It was another emotional day full of tear-driven testimonies on Wednesday in the murder trial for Casey Marie Anthony, as her father takes takes the witness stand and expresses he tried to kill himself on Jan. 22, 2009 to "be with Caylee," his deceased granddaughter.Caylee Marie Anthony was allegedly murdered by her mother, Casey, according the the state of Florida. The state claims the 25-year-old killed her daughter by - what they declare to be the murder weapon - duct tape placed on her nose and mouth. The remains of the 2-year-old were found in woods near the Anthony family's home on Dec. 11, 2008.
The defense argues the toddler drowned in the family's upper ground swimming pool and was found by her grandfather who they say is the mastermind behind the plot to place the dead body in the wooded area by instructing an Orange County meter-reader by the name of Roy Kronk to do the deed. The guilt, the defense demanded, is what led him to try to take his own life.
"I decided that was the time for me to get away from all this and spend time with Caylee," Mr. Anthony said under cross-examination, referring to the downward spiral his life turned into after he was informed of his granddaughter's what was thought to be a disappearance, but was later declared decease.
He explained how he felt when the news broke that the body parts were identified as Caylee's. "A deep hurt inside" which led to an "emotional breakdown" after witnessing what his wife and son, Lee Anthony, were experiencing, and that's when the victim's grandfather broke down on the stand and wept.
Chief Judge Belvin Perry asked George Anthony if he needed a break, and he replied, "I need to get through this," but a recess was called and George stepped down from the witness seat into his wife's arms. George and Cindy wrapped their arms around each other, gripping one another tightly.
While the jury was excused, the defense and prosecution battled it out over whether or not the suicide note should be submitted into evidence. The note entailed a litany of questions asking, "Why is she gone?" and "Who put the body there?" and of the such. Prosecutor Jeff Ashton said, "This man had no idea who killed Caylee Marie Anthony," a reversion from the defense's theory that Mr. Anthony found the little girl dead in the pool.
It was not submitted because Judge Perry wanted to review other cases similar to this to compare, but the testimony under cross-examination by George Anthony was accepted and reinstated in front of the jury. The testimony was initially to proffer after lead defense counsel Jose Baez objected for being beyond the scope.
In his attempt to take his life, George Anthony relocated to a hotel in Dayona Beach, Fla. with several different kinds of medications and a case of beer, leaving behind a suicide note to his wife, Cindy, and called many people to indirectly give his last goodbye.
George Anthony says that he "still has those feelings every once in a while" and added, "If it wasn't for law enforcement, I wouldn't be here today."
Prior to testimonies beginning, legal matters were discussed outside of the presence of the jury. Death penalty expert for the defense team, Attorney Ann Finnell disputed, via telephone, the motion she filed for a mistrial was valid for the case, as the defendant sat alone at her table waiting on her late counsels.
Finnell stated Anthony's death penalty stance should be reconsidered being that Florida ruled it as unconstitutional, which Finnell fights it the remedy for a mistrial. On the contrary, Ashton refuted it was necessary.
"The court will reserve ruling on the motion for mistrial ... at a subsequent date," Judge Perry replied to both sides.
The defense stated they will rest their case on Thursday. Perry expects deliberation to begin Sunday and the trial will conclude on Monday, but informed he was going to discuss it over with the jury and inquire what their decision is on the matter.
(Photography by Red Huber, Orlando Sentinel)
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