Defense Begins Case in Casey Anthony Trial; Experts Found No Blood/DNA on Evidence
The defense called their first witness, Gerardo Bloise, to the stand today, beginning their case for Casey Anthony in the highly publicized murder trial.
Having already testified for the state twice, the Orange County crime scene investigator returned to speak about his inspection of Casey’s former boyfriend Tony Lazzaro’s car.
As Baez asked him details about his examination, Bloise explained that he looked in the trunk of Lazzaro’s car on July 23, 2008, to check for blood, but found none.
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He then stated that he went to Casey’s Hopespring Drive home in east Orange County to collect clothes from Caylee and Casey’s bedrooms. He also checked the living room, garage, and vehicle, though he did not check the master bedroom.
Photos of the rooms were shown to the jury. One photo revealed a pair of black, pinstriped pants, which the defendant wore on June 16, 2008, exactly three years ago.
However, Bloise said he found no stains on the pants, which were found in the trunk of Casey’s car.
Prosecution pointed out that Casey’s mother, Cindy Anthony, had washed all of the clothes from the trunk because of the strong smell.
Heather Seubert, a chief agent at the FBI’s lab in Quantico, Va., and serology expert, also took the stand Thursday morning. She worked in the lab’s DNA unit in 2008.
Seubert found no blood or DNA profile from the following: the spare tire cover and part of the lining from the trunk of Casey’s car, clothes gathered from the bedroom, and clothing found with the toddler’s remains.
Though minor traces of DNA were present on the duct tape found on Caylee, the FBI later discovered that it matched another forensic examiner who analyzed the duct tape.
Baez also questioned Seubert about paternity tests performed on the DNA taken from the evidence. Assistant State Attorney Jeff Ashton objected, arguing that the defense’s questions were not in “good faith.”
Seubert shared that FBI agent Nick Savage asked her to perform tests to confirm if Lee Anthony, Casey’s brother, was Caylee’s father. DNA tests showed he was not.
Chief Judge Belvin Perry stated that he would consider striking the question after they returned from lunch break.
Hours before the defense called their first witness Thursday, they filed a last-minute witness who was newly discovered named Vasco Dagama Thompson, purportedly linked to Casey’s father, George Anthony.
However, Anthony’s family attorney issued a statement, denying any link between their client and Thompson.
Casey, 25, is pleading not guilty to first-degree murder and other counts including lying to law enforcement. If convicted, she faces the death penalty.
Prosecution states that Casey suffocated her daughter with duct tape.
Baez claimed in his opening statement made last month that 2-year-old Caylee drowned in her grandparents’ backyard swimming pool, that Anthony’s father helped dispose of the body, and that a meter reader found the remains but moved them to the woods.
