ORANGE COUNTY, Fla.,None — It's the most anticipated trial in Central Florida's history. Day one of Casey Anthony's murder trial began early Monday morning with jury selection in Pinellas County.
DAY 1: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 WATCH CASEY INSIDE JAIL: Raw Video | See Images BILL SHEAFFER: Analysis Of Jury Selection JURY EXPERT: Day 1 Of Jury Selection CASEY ENTERING COURT: Raw Video | See Images CASEY CRYING: See Images IMAGES: Casey's Jury Selection Begins DOCUMENT: Casey Booking Info TEAM COVERAGE: Casey Jury Selection
Casey is accused of murdering her 2-year-old daughter, Caylee Marie Anthony, putting the body in the trunk of her car, and then discarding it in a wooded area behind her home. Caylee was reported missing in the summer of 2008.
"We are about to begin jury selection in the case of the state against Casey Anthony," said Chief Judge Belvin Perry.
Casey sat with her attorneys at her side, wearing a mint green blouse, gray slacks and her hair pulled back into a ponytail. Her parents, George and Cindy Anthony, were not there.
Casey couldn't hold back her tears Monday Judge Perry read the charges against her during jury selection for her high-profile murder trial on Monday in Clearwater.
WFTV and WFTV.com have been following every development in the case for almost three years.
Because the case is so huge, and followed so closely by so many in Orange County, the search for the 12 jurors and 8 alternates started 100 miles away and no one found that out until early Monday morning.
WFTV reporter Kathi Belich was told that the whole thing could have been avoided Monday because there was discussion of a possible plea deal, but Casey said no. She would have had to admit to every detail of Caylee's murder.
During jury selection, one man rubbed his forehead when he heard how long the trial could take; 6 to 8 weeks.
Pinellas County Image: Casey In Pinellas Co. Jail Mug 05/09 Casey seemed nervous on Monday, biting her nail, and chattering a lot. When Judge Perry told prospective jurors that she is charged with first-degree murder and faces the death penalty, Casey broke down and shook her head "no."
"I think they noticed and I think the impression they formed of Casey was not a good one," said jury expert Dr. Randy Fisher.
Prosecutors complained to the judge about Casey's crying. The judge told the group of 120 to ignore Casey's emotions. They were brought in after filling out a brief questionnaire about work and other personal information.
Defense attorney Jose Baez objected to the first panel of about 100 people in its entirety, saying that it wasn't representative of Orlando's demographics because it had only two Hispanic and four African-American jurors.
Perry denied the objection and questioning of the panelists began.
The first line of questioning, which could take two days, is whether being away from jobs and family for up to two months would cause hardships.
The judge excused a coast guardsman being deployed to Alaska, a man whose wife doesn't like to sleep alone, and a self-employed pet sitter.
Fisher said the worst thing Casey did was avoid eye contact, which makes a bad first impression.
"That she's guilty and she's ashamed," Fisher said.
One potential juror, who wasn't even asked, said he believes Casey's guilty.
"I feel that, you know, I know the verdict would be would be guilty," the potential juror said (watch video) .
The defense tried twice, unsuccessfully, to get the trial delayed.
Once they excuse those who have hardships, they'll start asking potential jurors whether they have opinions in the case and how they feel about the death penalty. That might not start until Wednesday.
Perry wants opening arguments to begin on May 17.
Casey is staying in a new jail cell in Pinellas County, and is as isolated as her old one. Casey was booked just before 6:30pm on Sunday (booking info) .
WFTV obtained surveillance video released Monday of Casey walking into the Pinellas County jail (video | images). In the video, the guard pats her down and takes a new photo of her. She'll stay in a special health care facility in the Pinellas County jail, during jury selection. That's a special place in the jail where they can keep her in an individual cell, separated from all the other inmates.
After 12 jurors and 8 alternates are picked to hear Casey's case, they will face several restrictions after they're brought back to Orlando for the trial.
The court will provide hotel rooms, food and transportation for the duration of the trial.
During that time, the court will have control over where the jurors go, what they read and watch on television, and how often they speak with their families.
Restrictions are not always so tight. In most capital cases, the jury is only sequestered during deliberations.
It's been 20 years since Orange County sequestered a jury for an entire trial. Casey is charged with aggravated child abuse, aggravated manslaughter of a child and providing false information to law enforcement. She has pleaded not guilty and says a babysitter kidnapped Caylee.
So far, there have been 66 interviews; 45 have been rejected, and there were callbacks consisting of 13 men and 8 women.
The court wrapped up at about 5:52pm and will resume on Tuesday at 8:30am.
AIR TEST EVIDENCE ALLOWED IN TRIAL
Right before jury selection started, Judge Perry made a ruling that could impact Casey's verdict. He decided that he will allow evidence from a scientific air test that was performed on Casey's trunk (read judge's order).
The test has never been used before in any trial. It's a groundbreaking technique that uses sensors to breakdown odor. It's called a "gas chromatograph" and prosecutors say the machine can prove the existence of the smell of death.
The air test will be significant evidence that will come out in court once the trial returns to Orange County.
The ruling was another big blow for Casey's defense attorneys.
Prosecutors say the tests will show signs of human decomposition in the trunk of Casey's car, presumably from Caylee's body.
"This is on par with DNA evidence," said WFTV legal analyst Bill Sheaffer.
The technique analyzes gases to determine their chemical make-up. Casey's defense argued it's experimental when it comes to identifying the compounds of human decomposition. They said it's so-called "junk science."
But Perry didn't agree and will allow testimony from the prosecutor's scientific expert. It could play into what we heard directly from the 911 call Casey's mom made in 2008.
"Smells like a dead body in the damn trunk," Cindy Anthony said during the call.
Prosecutor Jeff Ashton is no stranger to introducing ground breaking evidence. In 1987, he was the first prosecutor in the country to get a conviction on DNA evidence.
"It's going to be significant because jurors are going to look for that CSI factor and this is that type of evidence," Sheaffer said.
One difference between the "gas chromatograph" test and DNA tests is the air test may show decomposition, but won't show specifically whose body was in the trunk.
ABOUT THE ATTORNEYS IN THE CASE
Casey has four attorneys defending her. Jose Baez has only been practicing law since 2005, and throughout the case critics have questioned if that's enough experience to handle such a high-profile trial.
Cheney Mason has been successful in defending 50 first-degree murder cases.
Dorothy Clay Sims is an Ocala attorney who specializes in cross-examining medical experts, and Anne Finnell is from Jacksonville and an expert on the death penalty.
The prosecutors in this case have a lot of experience. Between Jeff Ashton and Linda Drane Burdick, the two of them have tried 30 capital cases and succeeded in winning a death sentence 27 times.
Ashton is also known as a trailblazer. He was the first attorney to ever convict someone using only DNA evidence. He did it in Orange County, sending Tommie Lee Andrews to prison for two rapes in 1987.
WFTV will be covering the Casey Anthony trial everyday, from every angle. Stay with WFTV and WFTV.com for the latest developments.
Previous Stories: May 8, 2011: Casey Anthony Jury Selection To Begin Monday May 8, 2011: Report: Casey's Jury Could Be From Pinellas County May 7, 2011: Casey Anthony Rejects Mom's Request For Visit May 6, 2011: EXCLUSIVE: WFTV Polls Potential Jurors In Casey Case May 6, 2011: Appeals Court Returns Opinion, Casey Trial Won't Be Delayed May 6, 2011: Casey's Parents Will Be Allowed In Court For Trial May 6, 2011: Casey's Defense Loses Jury Selection Consultant
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