Casey Anthony: Trial Will Take Place in Orange County

Judge Belvin Perry announced today that the trial of Casey Anthony will take place locally in Orange County.

But will it take place with local jurors? We’ll have to wait and see.

From the Orlando Sentinel:

It may not be heard by Orange County jurors, but the evidence against Anthony will play out in a local courtroom.

In a week and a half, the judge said, he will listen to arguments on whether the case should be tried by a jury from somewhere else.

If he grants that change-of-venue motion, he and attorneys will travel to another Florida county — he wouldn’t say which one — pick a 12-member jury plus alternates, then pack everyone up and bring them to Orange County for the rest of the trial.

From WESH:

During the upcoming weeks, Perry will hear motions on the death penalty and change of venue. Because of the costs associated with moving the trial and the likely need to sequester a jury, Perry suggested the trial would be held in Orlando.

“If I decide to sequester the jury, we will go somewhere, we will pick a jury, and they will be returned to Orange County,” Perry said.

Casey Anthony: Trial Would Take Weeks

Judge Belvin Perry today stated that selected jurors might be sequestered for a trial lasting several weeks.

Not sure that I’m surprised. High profile cases don’t end overnight. I was thinking more like months, rather than weeks!

From the Associated Press:

Circuit Judge Belvin Perry held his first pretrial hearing Friday since taking the case, offering details of what future jurors could expect. Another judge removed himself from the case recently at the request of Anthony’s attorneys.

A trial scheduled for May 2011 is expected to last four to six weeks. Another week will be needed for the sentencing phase if there’s a conviction.

Casey Anthony: Welcome Judge Belvin Perry

It’s kind of like the first day of school, I’d think. Casey Anthony’s defense team is preparing to go before Judge Belvin Perry for the first time tomorrow morning.

From WESH:

Sources said e-mails and communication between prosecutors and the defense team have picked up significantly since Judge Belvin Perry replaced Judge Stan Strickland.

Perry scheduled his first hearing in the case for Friday. He set the tone in an order that reminded everyone of a need for speed, and it is up to him to keep things moving.

When Perry takes the bench on Friday at 9:30 a.m., he has told both sides to be prepared to discuss the following:

• Deadline for depositions of all ordinary and expert witnesses.
• Deadline for future motions both pending and unresolved.
• Pretrial and trial dates.

Casey Anthony: More Documents Being Released Friday

The Florida State Attorney’s Office is expected to release hundreds of pages of documents Friday in the case against Casey Anthony.

From the Orlando Sentinel:

The investigative documents will include law enforcement interviews with witnesses and lab reports.

Public records laws require the state to release information prosecutors provide to the defense. The State Attorney’s Office has already turned over this information to Anthony’s attorney, Jose Baez.

Thousands of pages of documents, hundreds of photos and other images and several sets of videos already have been made public by the State Attorney’s office.

Casey Anthony: Deputy Objects to Giving Up Phone Records

According to new paperwork filed this morning, Deputy Richard Cain joined others who don’t want to turn over mobile phone records to Casey Anthony‘s attorney, Jose Baez.

From the Orlando Sentinel:

The request violates Cain’s right to privacy. His attorney, Stewart Cohen, also points to a Florida law that protects law enforcement officer’s records of home addresses, telephone numbers and other details, according to the paperwork.

Cain is in the process of being fired from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. He has appealed the sheriff’s decision to fire him.