I have been following the Heather Barnett trial on BBC News.  Fascinating.

 i read these two articles last night - I'd recommend them .....very knowledgeable about the case with a touch of humour ...  . They're by Valhall the person who runs the Hinky Meter Forum that Scotty has mentioned a few times - they know everything!!  

Casey's Predicament

Casey’s Predicament – Part Doh

Hi Hoochie, just read that thanks. It was posted jan 5th 2010 , when they had not heard from the defense about the drowning theory. As we know It has now been proofed Casey has lied a great deal, and those statements and calls from Casey are here-say as we now know her defense are saying they are lies, due to their theory we heard in court. 

Some interesting points though, and i can see they are following the twists and turns and some are really interesting, thanks. 

Will get some time to read through more Hinky meter stuff later. 

I love the Hinky meter (THANKS SCOTTY) It's got a lot of old stuff on it ................there's been shifts/twists and turns for a long time. Probably best to up date on the more recent stuff!

Daily summaries and observations from the Hinky meter . Recent and Past comments http://www.thehinkymeter.com/

Thanks for all the linkys everyone.

http://www.wftv.com/video/28130570/index.html < Court action on video today.

Defence called back 

Dr. Arpad Vass took the stand briefly this morning in what appears to be a prosecution blunder.

The can that Vass was given yesterday, and he said was the can that he was given to analyze concerning air and carpet samples from the trunk of Anthony’s car, apparently was not the can that was indeed given to Vass.

The prosecution brought Dr. Vass back to the stand to clarify the mistake.

In cross examination, Jose Baez, defense attorney, grilled Vass on the mistake. Since Vass should have noticed yesterday when he was asked to identify the can, that his initials were not on the can, Baez questioned his methods throughout the whole chain of custody with the evidence.

Chain of custody refers to a recorded “path” that a piece of evidence in a trial goes through. It must list each person who handled the evidence, dates and times.

Since the evidence that was entered into the trial yesterday did not have a proper chain of custody (meaning Vass’s name or initials on it) Baez wondered what other mistakes had been made through the analysis of the evidence.

Apparently the mistake was discovered last night by the prosecution.

“You are not accustomed to handling evidence, are you?” Baez asked.

“No. We’re not a forensic lab, so we don’t handle evidence all that frequently,” Vass admitted

Experts testify about testing on Casey's car  http://www.wesh.com/casey-anth...28157936/detail.html 

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Jurors heard more scientific testimony Wednesday in Casey Anthony's capital murder trial, focusing on analysis of the trunk of her car and on cadaver dogs.

Michael Rickenbach, an FBI forensic chemist examiner, testified that he analyzed pieces of Anthony's trunk liner and parts of the spare tire cover, among other items.

On those, he said, chloroform "residue" was found, but it was at low levels -- which seemed to contradict testimony offered by a scientist Tuesday that levels of chloroform in the trunk were "shockingly high."

Rickenbach, however, did not want to offer specific levels, saying it would not be appropriate because he conducted qualitative testing, confirming chloroform's presence, rather than quantitative testing, which would detect its level.
nder questioning from prosecutor Jeff Ashton, Rickenbach said the samples were sent to him in a cardboard box, not a sealed container, which could have allowed some of the chloroform to evaporate, lowering the levels present. Having the car trunk open for a time might also lower the levels, he said.

Asked by defense attorney Jose Baez if the chloroform level was the highest he's seen in 20 years -- a claim made Tuesday by Arpad Vass, a senior research scientist at Tennessee's Oak Ridge National Laboratory -- Rickenbach said it was not.

Prosecutors allege Anthony used chloroform on her daughter and suffocated her by putting duct tape over the little girl's mouth and nose. They allege Anthony put her daughter's body in her car trunk before disposing of it. Caylee's skeletal remains were found in December 2008, less than a mile from the home of Anthony's parents.

Anthony has pleaded not guilty and denied having anything to do with her daughter's death. Baez has said that when all the facts are known, it will become clear his client is innocent.

