With Casey Anthony released on Sunday to a country full of angry vigilante justice haters fueled by the media frenzy, Nancy Grace and others, what waits for her? Anthony was released in the wee hours of Sunday, July 17 with her attorney, Jose Baez and whisked away to a private jet to parts unknown. Earlier accounts said she was not welcome home by her father which is understandable. But her mother, Cindy Anthony, almost faced her own jail time following her alleged change of story to say she searched for the chloroform and not her daughter. Apparently, the prosecutor was shocked by Casey Anthony’s mother testimony about searching for the word chloroform on her daughter’s computer. Possible new evidence suggests that Mrs. Anthony was at work, logged in on her work computer and not able to be in 2 places at one time.
So if that is true, did Casey’s mother lie to protect and help her daughter? Should the prosecutor have charged her with perjury? The prosecutor is somewhat at fault for the change in testimony. Here’s why… the prosecutor overcharged in this case. They charged murder in a case with questionable legal proof of the elements of murder; and then went one step farther in trying to make it a death penalty case. Mrs. Cindy Anthony, if she did, in fact, change her testimony did so to save her daughter’s life. And after having lost her granddaughter to whatever happened, she did not want to see her daughter killed at the hands of the state. Many mothers would do far more to save their daughter’s life. This raises the irony in the whole incident. The mother of Casey may have done the unthinkable to save her daughter; yet Casey Anthony is greatly believed by many to have done the unthinkable and killed her daughter. And yet Casey was set free to an unknown future filled with death threats and others wishing her harm.
The vigilante justice seeking advocates still want some justice; although by our system, justice has been done. No, they cannot bring Casey Anthony back to face the same charges as double jeopardy prevents it. But, the prosecutor had its chance with Casey and came up empty handed due to their failure to wait for additional evidence in the Casey Anthony case. They chose to go with more emotions than evidence. Had they waited for an opportunity to get more evidence or perhaps, a slip of the tongue from Casey, herself, the result might have been different. And if they chose to go after Casey’ mother, they would again be going after emotions more so than evidence. It’s time to call this case a wrap. And those who are crying foul and seeking harm to Casey Anthony, they need to get their emotions in check too. And getting a life wouldn’t hurt either. Casey Anthony is free but anyone who commits harm to her probably won’t be so lucky.
Debbie Hines is a trial lawyer, legal commentator and former prosecutor who appears frequently in the media on race and gender issues. She
has been seen on TV speaking on the Casey Anthony trial.