Casey Anthony car smelled of human decomposition, says witness at trial
(CBS/WKMG/AP) ORLANDO, Fla. - Simon Birch, a tow yard manager, testified today that Casey Anthony's car smelled of human decomposition when it was towed in June 2008.
Pictures: Casey and Caylee Anthony, Personal Photos
Birch is the manager of the company that towed Anthony's white Pontiac Sunfire on June 30, reports CBS station WKMG.
Birch said the car was at the tow yard for two weeks. Friends of Anthony's have testified that she told them she had car trouble and she was seen driving her boyfriend's car, instead of her own, reports the station.
Birch said that as he was looking around the vehicle and looked into the windows, he noticed a strong odor coming from the car.
He testified that he had towed vehicles which had had bodies in them on six or seven occasions, the station reports.
"In my experience, the smell of decomposition is unique in comparison to the smell of rotten food or rotten garbage," Birch said, according to WKMG.
When asked to describe the odor he smelled from the car, Birch said, "It was an odor consistent to what I had smelled in the past when it comes to decomposition. The car was sealed...the smell was minimal, but it was still there."
Birch said Anthony's father, George Anthony, was agitated when he came to retrieve the vehicle. At that point, Judge Belvin Perry called for a lunch recess until 1:30 p.m, reports the station.
Just before Birch, the state called Katherine Sanchez, the manager of the store where Anthony parked and left her car on June 27. Sanchez called to have Anthony's car, which was parked in front of the dumpster, towed on June 30.
Sanchez noted that the area near Anthony's car smelled of trash.
Anthony, 25, has pleaded not guilty. If convicted of first-degree murder, she could be sentenced to death.
The Casey Anthony case was recently reported on by "48 Hours Mystery."