Casey Anthony Verdict: Jose Baez called "luckiest man in America"
(CBS) - Jose Baez, Casey Anthony's defense attorney, had been practicing law for only three years when Casey Anthony hired him to defend her against felony murder charges in the death of her 2-year-old daughter Caylee. Now he has pulled off what some are calling one the most surprising court victories in recent history.
Pictures: Casey and Caylee Anthony, Personal Photos
Anthony found out about Baez from an inmate while in jail awaiting trial, reports the Miami Herald.
At the time, Anthony's father was skeptical of Baez, saying in a taped jail interview that "I hope he's not making a reputation for himself,'' reports the Herald.
On Tuesday, Casey Anthony was found not guilty of first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse and aggravated manslaughter in the death of her 2-year-old daughter Caylee. Anthony was found guilty of four lesser charges of providing false information to a law enforcement officer, but is unlikely, say legal experts, to serve any additional time in jail.
"He is the luckiest man in America,'' Robert Jarvis, a lawyer and law professor at Nova Southeastern University in Davie, said of Baez, reports the paper. He won, Jarvis said, not because of a brilliant legal mind, but because the prosecution couldn't prove its case, which was solely circumstantial.
Charles Rose, a legal expert and professor at Stetson University, agreed saying the state did not have enough evidence to make a capital murder case.
"They did not have cause of death or time of death and they still chose to go for a capital one murder charge," said Rose. "They chose to roll a big dice."
Baez, 42, said in a press conference after the verdict was read, "While we're happy for Casey, there are no winners in this case. Caylee has passed on far, far too soon. And what my driving force has been for the last three years has been always to make sure that there has been justice for Caylee and Casey, because Casey did not murder Caylee. It's that simple."
Anthony has been in jail since her October 2008 arrest on first-degree murder charges. She avoided a possible death sentence thanks to her acquittal on the murder count. The case began in July 2008 when Caylee Anthony was reported missing.
48 Hours Mystery's special on the verdict, Casey Anthony: Judgment Day