Casey Anthony Trial Update: Case goes to the jury
(CBS/WKMG/AP) ORLANDO, Fla. - The Casey Anthony murder case has been given to the jury for deliberations following the prosecution's closing argument rebuttal and Judge Belvin Perry's instructions to the jury Monday.
Pictures: Casey and Caylee Anthony, Personal Photos.
When closing arguments approached 7 p.m. on Sunday, Judge Belvin Perry sent the jurors home for the night, opting to hold court on Independence Day , reports CBS affiliate WKMG.
Perry told the jury today that Casey Anthony is charged with murder in the first-degree, second-degree murder, manslaughter, third-degree felony murder, aggravated manslaughter of a child, aggravated child abuse and four counts of providing false information to a law enforcement officer.
He went on to explain the criteria for convicting Casey Anthony on each of these charges, and a copy of the instructions was given to the jurors in writing as well.
Pictures: Casey and Caylee Anthony, Personal Photos.
Perry reminded the jurors that it is not up to the defendant to prove their innocence. He said a defendant choosing not to testify it is not an indication of guilt.
"Whatever verdict you render must be unanimous," Perry said.
Only 12 of the 17 jurors brought in from Pinellas County will participate in deliberations. Five of the jurors are alternates, but were not aware of this during the trial.
Prosecutor Jeff Ashton began his rebuttal argument just after 8:30 a.m. today.
"Defense counsel offered a very appropriate and aggressive attack on the science," Ashton said, telling the jury it's up to them which experts they will believe.
Ashton defended the expert witnesses called by the prosecution and attempted to poke holes in the defense's theory of how Caylee died.
The prosecution claims Anthony suffocated Caylee with duct tape. The defense claims Anthony accidentally drowned.
Baez objected to Ashton's statement and was sustained. The comment was stricken the jury was told to disregard.
Pictures: Casey and Caylee Anthony, Personal Photos.
Ashton later rejected Baez's allegations that the scene where Caylee's remains were found on Dec. 11, 2008, was staged by meter reader Roy Kronk, who reported the body to police.
"This scene was staged by mother nature and no one else," Ashton said.
Ashton said the prosecution has proven that Casey Anthony is guilty of first-degree murder. He said the criteria for that is that Caylee is dead, as a result of a criminal act by Casey Anthony and that the act was premeditated.
Prosecutor Linda Drane Burdick ended closing arguments with a photo of the "Bella Vita" tattoo Casey Anthony got while Caylee was missing, asking who benefited from Caylee's death. "Bella Vita" means "Beautiful Life" in Italian.
When Burdick sat down, lead defense attorney Jose Baez immediately asked for a mistrial based on improper statements by the state in closing arguments. Judge Belvin Perry denied the request.
If convicted of first-degree murder, Casey Anthony, 25, could face the death penalty.
The Casey Anthony case was recently reported on by "48 Hours Mystery."