Casey Anthony Found Not Guilty of First-Degree Murder: What Do You Think?

Here's what I think about this whole issue: http://sylverblaque.wordpress.com/2011/08/02/casey...

I agree that the prosecution did not prove beyond a reasonable doubt. From the jurors who spoke out they were sick about it because of how they felt but in the end they are charged with following the jury instructions, and the law.
Laura Carroll

Childfree author of Families of Two

blogging at La Vie Childfree http://lauracarroll.com ( http://lauracarroll.com/ )

I am of the belief this is not at all of our business. Simple.

____________________________________
http://mustbeliberating.blogspot.com/

this unsolved murder should not be unsolved, what is missing here? I haven't found much about the "burial", maybe they should have started there and worked back. Who buried Caylee? The mother, what mother could do that? anonymously put your baby in a swamp with a heart on her lips. it says it all. if there was nothing to hide why would she do that? she knew the evidence would be gone by the time she finally talked. reminds me of the scott peterson case. it seems to me there ought to be more laws on the books about this subject, disposing of bodies...ie; you just cant go around anonymously burying people without paying a price. DAH. speaks tons about our justice system.

I can see Denise saying 'wait, don't go THAT far...' and I'd have to agree. ;-)

Although it's closer than I would ever have thought possible, heh.

nellewrites ( http://nellewrites.net/ )

Hahaha isn't it freaky when you realize that you are the normal one in the room?

a snippet in a news story, where they mention one protester outside the courthouse held a sign that read 'arrest the jury'.

I have this picture of an old western in my mind, people outside a courthouse itching to string someone up. And I thought I was nuts.

nellewrites ( http://nellewrites.net/ )

Oh social media is killing me with the stupid comments.

Yes lawyers do celebrate, but as someone who went to court charged with attempted murder I was solemn and not giddy about pleading no contest to felony domestic violence charges almost 11 years ago for stabbing my girls father. When I made that plea bargain I gave up having a trial because first and foremost my concern was our three children. Who I had endangered with my behavior. I did not want to go to court during the Christmas Season and chance getting a guilty verdict for defending myself, or seven years in State Prison. Even though I knew I had a case I decided it was in the best interest for me to plea, I didn't walk out with glee on my face and actually neither did my lawyer. Sometimes solemness and humility say a lot more whether we want to believe it or not. I took responsibility for my actions and it was not an easy choice because my life has never been the same. And yes there are children everywhere that are injured or killed at the hands of their parents, everyday...I don't forget that..I cherish my kids and my grandson. People like me who live for their kids, just don't get a how a person like Casey can be out at the video store the day Caylee disappeared or how she could not report it for 31 days...unfortunately the public that has embraced this little girl will never know what really happened and I think that is at the heart of peoples obsession, mine included, with this case.Peace.

WHO CARES WHERE YOU COME FROM, ITS WHERE YOU ARE GOING THAT MATTERS! DEVS GLAMMA  http://www.noturtypicalgma.blogspot.com

I FEEL DISCUSTED AND SO FRUSTRATED AND ANGRY HOW CAN THIS BE? SHE KILLED HER CHILD I HOPE SHE ROTS IN HELL I HOPE SHES BRUTILY TORCHERED AND MURDERED I HATE HER EVERY TIME I SEE HER PICTUE I SPIT AT IT POOR CAYLEE DIDNT DESERVE TO DIE SHE NEEDS JUSTICE AND THEY ALL FAILED HER I HOPE SOME DAY THOSE LAWERS THAT HELPED CASEY ANTHONY ALOS ROT IN HELL THEY HELPED THIS EVIL F!@#!! B#@%$!!GO SCOT FREE IM SORRY FOR MY LANGUGE BUT AS I TYPE THIS IM CRYING FOR LITTEL ANGEL CAYLEE HER LIFE SNATCHED FROM HER BY HER OWN MOTHER IT ISNT FAIR ITS DISCUSTING APPAULING I PRAY FOR CAYLEE TO GET HER PEACE SHES IN HEAVEN NOW CONCRETE ANGEL ILL PLAY THIS FOR CAYLEE IN DEDICATON TO HER BEAUTIFUL LITTEL SOUL I LOVE YOU 4EVER IN MY HEART CAYLEE :""(

I simply don't think the defense attorneys did anything that anyone should be pissed off about. They went to a restaurant and had a toast. They also shared some hugs. People are acting like they went to Caylee's grave and danced a jig or defecated or something. I'm not sure where in Orlando they could go to avoid being seen by people or cameras. I don't think common sense or decency or anything else called for them to try to find that location.

