Anthony update: Defense says no one can prove Casey killed Caylee

Associated Press

ORLANDO

Casey Anthony’s defense attorney Jose Baez began his closing argument today by telling the jurors that they have more questions than answers, including the biggest: How did her 2-year-old daughter Caylee die? Neither prosecutors nor the defense have offered firm proof of how Caylee died.

“It can never be proven,” he said. That by itself should give them reasonable doubt that Anthony killed her daughter, he said.

He said the prosecutors’ case is so weak they tried to portray Casey Anthony as “a lying, no-good slut.”

“Then you’ll start to look at this evidence in a different light, you’ll start to, wait a minute, maybe I’m seeing something that’s not there and start to actually discriminate against her rather than give her the standard that is afforded to each and every citizen in our country,” Baez said, noting that the state must prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt.

The defense is concluding its closing argument this afternoon.

Earlier during Ashton’s argument, Anthony appeared mostly stone-faced for about the first 45 minutes, but then she closed her eyes and rested her chin on her hand. She began to cry when Ashton said that the story that Caylee drowned was also false.

Ashton said Caylee’s death wasn’t an accident because three pieces of duct tape were placed on her face — one on the mouth, one on the nose and one over those to be “thorough.”

The jury is expected to begin deliberating after the defense finishes its closing argument. Perry said those deliberations will continue Monday on the July Fourth holiday if necessary.

The case has played out on national TV since Caylee’s disappearance in the summer of 2008 and continued through her mother’s trial, with spectators traveling from all over the U.S. to jockey for coveted seats in the courtroom gallery.

Casey Anthony was born in Warren in 1986 to George and Cindy Anthony, who lived in Howland before moving the family to Florida in 1989.

Watch Vindy.com for continuing updates on the trial, and read the full story Monday in The Vindicator and on Vindy.com.