Casey Anthony Trial Update: Defense and prosecution clash during closing arguments
(CBS/WKMG/AP) ORLANDO, Fla. - Lead Defense attorney Jose Baez repeatedly violated a court order for rules for closing arguments, leading to many sustained objections from the state. Finally Judge Belvin Perry had both sides of attorneys approach the bench and the jury left the courtroom after Baez pointed to prosecutor Jeff Ashton and called him, "That laughing guy over there."
Pictures: Casey and Caylee Anthony, Personal Photos
Perry said he reviewed the tape stating that both sides violated the court's order. He then called a recess forcing Baez and Ashton to review the video of what happened themselves.
After reviewing the video Ashton said, "I was smiling behind my hand. I wasn't laughing. I wasn't nodding. I was doing my best to make sure that nothing I said or did was seen by the jury."
Baez said he does not request that Ashton be held in contempt, and that he understands it is an emotional case, he just asked that Ashton stops smiling. He apologized for "getting caught in the moment," the station reports.
Perry said he would accept the explanation from both sides, but warned them that the remedy if it happened again would be the exclusion of the attorney from further participation in the proceedings.
Perry said he would give the jury instructions Monday morning, instead of tonight, because of how long closing arguments have taken.
After lunch recess in the Casey Anthony trial, defense attorney Jose Baez said the next phase in his closing argument is called, "The state's fantasy of forensics."
Baez pointed out that there was no DNA or blood evidence in the trunk of Casey Anthony's car, despite thorough processing of the vehicle, reports CBS affiliate WKMG.
"They want to fill in the gaps with your emotion," Baez said.
Baez said the FBI employs the best scientists in the country, and pointed out that the defense called 10 FBI analysts, far more than the state.
Baez said much of the state's evidence was not real science.
"They're hoping they throw enough against the wall and see if it sticks ... right down to their cause of death," Baez said.
Baez said he thought it was a joke when he first heard about chloroform in this case. Prosecutor Linda Drane Burdick objected, but did not state her grounds. The objection was sustained, reports the station.
He said Dr. Arpd Vass' testimony about high chloroform levels in air samples taken from the trunk of Casey Anthony's car was inaccurate. He mentioned that Vass is trying to sell a device that detects parts of air samples. He said no one testified about how much chloroform was actually in the trunk.
"They couldn't find a single link from Casey to Caylee's death, but yet they want to create things. For what, the cameras? Because it's a high-profile case? No, to win,"
Baez then moved on to computer evidence that the word "chloroform" was searched on the Anthony family computer.
"This is not true evidence. This is not the truth," Baez said when discussing a computer forensics report from the family computer.
Baez accused the state of hiding expert witnesses from the jury.
Baez said the search for "chloroform" was made around the same time Casey Anthony's then-boyfriend posted a photo on MySpace that said, "Win her over with chloroform." The site visited before the chloroform search was MySpace.com.
Baez said his witness, medical examiner Dr. Werner Spitz, is more qualified than Orange County medical examiner, Dr. Jan Garavaglia. Spitz testified that Garavaglia botched Caylee's autopsy.
Baez then went on to discuss Anthony family dysfunction. He said Casey Anthony behaves the way she does and lies because of is the environment she was raised in.
Baez said the only member of the Anthony family whose testimony was not impeached was Casey Anthony's brother, Lee Anthony. He said the jurors can reject the testimony from George and Cindy Anthony.
Baez said the state wants the jurors to believe Cindy Anthony only when it is convenient for them.
Baez then presented a large visual of all of Casey Anthony's imaginary friends, people she told her mother and investigators about as part of her web of lies to explain why her mother had not seen Caylee in a month.
Baez said Casey Anthony could have gotten on a plane and told her parents they would never see Caylee again, but she did not. He said in Casey Anthony's world, the cover-up and imaginary friends made more sense.
"I'm not proud of the way Casey behaved," Baez said. Though, he went on to explain that she had no motive to kill her daughter.
Casey Anthony cried while Baez discussed what a great mother she was -- a fact that all the witnesses who know her and Caylee testified to.
Baez went back to Cindy Anthony's alleged lies by saying she lied about leaving the ladder up for the back yard pool on June 15, 2008.
Baez said the case has turned out the way it did because law enforcement refused to consider the case an accident, or investigate that possibility.
"There's nothing sexy about a drowning. There's nothing interesting about a drowning. And they didn't care," Baez said.
Baez said drowning is the only explanation for Caylee's death that makes sense.
Baez then replayed video showing the rare Henkel brand of duct tape at a command center for the search for Caylee. The same brand found on gas cans in the Anthony family shed and Caylee's skull.
Beaz said George Anthony would not even admit that the duct tape from the video was his.
"George Anthony lies when it is convenient to him. He lied to Mr. Ashton during his deposition," Baez said.
Baez said George Anthony lied when testifying about duct tape on the gas cans.
Anthony, 25, has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in Caylee's death and could get the death penalty if convicted of that charge.
The Casey Anthony case was recently reported on by "48 Hours Mystery."