Casey Anthony defamation deposition scheduled for October
(CBS/WKMG/AP) ORLANDO, Fla. - The attorney for Zenaida Fernandez-Gonzalez, the woman who shares a name with the made-up nanny Casey Anthony originally said kidnapped her daughter Caylee, will have to wait until October to question her under oath, an Orange County judge ruled Friday.
Pictures: Casey and Caylee Anthony, personal photos
Attorneys for Gonzalez filed a motion July 13 requiring Anthony attend a deposition either on July 19 or before her scheduled release from the Orange County Jail.They were concerned that Anthony would not show up for her scheduled deposition and wanted a judge to force her to appear, reports CBS affiliate WKMG.
The issue was supposed to be discussed at a hearing Friday morning before Judge Jose Rodriguez, but the proceedings ended abruptly after the lawyers and judge met privately, and then Rodriguez announced he was removing himself from the case, reports the Orlando Sentinel.
The case was then transferred to Judge Lisa Munyon, who heard brief arguments from the attorneys at an afternoon hearing, held in a small conference room.
Gonzalez is suing Anthony for defamation. Anthony told investigators her daughter Caylee was kidnapped by a nanny named Zenaida Gonzalez, but during her murder trial Anthony's defense team admitted the nanny was fictitious.
Attorney Keith Mitnik told Munyon on Friday they have a "legitimate concern" with Anthony's pending jail release and said his firm has received no assurance she will stay in town.
Meanwhile, Charles Greene, the attorney representing Anthony in this case, said a recent psychological evaluation of Anthony indicated she is "emotionally unstable" and needs to be given "breathing room," reports the Sentinel.
He suggested they wait a month to take Anthony's deposition. Greene also requested that when Anthony is deposed, that deposition be sealed and not broadcast live over the Internet.
After hearing their arguments, Munyon ruled Anthony will not have to be deposed in upcoming days, but instead on Oct. 8.
Anthony was acquitted of first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse and aggravated manslaughter, in the death of her daughter. Jurors convicted Anthony of four counts of lying to law enforcement.
Anthony had remained in jail to finish a four-year sentence for lying to investigators. With credit for the nearly three years she'd spent in jail since August 2008 and good behavior, she had only days remaining when she was sentenced July 7. She was released at 12:14 a.m. Sunday.