Updated: 11:33 p.m. Wednesday, June 17, 2009 | Posted: 12:54 p.m. Wednesday, June 17, 2009
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. —
READ: Order To Seal Video | Motion To Intervene GrantedVOTE: Do You Agree With Judge's Order?LEGAL ANALYSIS: Bill Sheaffer On Judge's Order VIDEO REPORT: Jailhouse Video Sealed By Judge
"While the Court is loathe to shield any public record, an argument can certainly be made that the contents of the video are highly inflammatory," Judge Stan Strickland wrote in his order.
WFTV legal analyst Bill Sheaffer said the ruling basically means the public's right to see the video was outweighed by Casey's right to a fair trial, especially considering the national attention surrounding the case.
"The court is very concerned that she may in fact not get a fair trial in a case with the ultimate penalty, which is death," Sheaffer said (watch full interview).
Casey's defense team had argued that their client's rights were violated when she was videotaped. The video in question reportedly shows Anthony doubling over and hyperventilating after learning her daughter's remains were found as she watched Channel 9.
"Her hands started to sweat. She started rubbing them profusely. She was in waist chains and handcuffs and she kept saying, 'The waist chains are getting tighter and tighter on me, please loosen them,'" Jail Lt. Tammy Unser told Detective Philip Graves during an interview on the afternoon of December 11 (listen to interview).
Defense attorney's argued that releasing the surveillance video would violate Anthony's right to privacy since it was filmed while she was in a medical office at the Orange County Jail, seeking medical treatment. Anthony's attorneys have alleged that her jailers worked with the Orange County Sheriff's Office to have the television news on in the medical office so Anthony's reaction could be recorded.
The Orange County Sheriff's Office has said there was no orchestration with the jail.
"Considering the matter and penalty at hand, it does seem too great a restraint to limit access to the video in question. Therefore, the defendant's Motion to Seal the videotape is granted, and it must not be released for viewing by the general public or media, until further order of the court," Judge Stan Strickland wrote in his order.
The Orlando Sentinel filed a motion to intervene, which Judge Strickland granted (order granting motion) Wednesday. Rachel Fugate, the attorney for the Orlando Sentinel -- which had filed the motion to unseal the video -- said Judge Strickland was prudent in his ruling.
"We certainly wish the videotape would have been released, but we certainly appreciate the consideration the judge gave to this matter," said Fugate. "We don't have any reason to believe there was something wrong in his ruling."
Sheaffer said the ruling does not mean the video can't be used as evidence in the trial. That decision will come later. The judge did point out that sealing the video could be just a delay and that at some point after the trial is over the video might be released.
WHAT'S NEXT IN CASE AGAINST CASEY
There is some other evidence in the case yet to be released. A judge has yet to set a court hearing over Caylee's autopsy report. It was supposed to be released last week, but Caylee's grandparents filed a motion to have it blocked.
The trial date has been set for October, but legal experts say that's not going to happen; there's still a lot of evidence for lawyers to go over in the case.
MEMORIAL HELD FOR CAYLEE ANTHONY
Caylee Anthony was remembered in a memorial that was not attended by one single member of the Anthony family. A small group met Tuesday night at Blanchard Park to remember Caylee (images | video).
The memorial was organized by Richard Grund, the father of Casey's former fiancé who didn't attend the service.
CAYLEE MEMORIAL: See Images | Watch VideoONE YEAR LATER: Casey Anthony CasePHOTOS: Casey With Daughter Caylee FOLLOW US! Casey Coverage On Twitter
However, his father did read a letter written by Jesse.
"I miss Caylee everyday. Neither tomorrow, nor the day after will change that," read Richard Grund.
At the end of the service, balloons with Caylee's name and butterflies were released.
Caylee's mother, 23-year-old Casey Anthony, is in the Orange County jail facing first-degree murder charges. She is accused of killing 2-year-old Caylee.
ANTHONYS TALK ON ANNIVERSARY OF CAYLEE'S DISAPPEARANCE
It was an emotional day for the family of Caylee Anthony.
"I just miss her. I miss her so much," said Cindy.
VIDEO REPORT: Anniversary Of Disappearance
It was one year ago Tuesday that George Anthony said he last saw his granddaughter alive. George and Cindy Anthony went on national television Tuesday morning and talked about the heartbreak they have gone through in the last year.
"It's been a tough year. Yesterday was a tough day. Today has been a tough day. Every day has been a tough day this year," Cindy said.
The Anthonys appeared on national TV and talked about their pain of losing Caylee Marie Anthony. George Anthony remembered the last few moments he ever spent with his granddaughter, Caylee.
"Last time I saw her was June 16, one year ago today. I woke up with her in the morning at 7:30 and got a chance to have breakfast with her. Just before 1:00pm that day I didn't realize that would be the last time I would see her," George said Tuesday.
The Anthonys used the interview to offer their help to other families of missing children. They admitted that with the controversy surrounding their granddaughter's disappearance, some families of missing children do not want their help.
Caylee was last seen one year ago Tuesday, but she wasn't reported missing until one month later. Casey Anthony, 23, is in the Orange County jail charged with Caylee's murder. Casey Anthony has pleaded not guilty and says a baby sitter kidnapped her toddler.
Caylee's remains were found in woods near the family's home on December 11.
Previous Stories: June 17, 2009: Crowd Gathers To Remember Caylee At Memorial June 16, 2009: Anthonys Talk On Anniversary Of Caylee's Disappearance June 16, 2009: One Year Later: The Case Against Casey June 16, 2009: Anthonys' Attorney Appears On GMA June 12, 2009: New Documents, Evidence Released In Casey Case June 12, 2009: Book About Casey Anthony Case To Be Released June 10, 2009: Baez Files Motion To Obtain Phone Records June 9, 2009: 911 Call Released Of Woman Claiming Anthonys Chased Her June 9, 2009: George, Cindy Won't Face Charges Over Allegations June 8, 2009: Casey's Attorney To Question Key Witness June 5, 2009: New Casey Attorney Files Paperwork; Witness Being Re-Questioned June 3, 2009: Casey's 2003 Yearbook For Sale On EBay June 3, 2009: P.I. To Stop Casey's Attorneys From Getting Phone Records June 2, 2009: Women Say Anthonys Chased Them From Caylee Memorial June 2, 2009: Baez Files New Motion To Seal Jail Video