By Martie Hevia | Blue Beach Song™

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Day 37 – July 7, 2011 – Thursday

The Sentence:
1 Year & $1,000 Fine Per Count

On the steps of the courthouse people gathered with signs that read “Justice for Caylee,’ ‘No Justice for Caylee,’ ‘Boycott any Books or Movies by Casey,’ ‘The Jury Should Be Found Guilty,’ and other things inappropriate to repeat. People were chanting ‘Caylee! Caylee!‘ and others were shouting disparaging remarks at the jury and at Casey Anthony.

In the midst of what was going on outside the courthouse, people were gathering in the courtroom for the sentencing hearing during which Judge Perry would announce his sentence after offering Casey the opportunity to address the court – a time when most defendants express their apologies and other sentiments.

Casey Anthony walked in with a smile, make-up on her face, and her hair down and long, unlike the usual buns or pony tails she wore during the trial. The parents, George and Cindy Anthony, were also in the courtroom; Cindy seemingly happy and smiling. Lee Anthony, Casey’s brother, did not attend the hearing. The entire defense team seemed to be present, but the prosecution team was missing Mr. Jeff Ashton, one of the key prosecutors during this trial. Mr. Ashton, who had delayed his planned retirement three years ago to take on this one last case, officially retired yesterday and was not present in court today.

The morning news shows were sprinkled with reports from former jurors in this trial who felt they could not convict if they did not know how Caylee died. The ones who have spoken to the media stated that although they were sickened at the prospect of letting her go, not one of the jurors could say how Caylee died and they felt that the Prosecution failed to prove Caylee’s cause of death. [The prosecutors perhaps should have spent some time explaining to the jury what circumstantial evidence is and that the cause of death does not need to be proven to find someone guilty of murder. There have been many cases where the body has not been found and the cause of death could not be determined, but the circumstances and the manner of death indicated that someone was murdered.]

Judge Belvin Perry sat on the bench at 9:04 a.m. (eastern time) and began the day with the usual protocols with which he began most of the other days of the trial. “The defendant is before the court for sentencing on Counts 4, 5, 6, and 7. Would the State care to present any aggravating issues?” the Judge asked Ms. Burdick and she replied that they did not, but they did want to pursue reimbursements for investigation costs incurred. The Judge then asked the Defense if they had any mitigation issues they would like to present.

The Defense argued that there was a double-jeopardy issue and that the four counts should be considered one continuous act with a single intent. The Judge felt that each of the lies cited in the four counts – lying about working at Universal Studios, lying about a babysitter named Zenaida Gonzalez kidnapping Caylee, lying about telling two outcry witnesses about the kidnapping, and lying about receiving a phone call from Caylee Anthony on July 15, 2008 – all required separate actions by law enforcement to investigate and decided against conflating the counts.

The Judge asked the Defense team, “Does your client wish to say anything prior to sentencing?” and Mr. Mason replied, “No, your honor.”

“Just as the jury spoke loud and clear on counts 1, 2, and 3,” the Judge declared, “they also spoke loud and clear on counts on 4, 5, 6, and 7. I will sentence you to 1 year in the Orange County jail, imposing a $1000 fine on each count, all four counts to run consecutive to each other.” The Judge explained that he and the Defense attorneys would spend time together figuring out how much time would be deducted from Casey’s four year sentence. Casey Anthony will get credit for the time previously served and the jail will determine how much time off she will get for good behavior. The Judge estimated, based on preliminary figures, that Ms. Anthony will probably be released some time in late July or early August.

UPDATE: At 11:40 a.m. ET, the court’s public information officer announced that Casey Anthony would be released in six days, on July 13, 2011, having received credit of 1,0043 days for time served and good behavior.

CASEY ANTHONY SENTENCE:

• 1 Year and $1,000 Fine per Count: Casey Anthony will be released on July 13, 2011, next Wednesday, 6 days from today. The 4 years is reduced by 1,0043 days, which is credit for the time served and good behavior. The Judge worked out the exact date with the defense attorneys in private.
• UPDATE: “Casey Anthony is no longer getting out of jail on July 13. Due to a detailed recalculation of the release date, Anthony will now be released on Sunday, July 17.” according to Channel 13 News in Orlando. (Link: http://www.cfnews13.com/article/news/2011/july/275154/)

Final Thoughts

It looks like Casey Anthony will be out next Wednesday, July 13, 2011, six days from today.

This quiet time will give her the opportunity to review the hundreds to thousands of offers she will no doubt receive for interviews, book deals, movie deals, and other projects. This 25-year old, attractive, single woman, who has become a celebrity of sorts, stands to make millions of dollars.

It sounds like it will be, just as she hoped, a ‘bella vita.’

What more is there to say?

What are your thoughts?

Martie Hevia © 2011 | All Rights Reserved