There is a sense that this case is somehow different or special and that there is something uniquely precious about this little girl, as opposed to all the other dead girls across the country. That sense is wrong. The defense has no obligation to buy into the media hype about this case and bow to the insane level of public interest.

Preaching to the Choir ( http://rantsofapublicdefender.blogspot.com/ )

Some of the state's evidence was junk science and I'm frankly amazed the judge allowed it to come in. New, experimental forms of testing aren't supposed to come in at criminal trials until they have achieved a certain level of acceptability within the scientific community and reliability. As I understand that one Dr.'s air test, it was something that no one else is doing or has replicated yet, so I think it was going to be a major issue on appeal.

Preaching to the Choir ( http://rantsofapublicdefender.blogspot.com/ )

to go and have that drink... but so too do others have the right to judge them for that drink, or for not invoking common sense.

I don't agree that common sense would support choosing to celebrate where they are visible to others, nor do I believe responsible conduct would find it a wise choice. Sometimes a bit of humility goes a long way, and this case screams for humility.

Casey may be as you say, the most vilified woman in America. What I see though is a human being, and what I have in my head is Pema Chödrön saying 'every person, every living being has the potential to awaken'. I recognise there is a difference between Casey and her attorneys, but they still represent her, and people will associate them with Casey, fairly or not.

It is time for wise choices, it is time for those involved to pick up the pieces of what is left of their lives and try to heal, try to move forward. Pissing everyone off with a celebration is not a good first step to take. In the end, by their post-decision conduct, her attorney's inched higher the bar that Casey must overcome in life.

nellewrites ( http://nellewrites.net/ )

Every courthouse in America has that bar, the bar where the lawyers go afterwards. I don't think Casey's lawyers needed to avoid going to that bar because the outraged mob outside the courthouse and the Nancy Graces of the world would be offended. Of course they know there is a dead child. They know that better than anyone as they had to live with photos of her remains for the past few years. But they saved a life. So they went to the bar across the street where lawyers go after trials. And as I understand it, the bar owners actually did close the bar to the public.

But, no, the lawyers had no obligation to conform their behavior because a bunch of buttinskies who have no actual connection to the case would find it unseemly.

Common sense says attorneys who have just saved the life of the most vilified woman in America are entitled to toast that accomplishment. And if cameras and angry crowds will follow them anywhere they go, well then those cameras and angry crowds need to accept that they're going to see smiles, hugs, and toasts.

Preaching to the Choir ( http://rantsofapublicdefender.blogspot.com/ )

Crimes committed during this case include perjury, outright trashing (without evidence) of others in order to exonerate the defendant's behavior.

Jose Baez called the State's evidence "junk science" or "fantasy forensics" while he performed the ultimate junk science by utilizing landslide logic and saying that there were these behaviors and symptoms THEREFORE she was molested. Our national frame of reference, fed by a steady diet of psycho babble accepts that she would not have done that 'by herself'. However, you cannot, with any clincial credibility walk backwards to a 'therefore' like that.

As a finale Mr Baez uses his new found platform, that was built over the bones of a dead child, to grandstand on capital punishment.

There is a lot about this case that sickens and disgusts. Including but not limited to a jury that spent 11 hours and decided she was "not guilty".

Reminder to self: That does not mean she is innocent, just that this jury didnot think the case was proven in court.

And if her past behavior (stealing and forging a signature to her friend's checks, projecting the blame onto her family, partying after she knew her daughter was dead, the 31 day delay, etc) is any indication of her future she, unfortunately, will be baaaaaccckkk.

http://www.blogher.com/member/gaelmc

Whilst I believe the not guilty was the appropriate legal call by the jury, the post trial conduct of the attorneys, well...can we have a round of common sense for the house, please?

Want to talk shop and swap stories over a successful achievement? Absolutely. You work hard, give it your all, live and breathe and worry and stress...go ahead, unwind. Have a drink or three in the process? Sure. You have homes. Go there, and have your drinks and flash your smiles behind the curtains.

Yet this is a case that has half the country watching, and 90% of those watching do not agree with those like me who say 'legally appropriate'. A child is dead and never coming back. In light of the loss of a child's life, listen to the universe whispering 'common sense, common sense. Confine the celebration to where it isn't visible, to where it won't enrage those already put off by the decision. After all, there are people in this world who will take what they see as justice and impose it themselves. And understand the likelihood the attorneys may be the only real winners here.

