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Jury's verdict: Casey Anthony not guilty of murder
Editor's note: For more on the jury's finding that Casey Anthony is not guilty in daughter Caylee's death read our full story here.
[Updated at 8:20 p.m.] From the moment word came that Casey Anthony was acquitted of murdering her 2-year-old daughter, online networking sites were flooded with a cascade of amateur commentary. A few big names, including Kim Kardashian, joined the fray. Most condemned the verdict - "no justice for Caylee" was a common comment - which comes after years of the case serving as fodder for cable news, tabloids and the like.
[Updated at 7:55 p.m.] Mourners of Caylee Anthony want you to turn your porch lights on tonight in honor of the slain 2-year-old.
The Facebook event, "Porch lights on for Caylee Marie Anthony," urges people "all over the world" to start participating at "9 pm in your own time zone."
Already, 546,610 have said they're attending, and some say their lights are already on.
ALTERNATE JUROR SPEAKS
[Updated at 7:20 p.m.] Alternate juror Russell Huekler said he agrees with the jury's verdict "wholeheartedly" and surmised that Caylee Anthony's death was a "horrific accident" gone awry.
"The prosecution did not prove their case," said Huekler, who sat through the entire case but did not get to deliberate the charges.
Prosecutors failed to answer the question of how Caylee died, he said.
From the testimony, Huekler said he drew the conclusion that "it was probably a horrific accident" that Anthony and her father, George Anthony, covered up.
"Unfortunately it did snowball and got away from them," Huekler said. "It was such a horrific accident that they didn't know how to deal with it. The family appeared to be very dysufintional and instead of admitting there was an accident, they chose to hide it, for whatever reason."
CASEY ANTHONY'S FAMILY
[Updated at 5:08 p.m.] Attorney Mark Lippman issued a statement on behalf of Lee, George and Cindy Anthony:
While the family may never know what has happened to Caylee Marie Anthony, they now have closure for this chapter of their life. They will now begin the long process of rebuilding their lives.
Despite the baseless defense chosen by Casey Anthony, the family believes that the Jury made a fair decision based on the evidence presented, the testimony presented, the scientific information presented and the rules that were given to them by the Honorable Judge Perry to guide them.
The family hopes that they will be given the time by the media to reflect on this verdict and decide the best way to move forward privately.
The family also wanted the public to know that if anyone wanted to honor Caylee by leaving stuffed animals or other toys at any area near their home, that they would prefer those items be donated in Caylee’ s name to families in need, religious centers, or any other entity where the toys would be appreciated.
ORANGE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
[Updated at 4:10 p.m.] Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings issues a plea for restraint after Casey Anthony is acquitted of murder.
"As the verdict has been rendered we ask our community to respect the decision the jury and court have made today. We ask for your continued peaceful acknowledgement of that verdict.
THE PROSECUTION SPEAKS
[Updated at 3:47 p.m.] The delay in recovering Caylee Anthony's remains worked to the "considerable disadvantage" to the prosecution's efforts to prove Casey Anthony's guilt, Ninth Judicial Circuit State Attorney Lawson Lamar said.
With no "smoking gun" and a victim who was "reduced by time and the elements to skeletal remains," made the case all the more the more difficult to prove, he said. Nonetheless, he said, police and prosecutors did their job - and so did the jury.
"I never, ever criticize a jury; theirs is a task of deciding what to believe," he said. "We're disappointed with the verdict today and surprised because we know the facts and we put in absolutely every single piece of evidence that existed."
He said his staff would return to the task of addressing the 101,00 cases that come to his office each year, including a handful of open child murder cases.
"Child murders, regrettably and terribly, are not rare in America today and those deaths are no less horrible," he said. "The only difference is the news has not highlighted their murders."
He also praised his staff for not talking about the case outside of the courtroom, saying the rush to convict Casey Anthony in the news "led to the great expense" of having to seek a jury "outside the media market."
"So much of the angst and taxpayer expense could've been avoided if others had not succumbed to the temptation provided by quick notoriety," Lawson said.
"For us the case has never been about the defendant in particular. It has always been about seeking justice for Caylee and speaking on her behalf."
THE JURY
[Updated at 3:14 p.m.] Members of the jury in the Casey Anthony case have said they are not interested in speaking with members about the case or the verdict, a court spokeswoman said.