Casey's attorneys argue Caylee drowned in the family pool on June 16. They say Anthony and her father panicked and covered up the death. George Anthony denied the claim during his testimony.

An Orange County sheriff's deputy, Jason Forgery, took the stand after Rickenbach. Forgery, part of the sheriff's K-9 unit and a dog handler, explained to the jury the rigorous testing and evaluation the dogs and their handlers undergo before the court recessed for lunch. Prosecutors maintain a dog trained to detect human remains alerted on Anthony's trunk.

Earlier Tuesday, crime scene technician Gerardo Bloise testified about a bag of trash that sat in Anthony's trunk for weeks during the heat of a Florida summer. The trash has been suggested as a possible source of the odor emanating from the trunk, but prosecutors maintain the odor was identifiable as human decomposition.

Asked on Tuesday what the trash smelled like, crime scene technician Gerardo Bloise said it smelled like garbage. He told jurors it did not smell the same as the other odor in the trunk.

The trash bag held items including food wrappers, soft drink cans, pieces of an empty pizza box and napkins, Bloise testified. He said some of the items were wet when he received them and he put them in a "drying room" -- common procedure for wet evidence.

On cross-examination, Baez alleged that drying the napkins and then putting them in a plastic bag rendered them useless for DNA testing. But Bloise insisted he was following proper protocol, saying he did not think after visually inspecting the napkins that DNA testing was necessary as he did not detect the presence of blood.

On Monday, Vass told jurors in the Orlando courtroom that the presence of a decomposing human body is the only plausible explanation for the odor in Anthony's trunk and the results found in forensic testing.

Read more: http://www.wesh.com/casey-anth...l.html#ixzz1OcvRepSP

• Today in court computer forensics experts take the stand. Specialist Sandra Osborne and ( Kevin Stenger  Sgt of Computer crimes at Orange Co Sheriff's)
  Stenger said the 'chloroform' searches on the computers done between Mar. 4 2008 and Mar. 
• So far computer experts and the forensics specialist today have said they cannot tell for certain exactly who searched chloroform on Anthony's computer

  ---

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  John Dennis Bradley Owner of software building company, Former Canadian law enforcement officer.
  Bradley said he copied the contents of thumb drive given to him by investigators. 
  
  Bradley met Sgt. Stenger at a conference and agreed to help him search files from Casey's hard drive.
  Reports are shown to the jury of Bradley's search. Some jurors appear to be struggling with this testimony. Its not being made simple and clear. One just did a brief head bob! This is not good, and makes less of an impact if it has lost their interest.
  Bradley says searches from the Anthony home computer  included the misspelling "chloraform. Hand to hand combat" was selected on Wikipedia.
  Also found are "self defense", "inhalation", "death", "head injuries", "ruptured spleen", "chest trauma".
  
  Another Wikipedia search for "internal bleeding", "hypovolemia" or state of decreased blood volume.
  
  "Making weapons of household products and neck breaking  " was another search selected by computer user in Anthony house.

  At times It seems like they were losing the jury's interest, Getting reports that they're yawning looking bored,and checking their watches.This is important information..but it doesn't have a strong impact if you lose the jury's interest.
  Baez will finish Cross examination tomorrow. 
  To read more summaries from news reports today in court 
   click > 
  http://edition.cnn.com/2011/CR...ny.trial/index.html#
  Video link for today's action in court. > http://www.wftv.com/video/28130570/index.html
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

All the latest summaries from WESH  http://www.wesh.com/casey-anth...coverage/latest.html

Casey ill and court adjourned early today > http://www.wesh.com/casey-anth...28186761/detail.html

Court action today > and all the action from previous days is to be found here as well  http://www.wftv.com/video/28130570/index.html

Hello and Bye 

I saw your posts Soozy - good stuff. 

Yup!  they know everything hoochie. 

http://www.thehinkymeter.com/2...trial-day-14-060911/

http://www.wftv.com/video/28175595/index.html

http://www.thehinkymeter.com/2...trial-day-15-061011/

http://www.wftv.com/video/28189431/index.html

Thanks for links, great stuff.

