ORLANDO, Fla.,None — Casey Anthony's father, George Anthony, wrote in a suicide note that he had unanswered questions about what happened to his granddaughter, a revelation that undercuts defense claims that the toddler drowned accidentally and he helped cover it up.
Casey is on trial for murder. She is accused of suffocating her daughter, 2-year-old Caylee Anthony, with duct tape in the summer of 2008. Caylee's remains were found in the woods in December of that year.
Defense attorneys, who have been trying to paint the Anthony family as dysfunctional, say Caylee drowned in her grandparents' backyard pool and Casey's father, George, disposed of the body.
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Wednesday marked day 42, including jury selection, of Casey's trial. Casey was in court just before 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, wearing a pink, long-sleeved shirt. She had her hair pulled back in a ponytail.
George broke down in tears as he talked about the discovery of Caylee's remains. This is the fifth time since the trial began that he has testified. Casey sat stone-faced during his testimony.
"I was hysterical, I was upset, I demanded answers and I would still do that today," George said.
"Did you believe your granddaughter was alive?" George was asked.
"Yes, everyday from the day we found out she disappeared until December when we heard it was Caylee," George said as he cried.
On Wednesday, lead defense attorney Jose Baez asked George about his January 2009 suicide attempt. But when prosecutor Jeff Ashton later asked George if he had bought a gun five months before that, Baez objected.
With the jury out of the room, George said he planned to use the gun to try to get his daughter's friends to tell him what happened to Caylee.
George also said he wrote in his suicide note about "unanswered questions" and that he chose to kill himself because "I needed at that time to go be with Caylee because I knew I failed her."
Ashton argued that the statements were valid for the jury to hear because they rebutted the drowning theory and implied that George didn't know what really happened to Caylee. Ashton also said the suicide note did not include any reference to George molesting Casey when she was a child, as Baez claimed in his opening statement.
Judge Belvin Perry agreed that the jury could hear about the gun purchase and the suicide note.
"It looks to me like someone opened the door and someone is trying to walk through it," Perry said.
When the jury came back, George got emotional as he recounted the months before his suicide attempt, in which he drove to Daytona Beach and tried to overdose on prescription medication.
He also said he never got the opportunity to confront his daughter's friends because law enforcement confiscated the gun the day after he bought it in August 2008. Casey was out on bond and staying in his home, and firearms are prohibited in a place where a person on bond is living.
Karin Moore, a law professor at Florida A&M University, said alluding to the suicide attempt was a misstep by Baez.
"I think it backfired on him," Moore said. "I think his intention was to craft an inference for the jury that George Anthony tried to commit suicide over the alleged abuse and death of Caylee. He opened the door and Ashton correctly pointed it out. "
Baez also questioned George about Casey's claim that he molested her.
"You would never admit to molesting your daughter?" Baez asked George.
"I would never hurt my daughter," George replied.
"My question is, you would never admit to it?" Baez asked.
"I would never do anything to harm my daughter in that way," he replied.
Baez tried to imply that George was lying.
'It's after this alleged argument you had with your daughter about the gas cans…" Baez states.
"It's not alleged, sir, it happened," George said."Myself, my daughter and God know the truth."
"Is there anyone else you want to add in there, a dog or something?" Baez remarked.
"Objection!" stated prosecutor Jeff Ashton.
"Sustained," Judge Perry said.
Baez seemed to imply that George was lying.
"It's after this alleged argument you had with your daughter about the gas cans…" Baez states.
"It's not alleged, sir, it happened," George said."Myself, my daughter and God know the truth."
"Is there anyone else you want to add in there, a dog or something?" Baez remarked.
"Objection!" stated prosecutor Jeff Ashton.
"Sustained," Judge Perry said.
Moore said she also thinks Baez was trying to avoid putting Casey on the stand.
"I think (Baez) did nothing but engender sympathy for George Anthony now the jury has contempt for Baez that could certainly reflect on Casey Anthony," Moore said.
Earlier, Cindy was called to testify. Baez began questioning Cindy and asked if she remembered her son, Lee Anthony, going into Casey's room at night. Prosecution objected and the judge and attorneys entered a sidebar.
Baez continued questioning Cindy about media accusations when they were searching for Caylee. Cindy was cross-examined by prosecutor Linda Drane-Burdick and was dismissed.
Baez said the defense began the day with about six more witnesses to call, but it wasn't clear if Casey would testify.
Early Wednesday morning, before the jury was called in, Casey told Judge Perry she agreed with her attorney's motion for mistrial on Wednesday, and Perry said he would reserve ruling on that motion until a later date. Casey's death penalty attorney, Ann Finnell, called into the courtroom via telephone to discuss her motion for a mistrial. Finnell argued for the judge to reconsider regulation for a mistrial. She said a new appeals case out of south Florida ruling that the death penalty is unconstitutional means the current jury should be re-seated.
Judge Perry asked if Casey was aware of this and agreed, and she stood up and said, "I agree with Miss Finnell." (watch raw video) Meter reader Roy Kronk was called to the stand once again on Wednesday. On Tuesday, the defense scrutinized the testimony of the meter reader who, it argues, moved Caylee's remains so he could collect a reward for the discovery. Wednesday, Baez continued to ask the same type of questions that were asked on Tuesday. Kronk seemed frustrated by the repetition.
His son, Brandon Sparks, testified just before Kronk and stated that he received phone a phone call from his dad telling him to watch for him on television. Sparks stated that he received the phone call in November, however, that month is inconsistent to when Kronk was asked to appear on T.V.
Prosecutor Linda Drane-Burdick was able to prove that fact to the jury. She said that Caylee's skull was found in December and the interview was scheduled after that time, proving that Sparks either made up the story or was confused about the dates. Casey is charged with first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse, aggravated manslaughter of a child and four counts of lying to law enforcement.
Casey has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in Caylee's death and could face the death penalty if convicted of that charge.
Previous Stories: June 28, 2011: Kronk: Left Bones Untouched, Tried To Do "The Right Thing" June 27, 2011: Casey Smiles, Laughs Prior To Mental Competency Ruling June 25, 2011: Judge Unexpectedly Adjourns Casey Trial Until Monday June 24, 2011: Tearful Day 38: Cindy, Casey, Lee Anthony Cry In Court June 23, 2011: Cindy: Searched Web For Chloroform, Car Stain Was Old June 22, 2011: Casey's Defense Team Tries To Tear Apart State's Case June 21, 2011: State: Casey May Have Used Inmate's Child Drowning Story June 20, 2011: Judge Perry Scolds Attorneys, Court Recessed Until Tuesday June 18, 2011: Casey Cries As Expert Talks About Caylee's Skull In Trial June 17, 2011: Casey Court Drama: Sparring Lawyers, Fighting Spectators June 16, 2011: Mistake, Objections Spark Fireworks In Casey Trial
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