Casey Anthony Released From Jail, Defense Speaks
Jose Baez, Casey Anthony’s lead defense attorney, asked the public to start respecting the jury’s verdict and decisions in a recent phone interview with Geraldo Rivera on Fox News.
Anthony was acquitted of murdering her 2-year-old daughter Caylee Anthony, and declared not guilty of manslaughter and aggravated child abuse as well.
Only convicted of four counts of lying to law enforcement, which her legal team is looking to appeal, Anthony was released on Sunday due to time already served and time gained based on good behavior.
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When Rivera asked Baez, who personally escorted Anthony out of the Orange County Jail on Sunday, if he heard the angry crowd shouting “Killer, killer” as Anthony walked free, the attorney responded that he did not.
“I certainly heard a large group of people yelling things but I certainly couldn’t make out what was being said at the time. We got in the car and left.”
Discussing his client’s release from jail and his thoughts on the public outrage, Baez shared his frustrations with the growing and continual outcry from the media and majority of the public.
“We live in the United States of America. And this young woman had her day in court where a jury of 12 found her not guilty of murder, manslaughter, and aggravated child abuse,” Baez stated.
“We need to start respecting jury verdict and decisions that the jury made. Pundits and media personalities have no right to try and alter the life of any individual because of what they think may or may not have happened.”
The attorney revealed that more than fearing for his client’s safety, his greatest fear, by far, was that people were not recognizing the jury’s decision.
“People are not acknowledging the great sacrifice this jury made and the hard work they labored over to render a just verdict in this case, which I believe they did, they believe they did, and that’s really all that matters.”
Because the majority of the public did not, however, agree with the “just verdict” rendered by the jury, the names of the jurors were not released due to obvious safety reasons.
One juror by the name of Jennifer Ford came out to the public explaining why the jury made the decision that they did, but regardless of her explanation, the overwhelming consensus remained the same – justice was not received for Caylee’s death.
And when rumors began circulating that Anthony was “going to cash in” and “make millions off this terrible tragedy,” the masses grew even angrier Rivera stressed.
Justifying his client’s decisions however, Baez responded that as an individual from the United States, Anthony had certain rights. He and his legal team would labor hard to make sure she had the ability to exercise those rights.
But he also clarified that his legal team would handle Anthony’s affairs “from this point on, in a dignified manner.”
“Parading offers and making media appearances about respective interviews, that’s something we don’t want to be a part of,” he added.
In regards to the million-dollar TV offer made by producer Al Taylor, Baez stated that though he was originally planning to sit down and listen with him, he changed his mind and was no longer going to meet with Taylor.
He did not however deny any other offers.
With Anthony’s legal team the only people in direct communication with the world’s most talked about mother, Rivera asked Baez how his client seemed to be doing upon her release.
“I’m not a therapist, I’m a lawyer...those kinds of questions are best left up to the mental health professional.”
He continued, “I know Casey’s been through an incredible traumatic event in her life, she’s got a number of them over the last 3 years, and we’re certainly going to do our best to try and put her in a position where she can help herself and try and move forward in life.”
“We’re throwing out all possibilities right now, and of course we have to take into consideration her safety...Unfortunately, we don’t have all the answers yet.”
“When will we be hearing from Casey’s own mouth her side of the story?” Rivera asked.
“I really don’t know,” Baez concluded. “Right now we just want to make sure she can start living her life. If she decides she wants to speak publicly about it she’ll make that decision.”
