Casey Anthony Case

Casey Anthony:

I know and I can understand why so many people are outraged about the results of the trial. But I must say, I think our justice system worked. See, jury selection was difficult particularly for this case because it was so high profile and so many American’s already had their minds made up. All of the people who are angry about the outcome, I’m willing to assume that they all decided a long time ago (just as I did) that Casey Anthony was guilty and they refused to change their minds while following the trial, if they followed it at all. That is why they would not have made good jurors. I have never served as a juror (even though that may be changing soon) but I know that the burden they carry is to be taken very seriously, and cautiously. I kept thinking several times over the past month while looking at pictures of Casey Anthony of whether or not I would ever be able to serve on a jury with the possibility of giving someone the death penalty and my answer, is no. I really don’t think that I have enough confidence in myself to feel like I could aid in giving a punishment like that. Even if the evidence is overwhelming. Its just not something I would want to live with for the rest of my life. Either way, I really would rather see one potentially guilty person go free than one potentially innocent person be punished, especially if the stakes are death.

In all honesty, I too am shocked about the results. However, I understand why the ruling was made the way it was and I support it. The trial was very depended upon circumstantial evidence and the reliability and credibility of much of the evidence was shaky. Now, was that the prosecution’s fault? No. They collected the evidence and did their jobs the best they could. But because the body was already so decomposed, there was not much they could do. Everyone who knows me knows that CSI is one of my favorite shows, but after taking a forensics class, I have a little insight into how shows like CSI have shaped the public’s expectations. Do I think she is guilty? I do think that she had something to do with her daughter’s death. I don’t know if it was murder or an accident nor do I know to what extent she was involved and therefore I would not have been comfortable or confident as a juror to give her the death penalty. I think that the defense did little to actually help Casey any. They did a terrible job of playing devil’s advocate and all they really did was muddy the already swirling waters. I give them absolutely no credit as far as “winning” the case goes. I love the statement that the Anthony family put out

“Despite the baseless defense chosen by Casey Anthony, the family believes that the Jury made a fair decision based on the evidence presented, the testimony presented, the scientific information presented and the rules that were given to them by the Honorable Judge Perry to guide them.”

The BASELESS defense. Perfect. That is exactly what it was. It speaks volumes that the family used this language and it also helps protect them a little from some of the accusations and claims that were made about the family by the defense. The defense used rumors, made accusations and excuses that whirled around the case and the country that they never actually proved or discussed in the court room. (mildly clever on their part, I’d rather say it was manipulation). During the trial it was difficult to tell what side Casey’s family was on. Of course they love their daughter but they also love their Caylee and they want answers. I kind of hated the way the defense pointed hurtful fingers at the family and made damaging claims (that we may never know whether they are true or not) about the family to get Casey out of trouble. It felt as if Casey Anthony turned on her own parents. Either way, the Anthony family have a lot of issues to work out (if they didn’t already have a handful already) and I wish them the best of luck. My prayers are with them as they try to pull their lives back together. I hope that they are able to forgive each other and move past the pain and destruction this has caused them.

I will go as far to say that I think Casey Anthony acted in a way that qualifies her as a bad mother, which I think is one of the biggest insults you can give a woman. I have no idea how much she loved that beautiful little girl or how she treated Caylee while she was alive. But her actions after her child went missing were appalling. Look at the parents of Natalee Holloway, Elizabeth Smart, Kyron Horman or now Lauren Spierer. Parents who used all of their resources to search for their children, parents who are still searching and who now have become voices for all missing children. Children go missing all of the time. It sucks, but it happens. Good parents do not wait nearly a month before reporting it. They do not lie repeatedly about how their child disappeared to hinder a police investigation and they do not go out and party instead of helping find their children. Yes, everyone is different and acts/reacts in different ways and Casey is young and immature. No, I’m not a parent but I have 6 of them and know a lot about them. I will be as bold to say that the only way a parent can have peace of mind enough to go and party like that is if they know where their child is/that their child is not in danger or is doing some serious drugs. If there was an accident, then she should have stepped up then. Accidents happen, even covering up one wouldn’t have made her a bad person, it would have made her wrong, not bad. But I really think it was her behavior and seemingly lack of compassion or caring that has angered so many people. On the news this morning there were tons of reports about how outraged mothers are over this. I think really though people are not upset that “she got away with murder” but that she got away with being a bad mom.

I do not think that Casey Anthony is walking away a free woman. To be honest, I almost pity her for what she is going to have do go through since the entire country hates her right now. Could you even imagine? Its got to be a little scary. I think a life in prison would have been easier on her and would have protected her from the harsh world, life and reality that she is going to have to live now. Everyone thinks she is guilty and everyone knows she is a liar. I highly doubt anyone will ever trust her with anything or will ever want to risk associating themselves with her. I mean, who is going to walk in and start talking about their friend, Casey Anthony? No one would risk it. Her family and her life have been torn apart. I’ll be surprised if anyone ever hires her for anything or if anyone ever marries her. At first she will need some kind of protection, maybe to just disappear for a while until the air becomes less charged. Part of me thinks that after things cool down she might try to milk the spotlight, since that is the world we live in and it seems like she will have nothing else to do with her life. But it really surprised me that she did not take the stand and that leads me to wonder if she will actually avoid the public spotlight and maybe won’t right a book about all of this?

So many people are comparing this to the O.J trial and I really don’t think that is fair. What do I know about the O.J trial? I was just a little kid then. Well, I have done some research and talked to quite a few people and the main difference in the two cases are that Casey Anthony’s case was based on a lot of circumstantial evidence. I don't think that we will hear from many of the Casey Anthony jurors for their own safety but I respect and defend their decision and I do think it was fair.

Regardless, my heart and prayers go out.





Find Kyron:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Missing-Kyron-Horman/125336750831264

Lauren Spierer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zb1pQ-hjQxc&feature=player_embedded