Someone should file a motion to determine the Casey Anthony defense team's competency. Instead, the big news everyone was waiting to hear over the monsoon-like weekend was that the defense had filed a motion to determine Casey's competency.
Judge Perry told the court on Monday Casey was examined by two forensic psychologists and a psychiatrist (I still don't know the difference) to see if she is competent to proceed. All three were court-appointed, Their reports were reviewed by both sides. Judge Perry ruled Casey is competent to proceed based on those reports. However, the reports were sealed, so we don't know what Casey said or did that brought on this sudden weekend development. Highly unusual this late in a trial.
To clarify, the shrinks were brought on simply to determine if Casey understands the charges against her, and the proceedings, and if she is able to aid in her defense. That's all. No insanity defense here.
With the weekend drama finally put to bed, we finally get a witness. First on the stand was, once again, Orange County lead detective, Yuri Melich. He was called in part to clarify a portion of Friday's testimony regarding Roy Kronk's cell phone records. from June 1 to July 1, 2008. Defense attorney Jose Baez pointed out no phone records were obtained for August of that year, when Kronk, the meter reader, first called 911 (August 14, to be exact). Cell records from August, according to Baez, would have revealed Kronk's movements over that period. George Anthony's cell phone records were brought up, for June and July 2008. No tower locators for his phone were subpoena'd for that period. Melich said he didn't deem it important enough. Other cell phone records, from numbers taken from Casey's cell phone, were also investigated.
Melich said he never confiscated Kronk's computer, but that of other individuals.
On Dec. 13, 2008, two days after Caylee's remains were found, Melich got an e-mail from someone with supposedly potential information that was not turned over until after the defense found this person, according to Baez.
In December, two search warrants were served at the Anthony home. Numerous items were obtained, but according to Baez, that information on items taken was not shared with George or Cindy Anthony.
Casey was arrested July 8, 2008, and was released about a month later. She was subject to electronic monitoring and under house arrest, according to Melich. Casey was only allowed to go to jail or her attorney's office. Baez said media hounds followed her when those trips occurred, but Melich could not recall if that happened.
State prosecutor Linda Drane Burdick cross-examined Melich. Melich confirmed the sheriff's office was extremely busy with collecting evidence and following up on tips. He said there were no reports of a smell in George or Cindy Anthony's cars. Detectives were still under the impression Caylee was kidnapped.
This was a weak and puzzling direct and re-direct examination by Baez, revealing nothing in my opinion that would taint Melich's testimony throughout the trial.
Next was Michael Vincent, Orange County Sheriff's Office CSI. He told the court only one car in the sheriff's office garage was examined by a cadaver dog. Then he was off the stand. Weird.
Also back on the stand was Gerardo Bloise, also an Orange County Sheriff's Office CSI. In short, he really had nothing to add, and was not even cross-examined.
After the mid-morning break, Orange County Sheriff's Office deputy Jason Forgey took the stand to say he and his cadaver dog examined TWO cars in the forensic bay, disputing Melich's contention that only one car was examined. He said there was no real reason to deploy the dog on the other car, except to get the dog in the right mind-set. Not much on cross-examinaton, so Forgey was quickly dispatched from the witness stand.
Oh my God, more forensic chemical testimony, this time from defense witness, Dr. Kenneth Furton, founding Director and currently Director Emeritus of the International Forensic Research Institute at Florida International University where he is a professor. He testified about human decomposition (as if we haven't heard enough already). Dr. Furton also examined evidence in this case. He said there are unique compounds with human decomposition, but that there is no instrument or method to identify the presence or absence of human remains based on chemical analysis.
Jurors were lulled to sleep with a powerpoint explaining the inner workings of instruments used in identifying chemicals. Tuna, chicken, lamb and beef were analyzed and compared to human decomposition. He said there are quite a bit of overlapping chemicals in human and non-human remains He said studies, conducted interestingly by his students, included data from State's witness Dr. Arpad Vass from the "Body Farm" in Tennessee. He also examined chemicals released by food products, and found fatty acids are ever-present, including cheese, milk, the same compounds found in decomposing humans.
Dr. Furton also said chloroform is found in many consumer products, such as household bleach, cheese, soft drinks, even drinking water. This brought prosecutor Jeff Ashton to his feet.
The ensuing sidebar brought us to the lunch break. I then contemplated other matters of import:
1. I thought defense attorney Cheney Mason had shaved his beard and coiffed his hair until I was informed it was defense attorney Ann Finnell. She joined the defense team late last year to address legal issues in the penalty phase of this death penalty case, if she is convicted of murder. Why is she sitting in on today's testimony, and why was she conspicuously present in court this morning?
2. Casey's mood seems much more subdued. Perhaps she realizes it's crunch time. Maybe it's sinking in that her fate will be decided within a matter of days. Knowing her future lies in the hands of 12 total strangers must be a hard concept for Casey to swallow.
3. Why can't TruTV come up with more sponsors? Getting weary of the same Progressive Insurance ads. OK, get a life you say. Agreed.
4. I'm crossing tuna, lamb, chicken and beef off my shopping list for today. OK, not beef.
More to come!
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