On Day 19, in the first degree murder trial of Casey Anthony, the state formally rested its case, after introducing two more pieces of evidence and jurors were in and out of the Orange County Courthouse in short order. The defense will begin presenting its witnesses tomorrow.
After calling Bobby Williams, a tattoo artist who testified on Tuesday he did tattoo the Italian words “Bella Vita” on Casey’s left shoulder on July 2, 2008, prosecutors introduced a stipulation agreed to by the defense team and Casey, that the English translation of the words are “Beautiful Life.” They also entered into evidence exhibits of two cans containing carpet samples from the trunk of Casey’s Pontiac Sunfire, which the state said, contains the smell of decomposition.
Out of earshot of the jurors, Cheney Mason, a defense attorney then moved a motion for an acquittal, arguing that the prosecution had not proven that Casey Anthony killed her daughter, Caylee.
Mason said that the prosecution had produced no evidence that indicated “when Caylee died, where she died, how she died or who, if anyone was in attendance at the time the child died.” He added that the Chief Medical Examiner, Dr. Jan Garavaglia had testified she was unable to determine the cause of little Caylee’s death.
Garavagalia, who testified last Friday, told jurors while she was unable to to determine the cause of death, she was certain that the manner of death was homicide.
Chief Judge Belvin Perry denied the defense’s motion for an acquittal of Casey Anthony for the murder of her daughter, Caylee.
Noting that “so far we are ahead of schedule”, Perry said that the case could be in the hands of the jury by the end of next week.
The defense will start presenting their witnesses on Thursday. It is believed that forensic experts could be some of the first witnesses to be called to the stand.
Prosecutors believe that Casey murdered her two-year-old daughter, Caylee and drove around with the child’s body in the trunk of her car for sometime. They have said she placed duct tape on the child’s skull, before dumping the body in the woods. The duct tape on Caylee’s skull was similar to what was found in the Anthony family home.
Casey’s defense attorneys have claimed that Caylee accidentally drowned in the family swimming pool and George Anthony, Casey’s father covered up the crime. The defense has also said that their client was sexually abused by George, and her brother Lee.
Casey, if convicted, could face the death penalty.