The latest story results from day 15 and 16 in court.

http://www.wesh.com/casey-anth...coverage/latest.html

Forensic Entomologist Discusses Insects Found On Remains

For those who may have missed some of the evidence this week - here is a concise summary of the weeks events.

http://www.wftv.com/video/28206913/index.html

This video is interesting > http://abcnews.go.com/2020/cas...se/story?id=13814284

Why is she no longer part of the defence team - does anyone know?

to me it just sounds like a woman who is not happy that she's no longer on a high profile case - professional jealousy that Baez/Casey have effectively excluded all others?  Who knows,

I have to say I'm going to be interested and very intrigued as to what will come up as part of Casey's defence and who the defence call as expert witnesses!!! 

Scratch that ^  apparently she left due to financial reasons!!!!!! Pro Bono work doesn't pay enough but I guess giving lots of interviews does    

I'm in no way cynical that if you really believed your client was innocent and you wanted to save her from lethal injection, you'd fight to save her - surely other cases would give you sufficient funds to survive? 

Same here Pengy, if anything 

Here is what i have read through news links 

Andrea Lyon left because they didnt pay her - so much for pro bono work or because you want to save a client
from the death penalty
Article from Orlando Sentinel:

Chicago attorney Andrea Lyon, who joined the Casey Anthony defense team to fight prosecutors' desire to seek the death penalty for the 24-year-old Orlando woman, is no longer on the team.

Lead Anthony attorney Jose Baez confirmed that Lyon has left the defense because of financial issues. He filed paperwork with the Orange County Clerk of Court's office late Wednesday reflecting Lyon's departure.

"We're sad to see her leave, but we completely understand that it's a fiscal reason," Baez said.

He said Lyon will remain "fully accessible to us if we need her at any time."
Local attorney Cheney Mason, a veteran of high-profile murder cases, remains on the team, and Baez said, "You're really not going to notice any difference in the way the team operates."

Casey Anthony's defense will not be jeopardized by the departure, he said.

"She [Lyon] would not have left if she felt it would affect Casey. I know that," Baez said.

Lyon was not immediately available for comment. An outgoing message on her office answering machine said she would not be receiving her voice messages.

In late May 2009, Lyon, a nationally known death-penalty attorney, joined Casey Anthony's defense team.

At that time, her team needed to find a qualified death-penalty attorney who met the state's criteria — which includes five years' trial experience and service as lead attorney in at least nine state or federal jury trials of serious or complex cases.

By then, Lyon, a DePaul University law-school professor, had handled more than 130 murder cases and more than 30 potential capital cases.

Terence M. Lenamon, a Miami death-penalty attorney who briefly worked on the Anthony case, said the loss of Lyon is not good for Casey Anthony's defense.

"In the long run I think it's going to be detrimental to the client," Lenamon said. "I think Andrea is a great lawyer … I'm severely disappointed someone with such great experience and who clearly had the client's best interest in mind is leaving the team."

Anthony is charged with first-degree murder in the death of her daughter, Caylee Marie. The 2-year-old's remains were found Dec. 11, 2008, in woods less than a mile from her family home in east Orange County.

The state is seeking the death penalty against Anthony, and Lyon joined the team for that reason.

Lyon is a clinical professor of law and directs the DePaul law school's Center for Justice in Capital Cases, according to her website. In 1990, she founded the Illinois Capital Resource Center and served as its director until joining the University of Michigan Law School faculty in 1995.

Last year Lyon said prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for "strategic reasons."

"You will hear about those strategic reasons in motions that I will be filing, challenging their right to even ask for the death penalty in these circumstances," Lyon said at the time. "I believe Florida law simply doesn't allow asking for the death penalty in these circumstances."

Baez said that the travel involved with this case and time spent away from her center forced Lyon to leave the team. She needs to focus on that project and help generate revenue there, he said.

Much of her death penalty-related arguments have been filed in motions.