Caylee is gone. Casey's life - at 25 - looks south of hellish going forward. Her parents, her brothers are familial 'collateral damage' who may well also be wholly destroyed. I doubt Jodi Picoult could set up reader's imaginings of the future of various characters future any better.

Not the time to be popping off corks in the public eye.

nellewrites ( http://nellewrites.net/ )

I'm in Orlando and I have to tell you I am so glad we will finally be able to talk about something other than this case. It has consumed the area for the past 3 years. I've followed the case from the beginning, and it was hard for me because it happened right after my twins were born. I think it made it personal for me, you know what I mean?

I think it's important to remember that the jury did not see everything that we saw in the courtroom and they also didn't see the media coverage. I was upset yesterday about the verdict, she she should have been convicted of something other than just lying to law enforcement, but ultimately it was the jury's decision and it has to be accepted. What's sad is that now she can walk out of jail and say she did it and nothing will happen to her (legally, that is). She also has the potential to make millions off of this case, that makes me sick to my stomach.

But now here's the question, where is she going to live once she gets out? With the Dad that "molested" her? Makes you think....

in the future- some prosecuter somewhere will learn a lesson - I have no clue what it might be but if it can help another "Casey" to stay off our streets, well I guess that is the only positive outcome of this great and grave tragedy.

I have to stick up for her lawyers because this sense that they did something wrong or shameful or outlandish is angering me. Attorneys go out for drinks after finishing a trial. You win a verdict, you go for a round of drinks. You save your client's life, you pop open a bottle of champagne. Hugging, crying, and saying a toast is not unseemly or outrageous. What is outrageous is for all the prosecutors on television to act like they've never done the same thing when a verdict has gone their way.

Preaching to the Choir ( http://rantsofapublicdefender.blogspot.com/ )

sad....for caylee! pissed that you can use the defense that yes i am a liar and a slut and get away with murder...the most disgusting part of all of this is that she could smile and and her defense attorneys could raise champagne glasses and high five and dance after leaving the courthouse, looks like they forgot about caylee just like casey did....

WHO CARES WHERE YOU COME FROM, ITS WHERE YOU ARE GOING THAT MATTERS! DEVS GLAMMA  http://www.noturtypicalgma.blogspot.com

I'm heartbroken. http://flatheadmama.blogspot.com/2011/07/mourning-... ( http://flatheadmama.blogspot.com/2011/07/mourning-... )

Hella mad and blogging about it: http://talesfromclarkstreet.blogspot.com/2011/07/a... ( http://talesfromclarkstreet.blogspot.com/2011/07/a... )

Blondie writes at Tales From Clark Street ( http://www.talesfromclarkstreet.blogspot.com/ ).

I think it's a pretty tough call. Do I think she's guilty. Yes, I do. Could I convict without a shadow of a doubt given the evidence? I'm not sure I could.

I'm really just echoing what other people have already said here, but to me the saddest thing is that Caylee is still gone. I felt sick watching the smiles of relief on Casey Anthony's face today as she realized she would be released. Even if she were innocent, the trial is still about her little girl being dead. Of course it would be a relief to be found not guilty, but I feel like it would be sobering too, if you really loved and missed your child.

Kiki

www.stillhatepickles.blogspot.com ( http://www.stillhatepickles.com/ )

I came over to BlogHer to find intelligent commentary on this case (versus some of the stupidity I've found on Twitter) and you just knocked it all out of the park.

First off, I am forever grateful it is NOT the media who decides guilt or innocence. I'll just leave it at that.

Past that, though, I've seen several people say, "I no longer have any faith in our legal system." (Similarly, "Guess its okay to kill your kid in America.") To which I say, "I feel just the opposite." As you said, the prosecution's case was weak with large holes and full of circumstantial evidence. Everyone under the sun can believe she's guilty, but if prosecution can't firmly prove it, the jury absolutely can't give a guilty verdict. ESPECIALLY with First Degree Murder.

Frankly, I wouldn't want them to.

Denise
Musician's Widow ( http://www.musicianswidow.com )

I'm thankful that it's over but I do not agree with the outcome.

What mother behaves like she has? She may be free (soon) but she will never escape her personal demons.

[Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. Romans 12:19]

I love your eloquence.

I so completely agree with everything you said. The prosecutors did not have a strong case. What shocked me about the verdict is that even manslaughter was thrown out, child abuse was thrown out.

It was a real mind bender of a case to begin with, but guilty is as guilty does...the only reason she even said where her child was was because her mother forced it out of her and then she just lied more and more.

