.
Perry returned to his seat at the conclusion of the meeting and explained that the court was in recess for legal issues related to Dr. Kenneth Furton, but “unrelated to the argument.”
Following court proceedings, just outside of the Orange County courthouse, attorneys did not comment. An angry defense counsel, Cheney Mason yelled to the media and spectators to “Get back. Somebody’s going to get hurt,” when he dropped his belongings in the stampede of people who were awaiting the attorneys’ exiting.
Prosecutor Jeff Ashton told reporters that he “Can’t talk,” and was seen entering the state attorney’s office with one lawyer for the defense, Dorothy Sims, along with Furton, who was going into the office to give his deposition. Ashton stated the deposition was not connected to the early recess, the only thing, he said, they could be “clear” about.
Court will be back in session at 8:30 a.m. on Monday. The defense expects to complete their case by Thursday.
Casey Anthony is on trial for the alleged murder of her 2-year-old daughter, Caylee Marie Anthony, who prosecutors argue died from duct tape to her nose and mouth, applied by her own mother, in 2008. If convicted, the defendant could face a death sentence.
By Nikki Namdar
