Video sealed of Anthony reaction over body found
ORLANDO (AP) – The public will not see a video that shows Casey Anthony’s reactions the day she learned her daughter’s remains were found near her home.
Judge Stan Strickland ruled Wednesday to seal the video taken at the Orange County Jail on Dec. 11 and said he worried the video, if released, could taint potential jurors.
“Given the nature and scope of the pretrial publicity, it is not unreasonable to assume that many persons in the potential jury pool might view this video and develop a ‘hardened’ attitude in reference to the defendant’s guilt,” Strickland wrote.
Strickland described the contents of the video as “highly inflammatory.”
Rachel Fugate, the attorney for the Orlando Sentinel – which had filed a motion to unseal the video – said Judge Strickland was prudent in his ruling.
“We certainly wish the videotape would have been released, but we certainly appreciate the consideration the judge gave to this matter,” said Fugate. “We don’t have any reason to believe there was something wrong in his ruling.”
Defense attorneys for Casey Anthony have asked that the trial be moved to South Florida because of the intense media coverage in Orlando.
Anthony has been charged in Caylee’s death. She has pleaded not guilty and says a baby sitter kidnapped her toddler. Prosecutors say they will seek the death penalty if she is convicted of first-degree murder.
Caylee was last seen a year ago but she wasn’t reported missing until a month later. Her remains were found in woods near the family’s home.