Casey Anthony Trial Update: Defense calls Casey's parents back to the stand
(CBS/WKMG/AP) ORLANDO, Fla. - Casey Anthony's parents George and Cindy Anthony were called back to the stand Wednesday on day 31 of Casey's trial in the death of her 2-year-old daughter Caylee.
Pictures: Casey and Caylee Anthony, Personal Photos
Lead defense attorney Jose Baez attempted to ask Cindy Anthony questions about her son, Lee, allegedly groping Casey Anthony in her bedroom. The state objected, a sidebar was called and Judge Belvin Perry sustained the objection, reports CBS affiliate WKMG.
After a few more questions for Cindy Anthony, Baez called George Anthony to the stand, asking him about a statement he made to authorities on July 24, 2008.
George Anthony said the statement centered around his experience in dealing with decomposition when he was a law enforcement officer. George Anthony told Baez that comparing the statement to Caylee was taking his words out of context.
George Anthony said he had smelled the odor of human decomposition in the woods, a house and a car while working as a law enforcement officer in Ohio.
In July 2008 George Anthony said that he told a detective that his daughter's car smelled like human decomposition, based on his prior experience.
He was then asked about talking to detectives about his daughter. Baez claimed that he told detectives, that his daughter had a "tendency to live on the edge," reports the station.
George Anthony agreed he did make that statement to detectives.
Baez tried to say that George Anthony only said negative things about his daughter, and asked why the next day went to visit her in jail.
George Anthony said he was trying to find his granddaughter and cooperating with law enforcement one day, and trying to keep his daughter upbeat while she was in jail.
Baez then implied that George Anthony wouldn't put his house up as collateral to bail Casey Anthony out of jail, but the state objected and the comments were stricken from the record.
George Anthony was then once again quizzed about the smell in his daughter's car, with Baez trying to point out potential inconsistencies in his statements made at different times.
"There is a smell of human decomposition in that car," George Anthony said, reports the station.
"And that's why you called 911 right then and there?" Baez said intensely, implying that George Anthony didn't act on the fact that he smelled the odor.
"And then you drove home? And went to work?" Baez said.
"I don't regret anything I did that day," Anthony said, according to the station.
Baez then asked George Anthony if he went on a media blitz in August 2009 before questioning him about his suicide attempt in January 2009.
"You expressed some guilt, didn't you, sir?" Baez said before withdrawing the question, which triggered tears in George Anthony's eyes.
George Anthony said he made more media appearances after recovering.
Then Baez asked him if he was paid $20,000 by CBS News.
"I have tried to be nice to you," George Anthony replied angrily. "...I did everything I could possibly do to bring awareness about [Caylee]."
CBS News paid a standard fee to license a considerable number of photos and home videos from the Anthony family for use in its broadcasts on the case.
Anthony, 25, has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in Caylee's death and could face the death penalty if convicted of that charge. The prosecution says she used duct tape to suffocate the toddler. The defense says the girl drowned in her grandparents' swimming pool.
The Casey Anthony case was recently reported on by "48 Hours Mystery."