A Hope For Balanced News

'If It Doesn`t Fit, You Must Acquit!' The Late Great Johnny Cochran 

By John G. Kays

Why is it that the defense called in more FBI scientists to testify than did the prosecution? Why is it that Gerardo Bloise performed more tests on the trunk of the Firebird, and comes up with nothing?

And how could Arpad Vass have been proven wrong when exclaimed: "Chloroform levels were shockingly high, unusually high!"

The answers to these questions will help to explain why the jury found Casey not guilty.

I`m playing back Jose Baez`s closing argument to see if I can isolate exactly where he clearly converted the jurors (who were unanimous) in their belief of reasonable doubt.

The most important reason is that the cause of Caylee`s death is unknown.

Baez brings up some other things too. How did she die? Where did she die? When did she die? Why did she die?

Prosecution argues it`s because she wanted to go party! Here`s their Achilles Heel. Prosecution chooses the shakiest argument they could find for Casey`s motive in killing her daughter.

This alone may have lost them the case. Family issues with George and Cindy, a burning resentment toward her parents, would be a motive I would have picked. Partying doesn`t cut it, and the jurors sensed this.

And Baez cornered George on the duct tape. George is the only one who is directly connected to the duct tape at all crossroads. And George lied about not having an affair with Crystal Holloway.

I heard the jurors were buying Jose`s relentless attacks on George. And don`t think Baez didn`t score some points when he blurted out: "This smiling guy here" comment.

A constantly smirking Jeff Ashton peeved me off endlessly and I suspect it had the same effect on the jurors. I heard Jeff`s retiring. Jose single-handedly boots the veteran prosecutor out on the street! 

And why did Dr. Garavaglia take away the Caylee case from Dr. Schultz? Why? Because Dr. Garavaglia was in close cahoots with the media and with law enforcement.

Jan could spin the case against Casey and provide `smoking mirror science,` where homicide can be determined by not calling 911, when there`s an accidental drowning.

Dr. Schultz refused to deem it a homicide, so he was removed from the case (Schultz was loyal to forensic science).

Don`t get me started on HLN. They`ve been spinning this case negatively towards Tot Mom for three years straight.

This is not news reporting, it`s pure propaganda! Cheney Mason scolded the media yesterday, bitter after all this bile and vitriol from the media.

Okay, so the defense celebrated a tidbit after their victory, they deserved it. The press is not a court. HLN is not prosecuting this case, so they have no right to do so.

This is a victory for a hope of balanced news also. The jurors knew better, knew to file away to a lost folder HLN`s ruthless spins. 

I still find it hard to believe that the prosecution used the hocus pocus video of Dr. Warren, where he finds a pic of Caylee and Casey, then proceeds to photoshop a piece of duct tape on Caylee`s mouth.

Snow-job technology that backfired in a big way. Phantom stains, phantom searches, phantom heart sticker. Autopsy? What autopsy? Dr. Spitz - discoloration in the back of the ears wasn`t present.

Therefore, it rules out suffocation. Duct tape on the face as the cause of death, out the window. Here`s some real forensic science for you!

And now people are bitter because Casey got off. How many of these people watched all the witnesses?

How many looked at all of the evidence?

And how many merely blindly tuned in HLN and (stupidly) took in a completely slanted point of view, without attempting to criticize what HLN was selling them? Very few, I must suggest.

Source; http://thesop.org/story/20110706/if-it-doesnt-fit-you-must-acquit-the-late-great-johnny-cochran.html

Casey Anthony NOT GUILTY of Murder

Jury finds Casey Anthony not guilty of murder, manslaughter, aggravated child abuse; guilty of providing false information to law enforcement.

Casey Anthony is not guilty of first-degree murder in the killing of her two-year-old daughter Caylee Marie.

After deliberating for less than 11 hours over two days, a jury decided this afternoon that prosecutors did not prove Casey Anthony was guilty of capital murder in the death of the toddler her 2-year-old daughter Caylee Marie, a 12-member jury found this afternoon.

Casey Anthony embraced defense attorney Jose Baez when the verdict was read, but the courtroom was silent. The prosecutors in the case, Jeff Ashton and Linda Drane Burdick, looked somber.

