Justice is served?

I’ve been following the Casey Anthony trial off and on throughout the past six weeks—not with the ardent fervor that many have dedicated to the process, but definitely with an interested eye and, at times, a disbelieving ear. My semi-inattentiveness is largely in part due to the fact that I don’t have the time to dedicate watching such a senseless tragedy play out in the court of law, and partly due to the blundering antics of the main defense lawyer, Baez. And now, the verdict is in: Casey Anthony is not guilty of first degree felony murder.

Can’t say I didn’t see that one coming, folks, and it centers around three little words: (1) BURDEN (2) OF (3) PROOF. Yes, I am in law school. Yes, I do intend to one day make criminal law my calling. And yes, I think there is a good chance Casey Anthony killed her daughter. I say that not to assert that I am (a) smarter than you or (b) somehow more intuitive than you. However, for those that aren’t in law school (and even for some of those who are, or who are practicing attorneys), the general consensus is that the jury got it wrong.

A jury, made of TWELVE civilians, who sat through six weeks of grueling, time-consuming testimony, admissions of evidence, and fuckups by Baez, somehow managed to get it wrong? No, they did not. They got it right, despite overwhelming odds that they would convict her through preconceived notions of her guilt. If anything, I’m shocked they were able to get over these notions, as Ms. Anthony had already been convicted by public opinion. I’m shocked they actually managed to serve honorably and fulfill their obligations as jurors as they had been instructed to do. I’m shocked they chose their duty over their emotions. I’m shocked they managed to walk away with the message regarding burden of proof despite Baez’s repeated attempts to mangle this case.

In short, I’m shocked our legal system actually worked as it was supposed to do. And pissed that others would question our legal system and jurors over the outcome of a trial that played out exactly as it should. To convict someone of first degree murder, prosecution was charged with showing intent, deliberation, and premeditation BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT. Oh yeah, showing a cause of death constituting murder would also help. They sought to introduce intent by showing how Casey wanted to lead the life of a single woman. They showed searches of “neck-breaking” and “chloroform” on Casey’s computer to show premeditation. Same can be said for deliberation. However, what the prosecution failed to do was show how Caylee died. They introduced pictures of Casey Anthony partying to heighten the jury’s negative opinion of her. They showed duct tape on her skull. Unfortunately, the body was too badly composed to show a cause of death.

And because of that, Casey Anthony walked. Casey Anthony certainly deserves no mother of the year award. But, at the same time, the state of Florida was REQUIRED to show beyond a reasonable doubt that Caylee was murdered, and that Casey Anthony was to blame. The state of Florida, and ANY state in America, is REQUIRED to do so in a case that will take away your liberty for the rest of your life, and possibly end your life. The reason I’m okay with this? If I were arrested tomorrow for something I did NOT do, I would hope that regardless of how much the media portrayed me to be a monster, regardless of how much citizens wanted to hate me, and how heinous the crime I was accused of committing was, that I would receive a trial in which the prosecution had to show beyond a reasonable doubt that I was responsible for said crime.

We lock up prisoners each year who are not guilty of the crimes for which they were convicted. Because juries did not adequately weigh the seriousness of their duties, because they wanted to get home to their families, or because they didn’t like the defendant’s face. The jury got it right this time.

Even though I still don’t like Casey Anthony’s face.

Ridiculousness of the day

While perusing the news, I happened upon a few ridiculous headlines that I thought I would share with you:

Apparently, a fight brought out because of LINE CUTTERS at the Casey Anthony trial. Let me begin by saying how sick I think it is that people are treating a seat in the Casey Anthony trial as a fucking golden ticket you'd receive to Willy Wonka's mythical chocolate factory. As interested as I am in the trial, I don't treat a murder trial of a 2-year old as a circus sideshow. Perhaps that's just my own personal integrity and where my sense of morality has drawn a bright line in the sand, so to speak. No one was hurt, though. Too bad.

