ORANGE COUNTY, Fla.,None — Chief Judge Belvin Perry issued his rulings Friday on motions from hearings earlier this month on whether jurors will hear the statements Casey Anthony made to investigators right after her daughter Caylee was reported missing.
ORDERS: Suppress Statements To People | Suppress Statements To Officers | Plant Evidence | Chloroform Evidence VIDEO REPORT: Judge Rules In Favor Of Prosecution LEE TALKS TO CASEY: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3
Perry denied the motion (read it) to suppress statements that were made by Casey to George, Cindy, and Lee Anthony, as well as those made to pen pal Robyn Adams and correction's officer Sylvia Hernandez. The defense was fighting to have those statements blocked from the trial.
Defense attorneys had argued that her family members were acting as agents of prosecutors and detectives and the statements were obtained in violation of her right to an attorney. Prosecutors argued that her statements can be used, and the judge agreed.
"The judge's ruling has dealt a crippling blow to the defense of Casey Anthony," WFTV legal analyst Bill Sheaffer said.
Judge Perry also denied (read it) the defense's motion to suppress statements made to law enforcement. The defense team said Casey's Miranda Rights should've been read to her when she was questioned in mid-July 2008; they weren't because she wasn't a suspect at the time.
The judge agreed, saying she wasn't being interrogated at the time.
"The statements Casey Anthony made to law enforcement and various individuals are relevant to the state's prosecution, and the case law was clearly in favor of the prosecution that the court should admit those at trial," Sheaffer said.
Judge Perry also granted (read it) a prosecution motion to strike a defense motion attempting to block evidence involving plant and root growth. The defense had wanted the thrown out, calling it "unreliable."
Lastly, Judge Perry denied (read it) a prosecution motion to strike a defense motion regarding chloroform evidence, something the defense also called "unreliable." However, the judge didn't rule to exclude the evidence from the trial, but instead pushed the discussion to next week's Frye hearings.
Next week is shaping up to be another busy week in the case. Both sides will be in court next Wednesday, Thursday and Friday to go over scientific evidence. The trial is scheduled to start May 9.
Previous Stories: March 17, 2011: Casey Jury Expected To Cost Courts More Than $360,000 March 15, 2011: Document Raises Questions About Evidence In Casey Case March 14, 2011: Reports: FBI Wired Friend During Talks With Casey March 10, 2011: Casey's Defense Wants More Taxpayer Money March 8, 2011: Judge To Rule On Motions Next Week In Casey Case March 7, 2011: Final Arguments Made, But No Ruling At Casey Hearing March 4, 2011: Cindy Testifies, Baez Apologizes At Casey Hearing March 4, 2011: Casey Docs Reveal Defense Expert Witnesses' Testimony
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