As soon as the jury left the courtroom, Casey hugged Baez, and then the rest of her defense team. All of them appeared to be crying. Defense team appeared giddy -- all were smiling, including Casey, while she was being fingerprinted.

"While we're happy for Casey, there are no winners in this case," Jose Baez said. "Caylee has passed on far, far too soon."

He then went on to say the prosecutors in this case were incredible adversaries.

Her parents, George and Cindy Anthony, walked out of the courtroom while Casey Anthony was being fingerprinted.

The verdict means 25-year-old Anthony was found not guilty of all charges except for four counts of providing false information to law enforcement officer.

She will be spared a death sentence, but could still potentially face years behind bars in a Florida prison.

She will be sentenced Thursday at 9 a.m.

MORE; http://www.wtkr.com/news/os-casey-anthony-verdict-20110704,0,7136505.story

Day Two Of Murder Trial

Day two of the murder trial of Christine Marie Sheddy began on Tuesday around 9:50 a.m. with Tia Johnson, a relative of Hadel, taking the stand.

Johnson testified that when she returned home the evening Christine went missing there was no one at home except Christine's two small children. Clarence Jackson (Tia's boyfriend) and Hadel returned that evening and explained that Christine just "took off" and they had been out looking for her. Johnson, Jackson, Hadel along with Sheddy were all staying at the farm house.

A phone call is made and a short time later Christine's small children are picked up by a relative. The three of them, along with Tia's two children and taking clothes for them to wear to school the next day, leave the Pocomoke house to stay at a bed and breakfast located in Snow Hill, Maryland. Jackson supposedly, had a key to the property. At this point in time Tia claimed she did not know that Christine is dead.

Johnson testified that she felt as if Justin was trying to tell her something. Within a short period of time Justin admitted to Johnson that he and Christine had argued over a sex matter. Justin told Tia he hit Christine with a shovel during the argument, taking her life, claiming it "was an accident".

According to the testimony it was during the first night at the bed and breakfast Christine was buried in a shallow grave in the backyard by Clarence Jackson and Justin Hadel.

Tia confessed she never told police about the murder claiming Justin had threatened her if she told. She was concerned for her safety and the safety of her family.

Jurors also heard testimony from an inmate from the same facility as Justin Hadel. Handy stated that during an argument between Jackson, Hadel and Sheddy, Clarence (Jr.) Jackson began hitting Christine and told Justin to 'finish her off'".

According to autopsy reports Christine Mare Sheddy died of blunt force trauma.

Her remains were found buried behind a Snow Hill bed and breakfast in February 2010. Justin Hadel has been charged with first-degree murder and second-degree assault but has plead not guilty.

Late Tuesday afternoon Defense Attorney, Arch McFadden gave no argument to the jury and called no witnesses to testify.

The prosecution rested its case. Closing statements are to be heard today followed by jury deliberation.

Trial Begins In Worcester County

Twenty-year-old Justin Michael Hadel of College Station, Texas, is on trial for first-degree murder as well as first- and second-degree assault in the killing of Christine Marie Sheddy. Ms. Sheddy, from Delaware,  went missing  from Pocomoke in November 2007 from the home of friends she had been visiting in Pocomoke.

Jury selection was completed Monday in Snow Hill, Maryland (Worcester County) for the man accused of murdering Christine Marie Sheddy while she visited friends in Pocomoke City, Maryland.

　A jury of twelve, 6 women and 6 men (2 alternates) were selected to hear the trial which is expected to last a week.

On Monday the jury heard testimony from the victims mother, Lynn Doddenhoff and an neighbor on Byrd Road.

　

Testimony was over by 11:30 a.m. and the jury was dismissed. In their opening statement  the prosecution  claimed  that the victim was  struck  in the forehead with a board and then stabbed.

Clarence  Jackson lived at the farm house in November of 2007 along with his girlfriend Tia Johnson. Justin Hadel was also a guest..

More testimony will be heard Tuesday when the trial resumes in the morning.  A cellmate, that Hadel may have shared information with,  is scheduled to testify.