[Updated at 3:10 p.m.] We are waiting on an expected news conference from the jurors in the Casey Anthony trial.
A room has been set up for them to address the media, but none are required to actually say anything if they do not want to.
THE DEFENSE SPEAKS
[Updated at 2:50 p.m.] Defense Attorney Jose Baez said he had mixed emotions about the case and that he had to work hard against media bias that existed during the search for Caylee and the case against Casey Anthony.
"You cannot convict someone until they have their day in court," he said.
Baez said he was happy for Casey Anthony and the decision made by the jury. Now he hopes Casey Anthony can move on.
"I want her to grieve and to grow and somehow get her life back together," he said.
Baez said the case was a true example of a jury doing what they are supposed to - finding their verdict based on evidence and not emotion.
"We have the greatest constitution in the world and if the media and other members of the public don’t respect it, it will become meaningless," he said. "And today and yesterday on the Fourth of July, there was a breath of life."
Baez said he is thrilled that when he goes home today and his daughter asks what he did today he can say - "I saved a life."
"I think this case is a perfect example for why the death penalty does not work... " Baez added. "Murder is not right no matter who does it."
[Updated at 2:45 p.m.] Dorothy Clay Sims speaking first for the defense team addressed the media.
"I am thankful for today's verdict on behalf of Casey Anthony," she said.
Defense Attorney Cheney Mason also addressed the media, angrily scolding them for their coverage of the case.
"I hope that this is a lesson to those who have indulged in media assassination for three years," he said.
Defense Attorney Jose Baez added that "while we're happy for Casey there are no winners in this case."
"Caylee has passed on far, far too soon, and what my driving force has been for the past three years is to make sure there has been justice for Caylee and Casey," he said. "Casey did not murder Caylee, it's that simple. And today our system of justice has not dishonored her memory by a false conviction."
[Updated at 2:34 p.m.] A room is being prepared for the jury to take questions from the media about their verdict.
THE REACTION
iReport: What's your reaction to the verdict
[Updated at 2:31 p.m.] For the first time a wide smile came across Casey Anthony's face. She began to smile and laugh as her team surrounded her and congratulated her on being found not guilty of murdering her daughter.
[Updated at 2:29 p.m.] Casey Anthony took tissues from a court bailiff and wiped her face at the back of the courtroom.
[Updated at 2:26 p.m.] Casey Anthony embraced her attorney Jose Baez and the rest of her legal team before sobbing.
Anthony wiped tears from her eyes as her team of lawyers hugged each other.
[Updated at 2:24 p.m.] Casey Anthony wiped tears from her eyes and clutched her attorneys' hands as the judge addressed the courtroom.
[Updated at 2:23 p.m.] Casey Anthony returned to the courtroom after briefly leaving with a slight smile on her face.
The judge set sentencing for Thursday at 9 a.m.
[Updated at 2:22 p.m.] Casey Anthony has left the courtroom. Her parents also quickly left the courtroom after the verdict was read.
[Updated at 2:22 p.m.] Judge Belvin Perry confirms the jury's verdict.
[Updated at 2:20 p.m.] Casey Anthony cried as she hugged her defense attorney Jose Baez before she approached a podium to be addressed by the judge.
THE VERDICT
[Updated at 2:20 p.m.] A poll of the jurors showed they all agreed on the verdict for every count.
[Updated at 2:20 p.m.] Casey Anthony has been found guilty of four counts of providing false information to law enforcement in the case of her 2-year-old daughter Caylee, who was slain in 2008.
[Updated at 2:19 p.m.] Casey Anthony is sobbing in court as the verdict is being read.
[Updated at 2:17 p.m.] Casey Anthony has been found not guilty of first-degree murder in the 2008 death of her 2-year-old daughter Caylee. She was also found not guilty of aggravated child abuse and aggravated manslaughter.
[Updated at 2:16 p.m.] Judge Belvin Perry is reading over the verdict form filled out by the jury.
[Updated at 2:15 p.m.] The jury has entered the courtroom.
[Updated at 2:15 p.m.] Members inside the courtroom have stood up as Judge Belvin Perry prepares to bring in the jury.
[Updated at 2:11 p.m.] George Anthony is sitting with his eyes closed and his hands clasped next to his wife Cindy inside the courtroom as they await to hear their daughter's fate.
