Defense Wants Help Paying For Casey's Defense

Casey Anthony’s defense team asked a judge Friday to declare her indigent, for some of the costs of her case. Orange County taxpayers would pay for part of the trial, if a judge accepts the motion.

VIDEO REPORT: Taxpayers Could Foot The Bill

“The defense team is faced with extensive costs to defend Miss Anthony, ensure she receives a fair trial, and prevent the State from taking her life. The initial cost estimates for defending Miss Anthony have been far exceeded by the additional costs incurred since the State’s decision to pursue the death penalty. As a result, the defense is seeking state assistance to subsidize the costs of travel, serving subpoenas, hiring experts to interpret evidence and transcripts, deposing in- and out-of-state witnesses and investigating all aspects of the case,” the defense team’s media spokesperson wrote in a release issued early Friday evening.

Eyewitness News found out the fees for Anthony's attorneys would not be included in what taxpayers have to pay.

Since taxpayer dollars could be involved, the judge could question Anthony's attorneys about any possible book or movie deals that may be planned.

If Anthony does have money coming in from any such deals, she would be obligated to reimburse the county.

Anthony has been in jail since October 2008 and faces the death penalty for allegedly murdering her daughter Caylee.

NEW EVIDENCE TO BE RELEASED SOON

Some of the prosecution’s evidence in the case against Casey Anthony will soon be released.

New discovery evidence will be released Wednesday morning. WFTV was told that it will include ten discs worth of DNA charts from the case.

More than 12,000 pages of evidence have already been released in the case.

KRONK'S EX-WIFE QUESTIONED BY PROSECUTORS

The ex-wife of the former Orange County meter reader who found Caylee's remains was questioned Thursday by prosecutors. Jill Kerley's deposition was taken via Skype from her attorney's office in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Casey's defense team has said Kerley's testimony will prove her ex-husband, Roy Kronk, should be a suspect in Caylee's murder. She claims Kronk bound her with duct tape while they were married.

Caylee's remains were found with duct tape over the mouth.

A judge will view Kerley's testimony and decide whether it's relevant to the case.

PROSECUTORS CAN KEEP EVIDENCE SECRET

A judge in the case against Casey Anthony will allow prosecutors to keep possible new evidence a secret from the defense for at least the next 30 days.

READ: Camera Sealed Motion To Delay Disclosure

Judge Stan Strickland signed an order Wednesday and said, if prosecutors need to keep it sealed for more than a month they have to tell him in writing why it's necessary.

Earlier this month, WFTV found out new information had come to investigators that could be damaging to Casey, but just what the information is hasn't been released.

FORECLOSURE PAPERS FILED ON ANTHONY'S HOME

Casey Anthony's parents may be losing their home on Hopespring Drive to foreclosure (read documents). It's the last place Caylee Anthony was seen alive and it has become infamous over the past two years for protests and fights.

READ: Foreclosure Documents For Anthony Home VIDEO REPORT: Anthonys Face Foreclosure THE PROPERTY: Details From Property Appraiser

The Anthonys face foreclosure despite the money that George and Cindy have made off the case, including getting paid $20,000 for an exclusive interview on CBS. And, even though they haven't made a mortgage payment since last May, five months after that they went on a cruise.

Over the last year and a half, the house has been the scene of some strange goings on. Cindy Anthony has squirted at people with a hose, the Anthonys have had shoving and shouting matches with protesters and Casey has been taken away amidst a mob scene, surrounded by people angry that she was allowed to live in the house she once shared with her daughter Caylee.

Inside, Cindy has said Caylee's room has been left exactly as it was the day she disappeared. Now, they might lose the house with all its good and bad memories.

Some neighbors feel it wouldn't be a bad thing.

“It's good if somebody would buy it. There's nothing wrong with the house. It's only if you knew. It's all in your mind,” neighbor Kevin Co said.

The Anthonys bought the house for almost $91,000 in 1989 (property appraiser's listing), but court records show the Anthonys owe more than $115,000, plus interest, partly because of a second mortgage.

Cindy is on disability from her nursing job and George has been out of work almost since Casey's first arrest. Their son Lee's lawyer said Lee moved in with them last year to help them pay their bills, but right after that is when they stopped making mortgage payments and Eyewitness News has heard he's moved out.

Neighbor Kevin Co obviously doesn't know all the details of the Anthony’s finances, but says he wouldn't feel sorry for them if it turns out they spent money on a cruise and other things instead of making their $785 per month house payments.

“That's not the right thing to do if that's the way they did it,” he said.

One neighbor, who didn’t want to be identified, said if the Anthonys put everyone else's property values in jeopardy by being irresponsible with their finances it's not going to endear them to anyone in the neighborhood.

Still, an Orlando real estate agent told Eyewitness News the intrigue could be a selling point for some and others might want to help the Anthonys.

“I think there are so many followers of the family that they would step in and try to help the family and one way of doing that is make an attempt to purchase the house,” Sarah Eagan explained.

Previous Stories: March 5, 2010: New Evidence Soon To Be Released In Casey Case February 24, 2010: Casey Prosecutors Allowed To Keep Evidence Secret February 23, 2010: Foreclosure Papers Filed On Anthony's Home February 23, 2010: Zenaida Gonzalez Files Witness List In Casey Case February 18, 2010: Anthony Allotta, D.O., Earns “Partners In The Business Of Education Award” February 17, 2010: Is Casey’s Defense Team Running Out Of Money? February 16, 2010: Legal Expert: Evidence Suggests Only Casey As Suspect February 16, 2010: Knife, Syringe Among Photos Released In Casey Case February 15, 2010: Attorney Leaving Casey's Defense Team February 12, 2010: Casey's Defense Wants Private Meeting Denied February 12, 2010: EquuSearch Attorney: Baez Motion Is A Waste Of Time February 5, 2010: Juror Surveys Call Casey’s Attorney “Rat,” “Jerk” February 4, 2010: Why Does Casey’s Trial Keep Getting Delayed? February 4, 2010: Casey Case Prosecutors Want To Withhold Info