I don't know how she died or how it happened, but there were so many lies covering it up that there should have been SOMETHING more than just lying to officers.

I'm glad it's over. I watched people outside the court house crying and angry. I have watched the trial over the last 3 weeks. I think Casey did something causing her daughter's death, but what think doesn't count for anything. It's the burden of the state to prove she did it. Remember that is beyond a reasonable doubt. I've been on two juries and I know that can be tough. All they had was circumstantial evidence. This is America...thank God we aren't judged in the court of public opinion. It's not supposed to work that way.

Deborah Burnley

www.debbiesdesk.com ( http://debbiesdesk.com )
deeburnley@gmail.com

It is so hard to convict when the cause of death is unknown. The Peterson case is the only time I've ever heard of that happening.

All the images of that precious little girl make me so sad. Hopefully justice will come for her one day.

Karla blogs at Simple Living Family (http://simplelivingfamily.com)

While I believe in justice, nothing is going to bring that little girl back, and the circus just makes it worse to me.

Rita Arens authors Surrender Dorothy ( http://bit.ly/Qp0sS ) and is the editor of Sleep is for the Weak ( http://tinyurl.com/9pg62e ). She is BlogHer's assignment and syndication editor.

I've served on three juries, two as foreman, I've worked as an adjudicator in UI, and I've been on the conviction side of a non-jury plead.

Juries are unpredictable. Yet, they also have a duty to the facts of a case. On the two I served as foreman, the jurors worked off of impression. I knew from work that facts and only facts are pertinent. If I can drive a truck through the holes in the prosecution's case, no choice, not guilty.

Which is not a declaration of innocence. If I had to guess, keyword there is 'guess'. then I would guess she tried to knock her child out, but killed her in the process. That is not murder, it is manslaughter.

The prosecution had a weak case built on circumstantial evidence. A lot of people involved on both sides were lying up a storm. What should have happened is an offer of a plea for manslaughter, but common sense got chucked out the window, they went to trial, and...

On a side note, media in this case was awful. No matter where one stands on this, there are real people involved. One is dead, others are living. I cannot cheer on like it is spectacle. More than anything, I hold my candle to the truth, and in American jurisprudence, truth is not the goal; it is either conviction of not guilty.

nellewrites ( http://nellewrites.net/ )

It shocks and saddens me what happened today. Not just the stunning verdict, but also how rabidly insane some people got over the verdict.

I gotta tell ya', yeah, it looks like she's guilty, she was partying while the child was missing, she lied about the child being missing, she probably, I think, did it...

But I don't know how to feel. Part of me almost feels that the media's almost universal belief and proclamation that she was guilty, put the jury under excessive pressure to find her not guilty.

Also remember, the jury was sequestered and you can't tell me that if they saw they weren't going to get a unanimous verdict quickly, they didn't just decide, let's not argue about it, enough already, there was enough reasonable doubt.

Don't know...

Megan

TV/Online Video Contributing Editor ( http://www.blogher.com/member/megan-smith )

Megan's Minute ( http://www.megansminute.com/ )

Meg's Rad Reviews ( http://www.megsradreviews.com )

I did not watch the entire trial and don't know every detail but from what I saw, they could not prove without a reasonable doubt that Casey was the one who killed her child. That is the scope of our justice system, innocent until PROVEN guilty, although yes, I believe Casey had a hand in her daughter's death. I respect the jury for making the tough call, but wish she hadn't gotten off so "easily."

It sickens me to know justice has not been served. My only hope is she NEVER has a child again.

I am not sure I would have gone with first degree beyond a reasonable doubt--but NOTHING other than false info to police? No. Horrid. Sad.

Retro-Food.com

What a sadness. After all this there's a dead little girl. I understand that our judicial system has to one to work for ALL people, and it like everything has its flaws, but the people who slip through the cracks, O.J. Simpson, this party girl...

I'm sick...that poor little girl deserves justice.

I feel sad. Angry. Appalled. Shocked. I feel like we let Caylee down.

I'll say this: The trunk/back of my vehicle has never, ever smelled like death -- and my husband is a hunter. That is all.

Family Section Editor Jenna Hatfield (@FireMom ( http://twitter.com/FireMom )) blogs at Stop, Drop and Blog ( http://stopdropandblog.com ) and The Chronicles of Munchkin Land ( http://thechroniclesofmunchkinland.com ). She is a freelance writer and photographer.

Count me among those who are just relieved it's over. Next circus, please.

aka Honeybeast
Managing Editor, BlogHer