Casey Anthony Murder Trial
Jury Selection Begins: Judge Perry Smacks Down Defense Objections & Requests
Jury selection started today, May 9, 2011, in the Casey Anthony trial. The Orlando woman is accused of killing her daughter, Caylee Anthony, in 2008. Casey Anthony, now 25-years-old, is charged with first-degree murder.
According to KOAM TV 7, "Potential jurors will undergo two rounds of questioning and be asked if they could recommend the death penalty for Anthony. Any juror who couldn't recommend death would be disqualified."
With only one week to select 20 jurors, including eight alternates, Chief Judge Belvin Perry hopes to begin the trial as early as Tuesday, May 17, 2011.
So far, Casey Anthony's Defense attorney, Jose Baez, objected to the first panel of about 100 jurors, stating that they were not representative of Orlando's demographics. Of the 100 people, only two were Hispanic, and four were African-American. Judge Perry denied the objection and moved forward with jury selection.
Another blow to the Defense team: Judge Perry issued an order this morning denying Jose Baez's request to exclude air tests from a carpet sample taken from Casey Anthony's car. Air sample tests have never been admitted in a trial in the United States.
