ORLANDO, Fla. — New names on Casey Anthony's defense witness list could be signaling a major change in strategy. WFTV found out one of those witnesses was pushed by Casey's father during a protest outside their home.
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Two of the witnesses appeared in a WFTV report in 2008 after George pushed one of them. Another new witness specializes in post traumatic stress disorder.
WFTV legal analyst Bill Sheaffer says the defense might try to portray George as Caylee's killer (watch full interview).
In September 2008, George Anthony grabbed and shoved protester Patricia Young. She wanted to prosecute.
"We were not on his property," she said at the time.
With Young was eyewitness Sharon Cadiuex.
Now that the defense knows the jury will hear Casey's statements to investigators and lack of emotion over daughter Caylee's disappearance, it says Young and Cadieux have necessary testimony and it wants new experts to testify about Casey's state of mind.
"The defense might try to show that George was abusive, abusive to Casey, and that she's suffering from post traumatic stress disorder," Sheaffer said. "This could mean that they're going to attempt to pin the murder on George."
Casey, who's charged with murdering her daughter Caylee and dumping the body near their house, cannot legally use abuse as a defense, but can use it to explain her lack of emotion, including when George broke down this month while testifying how much he loved them.
Casey even wrote that George might have sexually abused her.
Sheaffer says the "George" defense would also work with other key evidence. George had access to the car where investigators say Casey hid Caylee's dead body, and to the duct tape, heart sticker and laundry bag found with Caylee's remains. He also admits to being the last to see Caylee alive in the same clothes found with her remains.
Sheaffer says George could even go along with it, even going so far as to plead the Fifth if the defense asks him whether he killed Caylee.
Sheaffer also says Casey could testify she was abused and traumatized, and that she lied to protect George.
Previous Stories: March 25, 2011: Judge Denies Casey Anthony Motion For New Hearing March 25, 2011: Casey Defense To Be Back In Court Next Week March 25, 2011: Courtroom Gets Heated In Day 2 Of Casey Hearing March 24, 2011: Casey Anthony In Court For Hearings On DNA, K-9 Search March 19, 2011: Judge Rules In Favor Of Prosecution In Casey Anthony Case
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