Casey Anthony Trial Update: Defense focuses on scientific evidence
(CBS/WKMG/AP) ORLANDO, Fla. - Casey Anthony's defense team called an FBI forensic geologist and forensic toxicologist as the first witnesses on Day 25 of Anthony's trial in her daughter's death.
Pictures: Casey and Caylee Anthony, Personal Photos
FBI geologist Maureen Bottrell testified that she analyzed items from Anthony's car and home, including a shovel and 22 pairs of shoes. She also examined soil from the area where Caylee's remains were found, reports CBS affiliate WKMG.
Bottrell said the shoes could not be scientifically connected to the wooded area where the remains were found. Under cross-examination, however, she said that doesn't mean the shoes were not ever worn at the scene, the station reports.
Next, the defense called Madeline Montgomery, a forensic toxicologist, to the stand. Montgomery examined hair found with Caylee's remains. She told the jurors she found no trace in the hair sample of a number of drugs, including ones that can have a sedative or knock-out effect, according to the station.
On cross examination, Montgomery said hair is not the best way to test for drug exposure.
"Even if it had been positive, I wouldn't have been able to say when or how often the person was exposed," Montgomery, reports WKMG.
The defense's third witness of the day was Dr. Michael Sigman, a University of Central Florida (UCF) chemistry professor, who said he was asked by Orange County sheriff's officials in July 2008 to take air samples from Anthony's car.
Sigman detailed how he and a colleague transferred 1 liter of air into a bag and another sample into a second bag. Sigman said he later performed more tests.
"In those, the data was better than the bag ones," he said, reports the station. "The pattern was gasoline, and looking more closely, we saw chloroform (and other chemicals)."
Sigman said he could not conclusively determine that human decomposition was present in the trunk of Anthony's car.
In cross-examination, Sigman said he did not fully examine the trunk on July 21 and only opened it about an inch to take the air samples. He also said he was unaware that the trunk liner had been removed days earlier.
State experts have testified that the chloroform they detected came from a stain on the trunk liner. Since the UCF tests were on air drawn after that "point source" of chloroform was removed, the state may argue that's the reason why chloroform was not detected in high concentrations by Sigman, the station reports.
Prosecutors have argued that Caylee was suffocated by her mother with duct tape. The defense contends Caylee drowned in her grandparents' swimming pool. Caylee's skeletal remains were found in December 2008.
Judge Belvin Perry told jurors that Wednesday would only be a half-day
because he has to attend a previously scheduled court budget meeting.
Anthony, 25, is charged with first-degree murder in the death Caylee and has pleaded not guilty. Anthony could get the death penalty if convicted.
The Casey Anthony case was recently reported on by "48 Hours Mystery."