[Updated at 4:29 p.m. ET] Tuesday's verdicts in the Casey Anthony case - she was acquitted of felonies including murder, and found guilty of four misdemeanor counts - were a "historic rejection of the prosecution’s case," CNN legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin said.
"They sought the death penalty against this woman, and she got convicted of four misdemeanors (of providing false information to a law enforcement officer). This is a historic rejection of the prosecution’s case and an enormous victory – for better or worse – for Casey Anthony,” Toobin said on CNN minutes after the verdicts were read.
“She won and the government lost. ... In most courtrooms in the United States, if you’re convicted of misdemeanors, you do not get a prison sentence. So, the fact that the sentencing is just coming on Thursday - two days from now - suggests that there will not be much to this sentencing," Toobin said.
A lack of evidence pointing to a time of death and a cause of death for Casey's daughter Caylee was key to the acquittal, according to Toobin.
"There was never even a theory of when or how or even why Casey Anthony killed her daughter," he said. "There is certainly a lot of evidence that she behaved terribly, that she lied about all sorts of things. But in terms of murder, much less first-degree murder – intentional murder - there really was a big gap in the evidence, and I certainly expect that when these jurors come to explain their verdict, the failure to prove a time of death or cause of death will be a major, major factor.
"You can’t fault the prosecution for the absence of evidence. The evidence is what it is. But certainly those are the key facts in this acquittal."
Toobin said he believes Anthony, who has been held in a Florida jail since her arrest in 2008, will be released soon.
"If she were convicted of four misdemeanors in New York state, she would never get any jail time. She would get probation. There are almost no prisoners in New York state – which is the state I know best – who are in prison for misdemeanors,” Toobin said.
“Misdemeanors are not prison cases in my experience in New York and most other states, and I would expect that she not get any jail time. ... I don't know why her lawyers didn’t make a motion to get her out today,” he said.
The acquittals, Toobin said, cannot be appealed.
“Tomorrow, Casey Anthony can go on the steps of the courthouse and confess to murder, and under the double jeopardy clause to the Constitution, she could not be tried again," he said. "This case is over. Forever. Done. She will never go on trial again for this case.”
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Its pretty pathetic that Casey's lawyers think 14 jurors made a right decision, which doesn't mean that millions have to think they know what's true! Someone said this was an accident or a homicide!!! This little girl – whether she drowned (which doesn't require chloroform or duct tape) did not wrap herself in a blanket, put tape over her mouth and jump in the trunk of her mother's car to just sleep away. She didn't change her clothes from pajamas or a swim suit to the clothes she had on in the garbage bag; George had nothing to do with this or he would have called 911. If Cindy would lie for her daughter on the stand, who's to say she didn't make them all lie about it. There's only one person who knows for sure, and that's Casey. Write a book? Does anyone thing she's going to tell what really happened?? How anyone with half a brain could have any doubt that she's the only guilty one is beyond me. She pulled off the perfect crime and maybe her new job can be to teach others like her how she did it without being prosecuted. Some rich guy will marry her so he can hire security for her the rest of her life. Then maybe she could have a few more children to love!!!
Anyone check w/ OJ? He might be in on this.
OMG!!! LOL!!! I had to laugh....you are wild!
George he probably did it. They had no evidence, no dna, no witness who said she ever abused her kid, no fingerprints, they wanted her dead because she got drunk at a bar, If your going to have the death sentence you need to be able to PROOVE someone did it. You can give people the electric chair for going to a bar or getting a tatoo!!!
no Mrs. Butterworth!
Nope, It was Sara Lee and she did it while enjoying a nice slice of cheesecake. Remember folks – this murderer of a baby will live with this for the rest of her life. Guaranteed!! She is in prison and will remain there even after she is released from the Orange County Jail. Count on this!!
JERK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THIS CASE HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH RACE...WHAT TRIAL WERE YOU FOLLOWING?
Nope, it was Sara Lee!
This is what I would like to know. Is anyone going after the "real" killer? Like in the OJ trial, did they ever go after the "real" killer? Everything stopped after the trial, but if these people were not guilty of doing the crime, the investigations into who "really" did the deed should be ongoing.
Apparently! Who knows what kind of stories Casey will come up with now. Oh, probably not, she will be busy partying and getting more tattoos.
I don't recall anyone saying such things about O.J. Why is is whenever someone is found guilty, regardless of the lack of evidence, they are considered guilty period. After all, the jury said so. But if someone is found NOT guilty, regardless of the evidence, AND the fact that the jury said so, then something must have been wrong.
Regardless of what she may or may not have done, for you to have made such a statement is very telling on how nasty and disgusting of a society we have become to suggest such a thing be done to ANYONE, especially a woman. Manhood is apparently nonexistent, at least with you.
I disagree. The prosecution came no where near satisfying its burden. So, relatively speaking, your IQ must be about 20.
Last time I checked the president was BI-RACIAL.
Wow.....I seriously hope your name is misleading. God help any child that is under the influence of your ignorance, intolerance, bigotry, and racism. If you disagree with what someone says...fine...it is your right. But to maliciously attack an entire ethnicity, notice I did not say race since we are all the SAME race...the HUMAN race, is disgraceful. People like you are the reason why this country is having so many problems moving forward. Unless you live in a country other than America, Obama is also YOUR president. By the way...everyone is from Africa....including YOU. It is the cradle of life. Ever heard of Pangaea? Instead of spouting ignorance...do some research. That is what intelligent people do. You will find my statement to be true. So, Ms. Africa, please stop the hate.
Their President? Isn't he your President, too>