Casey Anthony Trial Update: No verdict on day 1 of deliberations

By: Crimesider Staff
Topics: Daily Blotter

Casey Anthony reacts while listening to the state's closing arguments in her murder trial in Orlando, Fla., Sunday, July 3, 2011.

/ AP Photo

(CBS/WKMG/AP) ORLANDO, Fla. - The first day of deliberations in the Casey Anthony murder trial ended with no verdict.

Pictures: Casey and Caylee Anthony, Personal Photos

The jury deliberated for about six hours, beginning at about noon today, following the prosecution's closing argument rebuttal and Judge Belvin Perry's instructions to them.

The sequestered jury of seven women and five men was scheduled to resume deliberating Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. They were chosen from the Tampa Bay area because of exhaustive pretrial media coverage in the Orlando area and have been sequestered in an Orlando hotel. They have listened to 33 days of testimony and another two days of closing arguments.

In Perry's instructions, he told the jury today that Casey Anthony is charged with murder in the first-degree, second-degree murder, manslaughter, third-degree felony murder, aggravated manslaughter of a child, aggravated child abuse and four counts of providing false information to a law enforcement officer.

He went on to explain the criteria for convicting Casey Anthony on each of these charges, and a copy of the instructions was given to the jurors in writing as well.

Pictures: Casey and Caylee Anthony, Personal Photos.

Perry reminded the jurors that it is not up to the defendant to prove their innocence. He said a defendant choosing not to testify it is not an indication of guilt.

"Whatever verdict you render must be unanimous," Perry said.

Only 12 of the 17 jurors brought in from Pinellas County will participate in deliberations. Five of the jurors are alternates, but were not aware of this during the trial.

The jury had been expected to begin deliberating Sunday, but as closing arguments approached 7 p.m. yesterday, Judge Belvin Perry sent the jurors home for the night, opting to hold court on Independence Day, reports CBS affiliate WKMG.

Prosecutor Jeff Ashton began his rebuttal argument just after 8:30 a.m. today. Ashton defended the expert witnesses called by the prosecution and attempted to poke holes in the defense's theory of how Caylee died.

The prosecution claims Anthony suffocated Caylee with duct tape. The defense claims Anthony accidentally drowned.

If convicted of first-degree murder, Casey Anthony, 25, could face the death penalty.

The Casey Anthony case was recently reported on by "48 Hours Mystery."

Complete coverage of Casey Anthony on Crimesider

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by republicanblack July 4, 2011 10:08 PM EDT: Surprise, surprise!! The jury is deliberating. My goodness my mind was thrown around by this case, yesterday I was thinking that Casey would walk, today I am thinking she's getting death. But now I think it can go both ways. I didn't think that for sure until I saw this video that points to the holes in the theory and where the prosecution and the defense could have sure up there arguments.

youtube.com/watch?v=gAF7U94kEXg; Reply to this comment


by prosecutionmustprove July 4, 2011 8:41 PM EDT: Thank God they did not come back with a guilty verdict - maybe just maybe we have someone on the jury that has a brain and the ability to think analytically and critically.

Did the prosecution live up to it's burden of proof?

My gut and emotions say she is guilty but my brain says - hold on 1 moment here - where is the proof beyond a reasonable doubt. I think there is doubt.................... - perhaps only on a technicality - but technicality is what our system is driven by. You are not presumed guilty of murder just because you may be a pathological liar.

Also in final arguments I felt that Mr. Ashton should not have hit so hard on Ms. Anthony being so smart. If she is so smart why was little Caylee found - period? Why did Casey do so many dumb things for such a smart gal? Doubt, Doubt, Doubt. Use your Gray Matter not your emotions.

I feel for this jury - I truly do. I feel for everyone involved, directly or indirectly in this terrible situation.

If Caylee were not so cute and adorable, would raw emotion be driving hordes of people to just say - she did it!? IMO a legitimate question. However, those with brains already know the answer.; Reply to this comment

by thomasmc1957 July 4, 2011 7:57 PM EDT

Hard to believe they didn't return "guilty on all charges" on the first vote.

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by browniesanyone July 5, 2011 3:04 AM EDT: it could well be that because of the hype with this case they don't want to seem too hasty. i feel she should be found guilty. i hope she is.