Casey Anthony Trial Juror No. 3: We Were 'Sick to Our Stomach' Over Decision
A juror from the Casey Anthony murder case finally spoke out after all 12 members were unwilling to talk to the media on Tuesday following their not guilty verdict.
Regardless of their decision to acquit Casey of first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse, and manslaughter, in the death of her 2-year-old daughter, Caylee, Jennifer Ford – also known as juror number 3 – told ABC News that she didn’t say Casey was innocent.
“There was not enough evidence,” Ford shared. “If you cannot prove what the crime was, you cannot determine what the punishment should be.”
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The only charge Casey was found guilty of was lying to law enforcement on multiple occasions, which was proven by recorded conversations and statements given to investigators.
Jurors could not, however, prove murder beyond reasonable doubt, although they might have believed in the homicide. In an earlier interview, prosecutor Jeff Ashton told NBC’s Today that though the jury may have perhaps thought like him, beyond reasonable doubt was a high standard.
“Everyone wonders why we didn’t speak to the media right away,” Ford told ABC. “It was because we were sick to our stomach to get that verdict. We were crying and not just the women.”
“It was emotional and we weren’t ready. We wanted to do it with integrity and not contribute to the sensationalism of the trial.”
Additionally, the juror also revealed that the 12-member jury became like family during the long course of the trial.
“We all joked. We are like a big group of cousins.”
“They picked a great bunch of people, such high integrity. And there was high morale.”
Regardless of the public’s outburst and anger over the verdict reached by the jurors, prosecutors and law enforcement alike hoped that respect would be maintained and that peace would ensue.
The defense team, however, has already been receiving much criticism from the public and the media following the close of the trial.
Their carefree celebration and victory drinks at a local restaurant after the verdict was announced was highly persecuted by onlookers who protested the scene, with the owner of the restaurant commenting that their clientele did not reflect their personal thoughts or opinions on the outcome of any legal or political proceedings.
While majority of the public could not believe justice was not served for the deceased toddler, defense attorney Jose Baez believed that he had saved a life.
“The best feeling that I have today is that I know I can go home and my daughter will ask me ‘What did you do today’ and I can say ‘I saved a life,’” Baez told the media following the trial Tuesday.
Though one life might have been purportedly saved in the case, according to the defense, others were completely ruined.
“This case has destroyed everyone’s reputation,” Mark Lippman, the Anthony family attorney said on Good Morning America. He denied again the allegations made by the defense that George and Lee Anthony molested Casey and also reiterated that George did not have anything to do with Caylee’s death.
Casey, 25, faces sentencing Thursday morning at 9 a.m. for four counts of lying to law enforcement.