"A good chunk of the work she was doing was completed," Baez said. He added that Mason "has taken on a lot of her responsibilities."

Another long-time attorney with the team, Linda Kenney Baden, also remains. Also, Lyon's private investigator, Mortimer Smith, will remain with the team, Baez said.

He called Lyon a "phenomenal lawyer" and a friend. He said the reasons for her leaving "are purely fiscal."

Casey Anthony is aware of Lyon's departure from the team and was grateful for her work, Baez said.

As for adding new members to the team as the trial approaches, Baez said, "I can't say at this time. If the need arises, yes. If it does not, no."
source: www.orlandosentinel.com

Hi Ev 

I snipped this from your post....

Another long-time attorney with the team, Linda Kenney Baden, also remains. 

She`s gone too - although she`s appearing regularly on chat/news shows.  

I don`t know what their roles were but I believe 8 or 9 others have also come and gone. 

They`ve added new members, one being a new law graduate ( Elizabeth?) who works for Cheney Mason`s law firm.

 http://www.thehinkymeter.com/2...iew-of-trial-week-3/

http://www.wftv.com/video/28202082/index.html

http://www.wftv.com/video/28206856/index.html

It all adds to the intrigue if you like, quite interesting though, about the why's and wherefore's of who comes and go's. For both prosecution and defense. 

Cheers Scotty    

i am slowly getting through the hinky reading matter,    Thanks, its very interesting. (I can't get enough) 

I am intrigued/interested with all points of view and different twists and angles from many sources. 

This is very lengthy but very interesting - letters Casey sent to a fellow in mate - lots of stuff in it

http://www.wftv.com/pdf/23069597/detail.html

Judge Perry's Quotes

One just now to the court.. "You cannot use a shield to turn it into a sword."

All here, pick your favs, they are class

>>>    http://twitter.com/#!/JudgePerrySays  *saves to favourites lol * 

More Quotes: =          " Move. To. Another. Line. Of. Questioning."

                                 "I understand one of you has a new name? Johnny Depp?"

                                  "That was not the question. I asked WHERE. IS. THE. FILE."

                                    "I am NOT. STOPPING. ANYMORE. FOR. YOU. TO. GET. A. FILE!"

hahahaaa

 More about the Jury and a reminder of who they are, to refer to >http://www.people.com/people/a...d=rss-fullcontentcnn

And another court insight into what is behind her tears? http://www.people.com/people/a...d=rss-fullcontentcnn

Latest News from WESH http://www.wesh.com/casey-anth...28223487/detail.html

Anthony's defense claimed in opening statements that the young girl's remains were placed in the woods by Kronk, not by Casey as prosecutors allege.

Judge Belvin Perry ruled in January that the defense could not introduce any evidence on Kronk's prior bad acts.

Perry said the defense claimed that Kronk had a "possible history of inappropriate behavior with young girls," a history of "abusing, restraining, and holding women against their will," using duct tape to restrain women and even said there is a chance that he knew the locations of the remains before alerting law enforcement.

Perry said that Kronk could be questioned about his calls to law enforcement to report a suspicious bag, but the defense cannot use his alleged history as evidence that he could be a suspect in the case.

Kronk collected a $5,000 CrimeLine reward for his tip that led to the remains.

Former Anthony family spokesman Mark NeJame also gave Kronk $5,000 earlier as a goodwill gesture. Kronk also received a $20,000 photo licensing fee for a nationally televised interview after the discovery.

Read more: http://www.wesh.com/casey-anth...l.html#ixzz1PFzotxf0

I was wondering what the defence may bring to the stand, and am wondering if they will bring River Cruz  (George Anthony's Mistress at the time.) Reported from Orlando Sentinel. http://blogs.orlandosentinel.c...y-anthonys-case.html

Casey Anthony: What could mistress report mean to George Anthony’s future, Casey Anthony’s case? 
Caylee and Casey Anthony, George and Cindy Anthony, WESH, WFTV 

the one overiding FACT is that she did not report her daughter's disappearance and because of that i refuse to believe she is innocent (even if it was accidental she is still culpable in hiding/moving/stalling/ect)

I have always thought that   ^ Just not sure about a few other things though, still because of lack of facts, we will never know the full truth, unless certain things emerge.