[Updated at 2:04 p.m.] Casey Anthony, flanked by her lawyers, is sitting silently, biting her lip and taking deep breaths as she awaits the jury's verdict.
[Updated at 2:02 p.m.] Casey Anthony has just entered the courtroom and was met by two of her lawyers. She is wearing a pink ruffled shirt, her hair was pulled back in a ponytail and she was biting her nails.
[Updated at 1:57 p.m.] Jose Baez, one of Casey Anthony's lawyers, has just arrived at the courthouse in Orlando, Florida, In Session reports.
THE DELIBERATION
[Updated at 1:52 p.m.] The jury deliberated for 10 hours, 40 minutes and 33 seconds before reaching a verdict in the Casey Anthony trial, which included 33 days of testimony and two days of closing arguments, according to CNN sister network HLN.
[Updated at 1:45 p.m.] The jury has reached a verdict in the Casey Anthony capital murder trial, according to staff at the Orange County, Florida, courthouse.
The verdict, reached by the seven-woman, five-man jury, will cap a trial that stretched to more than six weeks and featured allegations of sexual abuse, questions regarding Casey Anthony's competence and various theories on what happened to 2-year-old Caylee.
The verdict is scheduled to be read at 2:15 p.m ET.
Casey Anthony, 25, was charged with seven counts - first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse, aggravated manslaughter of a child and four counts of providing false information to a law-enforcement officer in Caylee's 2008 disappearance and death.
Watch Nancy Grace Monday through Sunday starting at 8 p.m. ET on HLN. For the latest from Nancy Grace click here.
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I am extremely disapointed in the verdict! 🙁 Poor Caylee! What has happened to this country! It is devastating to see her get off with murder! 🙁 My hear goes out to the family of Caylee, because justice has not been served at all 🙁
I am truely ashamed of the justice system. Casey gets a slap on the hand and Caylee lost her life. Sounds fair doesn't it?!!!
It will be interesting to see what kind of sentence she does get for her charges...
She'll be back for the same reasons again in a few years but a different child.... What about the proof that Caylee is dead?? The proof that her mother lied and lied about where she was? That should have been enough to convict her. No mother will go 31 days without her child and lie about where she was.
All this verdict proves is that the jury could not be convinced of Ms. Anthony's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. If she is guilty, justice will find her somehow. Look to how OJ Simpson destroyed his life for proof.
At least nancy grace will shut the hell up now
Amen
WOW, What a huge surprise
It is the end of the world Evil people are getting away with murder. God said Evil will rule the world but the innocent will have the kingdom.
Not likely.
Ha Ha Nancy Grace ! I never could stand the way you hung her before the trial . Now I agree with others... stfu !
C'mon, Nancy Grace will Never shut up...!
Amen to that!
LOL; she will maybe after tonight. I can just see the same caption running over and over and ower at the bottom of the screen. Tot Mom Found Guilty, Tot Mom Found Guilty, Tot Mom Found Guilty...........
http://nellswisdom.blogspot.com/
The jury is still out on that. Maybe George will let us borrow some of his duct tape.
I am completely disgusted with this verdict. We can lock up and dehumanize illegal immigrants for wanting a better life, but we can't seem to put away a cold-blooded killer. What an amazing justice system we have.
Bravo to Mason for his indictment of the medai talking heads. It's about time that someone have the spine and integrity to speak out against the media assissination in this case, and so many others. It is not the media's job, or right, in this country to try,convict and execute ANYONE just because it boosts ratings. I doubt very seriously that CNN has the integrity to even publish this post, but let me just say that as an dedicated viewer for many years, I am deeply disappointed in CNN and HLN's coverage of this case. Your job as a so-called "news" network was to accurately report the facts, not add to the frenzy of mis-information and speculation and sensationalism of the case. There may be a time and place for that, but it does not belong in the "news" coverage of this, or any case. Just when I thought that you could never scrounge the streets of America and find anyone less professional at doing their job of journalistic investigation than your beloved Nancy Grace, you turn the coverage of this case over to the likes of Jane Velez-Mitchell ,Vinnie Politan and Dr.Drew. I guess you couldn't afford Perz Hilton. Perhaps the most disappointing of all was Judge Alex, someone I always thought held himself to a higher standard where "justice" was concerned. You took your opportunity to lead the media in journalistic excellence and chose instead to exhibit the worst case of biased coverage I have ever witnessed. Do not misunderstand me, I am not applauding the verdict. I have no idea whether Casey Anthony is guilty or not, but the State of Florida did not convince me beyond a reasonable doubt based on their evidence, and apparently they did not convince the jury either. But that is the State of Florida's job, and I have no reasonable doubt that it is NOT CNN's job to insult the intelligence of every viewer by "helping" us decide. Shame on you, CNN. You have broken Rule#1 of what you even exist for. Objectivity. You are what's wrong with this country today. Capital murder cases should not be decided by polls or tweets or public opinion. Nancy Grace professes "We Want Justice ! " every night, yet is she really concerned with justice at all, or just personal fame and fortune? You have lost a dedicated viewer who remembers a day when you could tune in to HLN with the (naive?) expectation that you could find an accurate, unbiased report of the facts. CNN has become a disgrace. Or should I say a Nancy dis-Grace? Shame on you.
