Defense Rests with No Testimony by Casey, State Begins Rebuttal Phase with 2 Witnesses

"Your honor, the defense will rest," said Lead Defense Attorney Jose Baez to Chief Judge Belvin Perry Jr. on Thursday in the trial of Casey Anthony, who then informed the judge that she would not be testifying, therefore calling their final witnesses.

The 25-year-old is accused by the state of Florida of murdering her 2-year-old daughter, Caylee Anthony, in the first degree, three years ago.

The defense claimed in their opening statements that the child drowned unexpectedly and found by her grandfather, George Anthony, who then covered it up by placing duct tape on the little girl's mouth and disposing her body in the woods.

The state is disputed this theory in their and declaring the duct tape as the murder weapon and was applied by the mother. Now, the assistant state attorneys have began their rebuttal phase.

The first witness they called up to the hot seat was Alina Burroughs, who also testified in the state's initial case. Burroughs is a crime scene technician at the Orange County Sheriff's Office.

One of the responsibilities she had in this case was to photograph the evidence at the Anthony family's home after a search warrant was issued. The photographs were submitted into evidence under the direct examination of Lead Prosecutor Linda Drane-Burdick, but the contents of the images were not published to the jury yet.

There was no cross examination by the defense team, therefore she left the stand being the first and last witness of the day in the state's rebuttal.

Three drawings illustrated by Dominic Casey, the private investigator who assisted the Anthonys in their granddaughter's search, were submitted into evidence. These drawings were testified to by Casey, previously in the defense's case and exhibit the crime scene area.

The assistant state attorneys also submitted into evidence documents testified to by another defense witness, Joe Jordan.

These items were not revealed to the jury but may be published further into the rebuttal. The most provocative of those items was the several-page suicide letter written by the victim's grandfather, George Anthony, who was not in the courtroom, nor was his wife - who the text was directed to - during the presentation of the note.

The contents of the letter included his the love he felt for his wife. "I love you, Cynthia Marie. I really do," he said on page three of the document. Also directed to his wife: "I hope you get to see Casey soon."

In addition, he explained to her why he wanted to take his life. "I want to hold her hand again, I miss her, I will always love us, I am sorry Cynthia Marie ... "

He concluded the letter with the statement, "Caylee here I come," and even addressed his son saying, "Lee, I'm sorry," and his daughter, "Casey - ."

The prosecution informed Judge Perry that there will be no more evidence to submitted and testimonies to provide. They expect to complete their rebuttal on Friday. Judge Perry estimates the final statements will be begin on Saturday morning, and by the afternoon, the deliberation should begin.

In order to assist the jury furthermore, Prosecutor Jeff Ashton suggested the court allow the grand jury, who was not in the courtroom at this time, to smell the evidence, in order to facilitate the contents of the case.

"This jury wants to smell the evidence," said Ashton, who explained two have already sniffed an exhibit. He proposed that the can which contains the air samples - which he said is a "big part" of the case - collected by investigators from the Pontiac Sunfire's trunk be passed around to each of the jurors.

Judge Perry asked Ashton what the jury would determine by perceiving the odor and said it would force the juror to convert into a witness. "Are you trying to make them witnesses?" asked Perry. Then concluded, "That particular piece of evidence will not go back to the jury," and denied the "smell tests" Ashton prompted.

Judge Perry also denied permission for Mike Vincent, of the Orange County Sheriff's Office to testify again, this time in the state's rebuttal.

The verdict is expected to be given by Monday, according to Judge Perry. If convicted, Casey may be subjected to the death sentence.