Another thought about the duct tape after death .....

As a witness testifies, a former boyfriend  said Casey would use chloroform to get her daughter to sleep. As Casey had trouble getting Caylee to sleep.

Caylee quite possible just didnt wake up one time. The duct tape was THEN placed over the face area after death to prevent the gastric contents from regurgitating. The body then placed in the car.

Did George or anyone know about this accident?  help in any way?..... not sure of this, but is a possibility. 

http://www.thehinkymeter.com/2...18-061411/#more-7174

http://www.wftv.com/video/28222880/index.html

http://www.clickorlando.com/video/28227726/index.html

http://bluebeachsong.wordpress...bservations/#Updates

The blue beach summaries are a little behind  (i dont know why) but they are up to day 11 now and say the other days are to follow soon. 

Today's action in court on video > 1  http://www.wftv.com/video/28130570/index.html 

Part 2 http://www.wftv.com/video/28130570/index.html

Part 3 http://www.wftv.com/video/28130570/index.html

Party 4 http://www.wftv.com/video/28130570/index.html

ORLANDO Today the Prosecutors rested their first-degree murder case against Casey Anthony on Wednesday.

Over the course of 19 days, prosecutors have introduced hundreds of items of evidence and called investigators and forensic experts as witnesses along with Casey's own family and friends in an effort to prove their theory that Casey killed her daughter by knocking her out with chloroform and putting duct tape over her nose and mouth.

Prosecutors claim Casey then put the body in black garbage bags and stored it in her trunk for days before dumping it in woods near the family home.

Caylee's skeletal remains were found Dec. 11, 2008.

Caylee was last seen June 16, 2008, but her disappearance was not reported until July 15, 2008, after Anthony's mother demanded answers about the little girl's whereabouts.

Anthony faces seven counts in her daughter's death, including first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse and misleading investigators. If convicted, she could face the death penalty.

Prosecutors used evidence that's never before been used in a Florida criminal case -- such as a hair with a so-called "death band" on it that was found in Anthony's trunk and air tests. An expert testified that the air testing revealed Anthony's trunk was loaded with chloroform and also showed signs of human decomposition.

A forensic computer expert testified someone looked up how to make the powerful knockout drug on the Anthony computer three months before Caylee was last seen.

Jurors also heard of Anthony's lies to authorities and her elaborate web of imaginary friends and saw a number of graphic photos of Caylee's remains. The photos showed the child's skull as it was found in the woods, along with the position of the duct tape prosecutors allege was used to suffocate the toddler.

Anthony's attorneys have said Caylee was not killed but rather that she drowned in the family pool shortly after her family last reported seeing her.

The defense claims that Anthony and her father, George Anthony, panicked when they discovered the body and covered up her death. George Anthony rejected that scenario in his testimony the first week of the trial.

In lead defense attorney Jose Baez's opening statements, he also alleged a history of family problems.

"I think (Casey's) dad has to come back and testify. They have flat-out alleged he molested his daughter and there's been no evidence of that at all," said veteran prosecutor Jeff Deen. Deen provides legal analysis for WESH 2 News and is not affiliated with the case.

Deen also believes the defense must call Roy Kronk as a witness, the man who discovered the remains off of Suburban Drive. Kronk was not called by the prosecution. He was only referenced by the state in a 911 call that reported the find.

"Roy Kronk has to testify because they put Caylee's remains in his hand and they did that in their opening statement," Deen said.

Kronk's attorney told WESH 2 News on Monday his client had been subpoenaed by the defense to testify.

Legal experts don't believe Anthony will testify in her own defense, but may need to based on her defense team's goal.

"If she took the stand I can't imagine her testimony wouldn't take at least week. Can you imagine the prosecutor taking her through 31 days of lies? They would have to do that. I don't suspect based on timeline that they're talking about that she would take the stand," Deen said.

