Casey Anthony escorted from courtroom after "mental collapse," report says
(CBS/WKMG) CLEARWATER, Fla. - Casey Anthony was escorted from a Pinellas County courtroom during the third day of jury selection in her first-degree murder trial.
Pictures: Casey and Caylee Anthony, Personal Photos
Anthony has showed a range of emotions since jury selection began Monday, including crying each time Judge Belvin Perry, Jr. reads the list of charges against her to the potential jurors.
According to CBS affiliate WKMG, jury selection was halted just before 5 p.m. Wednesday, after Perry read the charges against Anthony for the third time this week, and Anthony was escorted form the courtroom with her attorney, Jose Baez. She returned at 5:08 p.m.
Casey Anthony suffered what was described as a "mental collapse" by CBS affiliate WTSP, and had to be escorted out of the courtroom by two bailiffs. She was brought back into court a short time later.
Anthony was said to be in pain when she broke down at the defense table, reported.
After returning, Anthony required both hands to hold a water cup.
Seventy-one of the 200 potential jurors questioned for hardship were asked to return for further questioning. Seven of the 40 new potential jurors brought in Wednesday afternoon were asked to come back. Jury selection ended just after 7 p.m. Wednesday and was to resume Thursday.
Also Wednesday, Perry told Baez he would ask the sheriff to recruit homeless people from a nearby shelter to address Baez's concerns about getting more minorities in the potential juror pool. Baez said Wednesday afternoon he would want to do that, and Perry was expected to revisit the issue.
The second round of questioning is expected to begin Thursday for those jurors asked to return. Jurors are expected to be asked about pretrial publicity and death penalty issues.
Anthony, 25, is charged with first-degree murder in the death of her daughter, Caylee Anthony. Caylee was 2 when she was reported missing in July 2008. Her remains were found in December 2008.
The Casey Anthony case was recently reported on by "48 Hours Mystery."