My favorite sign I've seen thus far: "Somewhere, a village is missing 12 idiots."
Public outcry with the acquittal of Casey Marie Anthony of first-degree murder has been rampant. I've not seen a thirst for blood like this since O.J. Simpson was found not guilty of the grisly double murder of his ex-wife and a friend near his Brentwood, Cal. home. The sign referenced the 12 jurors who decided the State failed to prove its case against Casey Anthony.
Today, Casey was sentenced for the four charges of lying to cops during the missing persons investigation of her 2-year old daughter, Caylee. Jurors found Casey guilty Tuesday of those counts. This morning Judge Belvin Perry, who presided over her murder trial, handed down the maximum sentence allowed: One year for each count to run consecutively for a total of four years, and a $1,000 fine. But she has already spent nearly three years awaiting trial for murder and for her check fraud convictions. Throw in time off for good behavior, and she could be out later this month or early August. This will be decided after attorneys and the Orange County Jail can figure all that out.
This was little consolation to protesters mingling outside the courthouse, demanding Casey's head on a platter. The system probably did Casey a favor, as everyone expected Casey to be set free today. Imagine the frenzy if that happened. Now, we have time for the dust to settle, and perhaps by then the sharks circling the waters will find other prey.
I doubt that will happen. Heavy media coverage and the Internet are largely responsible for feeding this frenzy. Publicity-seeking attorneys, never at a loss for words, filled the nighttime airways. Media trucks descended on the courthouse to give viewers up-to-the-minute news and coverage. The world wanted a vicarious first-hand look at this woman who many still believe is guilty of killing her child. Like the sharks, I doubt the world will let go of Casey Anthony that easily.
During the 45-minute sentencing hearing, Casey showed us a look we had never seen. Without a jury to impress, Casey literally wore her hair down. She seemed relaxed, even giggling to her lead attorney, Jose Baez, as if she expected to walk out a free woman. Then, her demeanor changed as Judge Perry handed down his sentence.
Nothing now can appease the masses who still believe Casey killed her daughter. The 12 jurors are being villified for getting her off the hook for murder. Her attorneys are criticized for the now-infamous champagne celebration in a nearby eatery shortly after publicly declaring there were no winners in all this. Looked like a victory celebration to me.
As for Casey, she will soon be out of jail, but she will still be a prisoner in her own skin. Her attorneys say they will help her in the transition. But like "The Juice," she will have no real friends, just hangers-on with their own selfish motives.
Many questions remain. Will George and Cindy Anthony welcome her back into their home? Will she be able to patch up the relationship with her brother, Lee? Will she have more children?
My hope is, this shattered family will be able to move forward in privacy, without the mounted police in front of their yard, without reporters ogling through windows, and without the world watching and waiting for her next misstep.
And perhaps the 12 village idiots who did their job can get back to their lives.
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