"I don't think Casey Anthony should testify. I think the case is weak enough now where the defense could argue for a lesser offense if that's what they're going for. However, if Jose Baez is still committed and Casey Anthony is still committed to go for an absolute innocence, a not guilty for everything, she has to testify," said Orlando criminal defense attorney Richard Hornsby, who also provides legal analysis for WESH 2 News.

Judge Belvin Perry said Monday that jury deliberations could begin as soon as June 25.

The defense will begin its case Thursday morning.

Read more: http://www.wesh.com/casey-anth...l.html#ixzz1PN4VpEyA

thanks for that Ev x And thanks to Scotty for the links x

LATEST UPDATE

Early Friday morning, court watchers got into a brawl outside the courtroom while standing in line. One spectator told WFTV that a man put him in a headlock.

The trial began 32 days ago with jury selection, and on the 21st day of testimony, Casey's lead attorney Jose Baez will try to recover from a few mistakes he made as he began to lay out his evidence on Thursday.

Casey's accused of killing her 2-year-old daughter, Caylee.

Baez is expected to call more of the prosecution's forensic witnesses to the stand Friday after questioning several crime scene investigators and FBI evidence analysts on Thursday about the evidence they collected and examined.

The defense has spent time trying to discredit the state's evidence, instead of backing up their own theory.

As the defense began presenting its case, Baez questioned an FBI DNA analyst about whether investigators believed Casey and her brother, Lee Anthony, had a sexual relationship.

Baez didn't get far with that line of questioning. He also focused on evidence from where Caylee's remains were found.

In a misstep he asked about a blanket that's not in evidence, “My apologies, the blanket that was just described is not in evidence. I move to strike,” said Baez.

WFTV’s legal analyst Bill Sheaffer said those kind of mistakes hurt the defense's case.

“That kind of mistake is sloppy and it undercuts in the jurors' minds his authority and credibility,” he said.

Baez spent the entire day on Thursday attacking prosecutors' evidence. It's unclear where his witness list will go from there, but Sheaffer said Baez will have to move along much quicker, or he can expect Judge Belvin Perry to intervene.

Casey is charged with first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse, aggravated manslaughter of a child and four counts of lying to law enforcement. She has pleaded not guilty and faces the death penalty if convicted.

The state says Caylee was suffocated by Casey with duct tape. The defense contends she drowned in her grandparents' swimming pool.

Caylee's skeletal remains were found in the woods behind the Anthony home on Suburban Drive in December 2008.

Thanks Soozy x

This is a must read by the wonderful Valhall. x

http://www.thehinkymeter.com/2...20-061611/#more-7191

Bill Sheaffer analysis Day 31. 

http://www.wftv.com/video/28238331/index.html

Valhall is great - I agree Scotty 

thanks for that I sometimes overlook the latest stuff.

Thanks for the links, Scotty.

Thanks for updates 

Yesterdays summary. 

http://www.wesh.com/casey-anth...28262616/detail.html<  the video link on here is good to watch a brief summary 

FBI Experts say the testing for the prosecution contaminated duct tape, and no DNA  at key locations. So the item the state claim is the murder weapon was contaminated by the FBI , and now we now know there is no evidence there was a sticker on it. Reported from this link above ^ 

Day 20: FBI Contamination, Blood Evidence

Read more: http://www.wesh.com/casey-anth...l.html#ixzz1PYP74RIL

Todays summary so far

The Defence's 2nd day. 

Casey Defense Expert Talks Bugs, Trunk

Read more: http://www.wesh.com/casey-anth...l.html#ixzz1PYRJfviv

You`re welcome fellow jurors  

Thanks Ev 

http://www.thehinkymeter.com/2...trial-day-22-061811/

http://www.wftv.com/video/28263937/index.html

No Problem Scotty  

Yesterdays summaries continued

Day 21: Trunk Stains, Bugs In The Trunk

Read more: http://www.wesh.com/casey-anth...l.html#ixzz1Pdb1BcxT