Anthony Weiner has received an offer from Larry Flynt of Hustler. I've not looked into the famous pictures that sparked Weinergate, and I'm pretty sure a full spread of Weiner's weiner would NOT sell. Especially considering THIS is what comes to mind when thinking of Mr. Weiner:

Apparently, Mr. Flynt has anticipated this, and wants to offer him some other kind of job. Flynt has reportedly written to Weiner, "I feel that your unfortunate resignation is a prime example of unfounded political pressure and the hypocrisy that has invaded democracy in Washington, D.C. I hope you will sincerely consider this offer, and I look forward to your response." While his resignation may have been because of political pressure, a lot of people are forgetting how Anthony Weiner smeared a blogger's reputation and accused him of hacking his twitter account (both serious allegations, especially coming from an elected official). He slandered someone. And for that, Mr. Weiner should pay. (That being said, I feel terrible for his pregnant wife. And his unborn child. Mostly for the scandal. Partly because of how unfortunate looking the unborn child will probably be.)

The Associated Press lists this as the leading line for a man recently convicted of murdering a 2 year old child: "An Oregon man has been sentenced to life in prison for killing his girlfriend's 2-year-old daughter in a brutal wrestling match."

LAST TIME I CHECKED, A TWO YEAR OLD V. A 230 POUND MAN WAS NOT A "MATCH." Also last time I checked, a 230 pound man who lacerated a child's liver, collapsed her lungs, and caused severe internal bleeding was not "wrestling" with the child. He was BEATING HER TO DEATH. Yes, he may have been using "ultimate wrestling moves," but he WAS.NOT.WRESTLING. He was beating her to death. May Kacy now have peace.

Thank God it's Friday.

Casey Anthony Trial; Edition 1

Since this is one of the biggest trials in recent years, I'm going to be watching the proceedings and outcome with the eyes of a hawk, particularly because this case may result in a death penalty and has already opened with enough drama to comprise an entire Lifetime movie. I admit it: I already think this woman is as guilty as sin. However, I can also see her family as accomplices, and I think they are all shady as hell. I think after this case, charges will be levied against the grandparents; I think the prosecutor is just waiting because he doesn't want to screw with the jury's prospective of his witnesses.

That being said, I can also analyze this case from a purely intellectual standpoint, and I realize the state has to prove all elements beyond a reasonable doubt for this woman to be found guilty of murder. This is a tough burden, and if there is any doubt in a juror's mind, they CANNOT convict her of capital murder.

Which is why I think it's shitty the defense has claimed in their opening statement that Caylee Anthony died in an accidental drowning. It's shitty...and genius. By the time this child's body was found, the level of decomposition was certainly to the point that a drowning death would be impossible to determine. (If I'm not mistaken, you'd need lung tissue to show that, and I doubt a good sample of lung tissue remained to make this determination.) Then defense raises allegations that Casey Anthony was sexually assaulted by her father from the age of 8, which goes to show why she acted erratically in the time period after her daughter's disappearance.

All in all, this is a great opening argument. You cast doubt, you throw stones, you shift blame. You point fingers at everyone. You make the jurors feel sorry for the defendant. You confuse the issues. One fact remains, however:

This little girl is dead. Her body was dumped like trash in the woods. The meter reader found her. Regardless of whether or not her death was accidental, her mother lied to protect her own ass for SIX MONTHS and refused to identify the location of her child, or even that she had died. This little girl was treated, by all accounts, as a meaningless piece of garbage.

A lot of questions are going to be posed during this trial, and I'm not sure how the defense is planning to answer them. If this death was accidental, why did they not call authorities? How are they going to introduce anything about this accidental death without Casey Anthony testifying (which I think will be critical as to whether she receives the death penalty or not--they are now going to HAVE TO put her on the stand)? Why did authorities find duct tape over the child's mouth and nose? Why were searches found on Casey Anthony's computer regarding "neck breaking," "chloroform," and other ways to murder someone? And how the hell does the defense expect someone to believe that someone who has been sexually abuse would react to her daughter's death by going out to the clubs and pretending everything is all right? (There are plenty of sexual abuse survivors out there that I'm sure are shaking with rage over this defense as I type.)

This is the case of the decade. I predict the jury will find her guilty of murder and sentence her to life in prison. Regardless, it will not ever bring Caylee Anthony back, and that is truly tragic.