Casey Anthony Trial: Closing Arguments Begin; Molestation Claim Thrown Out
There is no evidence that Casey Anthony, who is accused of murdering her daughter Caylee Anthony, was every molested by her father or brother, said Judge Belvin Perry Sunday morning before the start of closing arguments in the murder case.
Perry barred the defense from discussing any allegations of molestation in their closing arguments Sunday.
There are "no facts in evidence or reasonable inferences that can be drawn ... that either Mr. George Anthony or Mr. Lee Anthony molested or attempted to molest Ms. Anthony."
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Casey Anthony's attorneys claim that she never murdered her 2-year-old daughter but that Caylee had accidentally drowned in the family pool. The defense also say that her father George Anthony helped cover up Caylee's death and the purported history of molestation by George and Casey's brother contributed to her lying about the death.
In testimonies, George Anthony denied any involvement in Caylee's death or a cover-up. He also rejected allegations of molestation.
Caylee was last seen in mid-June 2008 but was not reported missing until a month later when her grandmother Cindy Anthony called 911. The toddler's remains were found in the woods near the Anthony home on Dec. 11, 2008. The trial began May 24, 2011.
Prosecutors say that 25-year-old Anthony deliberately killed Caylee, knocking her out with chloroform, suffocating her with duct tape and then disposing her remains in the woods.
In his closing arguments, defense attorney Jose Baez urged the jury to base their verdict on "evidence and not emotion."
"Don't speculate. Don't guess. It has to be proven to you beyond a reasonable doubt," Baez told jurors.
He said she was not a "lying, murderous slut" as prosecutors have portrayed her to be.
The Casey Anthony murder trial will be decided by 12 hand-picked jurors – five men and seven women from Clearwater, Fla.
If convicted of first-degree murder, Anthony faces the death penalty.