Any parent that isn't looking for they're 2 yr old for more then a month, is guilty of something way more then lying to the police!
EXACTLY!
Correct Kelly, but that's based on your perception as a rational person. We don't know how a unrational person reacts to a tragedy. In my gut I feel she is guilty of negligent homicide, maybe not murder, but responsible in some way of her daughter's death. However, if I was on that jury, I would have came to the same conclusion as they were to only go by the facts of the case and not emotion. I feel that the evidence did not show the manner in which Caylee died. We can speculate all we want, but the fact that she might have died accidently is as pausible as homicide. It is unfortunate that there was not enough evidence, but the jury should not be blamed. I applaud them for doing their job in accordance to the law.
Dont worry hunny you will get shanked in the real world not just prison!!!!
The reasonable doubt; that is it. IIt was so mixed up that no one could figure out what happened. The jurors; not anybody could figure out what really happened. Nothing was proved for sure?
http://nellswisdom.blogspot.com/
The lesson learned...get on Nancy's Grace's hit squad and you'll be acquited.....it's time for CNN to pull the reigns in on Nancy Grace....
That's an interesting comment; one to ponder???
http://nellswisdom.blogspot.com/
We the jury, find the defendant Orenthal James....... SSDD
THE SYSTEM IS A TOTAL FAILURE
The system is a total failure because the prosecution botches the case. The system is not perfect, but it is the best there is.
She will face the man upstairs one day and her sentence in hell will be worse on earth!
Oh, I'm sorry. You were there when she died? You know what really happened. You make me sick acting like God is on your side and will punish her for what YOU think you know. Besides, I am pretty sure anyone who accepts Jesus is going to Heaven. Where do you get off hoping for someone going to Hell when all you have is Nancy Fu$%ing Grace to listen too?
There must be two Johns on this forumn. Anyway, Amanda, you should have said... If she is guilty of killing Caylee, she will eventually receive her just punishment. We cannot assume she murdered her daughter because she acted like a guilty person. We simply do not know. We might have a strong feeling that she did it, be we don't know for sure.
Baez likely knows what happened... That's why he pulled the classic 'death is not right no matter who does it'. 'Who does it' implies a person. There was never enough evidence to pull the death penalty card. I agree that the media sunk to incredibly new lows.
She makes me sick,I'm so sickened by this and I can't believe it.I really can't,I never expected a not guilty.
Newsie, it makes me sick too, but how did you not have a clue that she was going to be found not guilty? In fact, I would have been surprised if they found her guilty. First of all, there was reasonable doubt that a homicide even took place, and, secondly, there was no credible evidence to tie the killing of Caylee to Casey. Yea, she acted like someone guilty of homicide, but unfortunately, just no credible proof.
Congratulations Casey! As a mother and a grandmother, I am relieved you were found "Not Guilty". I didn't feel the State of Florida proved you murdered your daughter. I wish you the best as you put your life back together. Stay strong!
Your rooting for a murderer? Go do us a favor and kill yourself you pathetic waste of life. No one wants you, no one needs you. Go die.
piggy grace... I won't go as far as congratulating Casey because I feel she had something to do with the death of Caylee; however, I don't fault Judith for her reaction as the state did fail to prove homicide. You may disagree, but you have no right to be verbally ablusive. If you cannot keep your anger contained, don't say anything. Remember, what we are offering are opinions. That doesn't make any one opinion right or wrong. I do think in order to conduct an intelligent debate, respect should be given to all that contribute, whether we share their thoughts or not.