Casey Anthony: …and the Drama Continues

There’s a great article on the Orlando Sentinel Web site today which looks at the legal drama that is the Casey Anthony case. The writer focuses on lawyers battling back and forth and the overall public outrage with the case.

It’s amazing the drama we’re seeing here. I know that everyone who keeps up knows of the soap opera nature of the trial. What keeps you coming back? Are you more interested in what actually happens in the trial…or what will be the next “over the top” antic we’ll see?

From the Orlando Sentinel:

Sometimes, between the noise of media appearances, post-hearing press conferences, court filings and personal attacks, it’s easy to forget this case is about the murder of 2-year-old Caylee Marie and the life of her mother/murder suspect. The vitriol may subside for the moment after Orange-Osceola Chief Judge Belvin Perry last week called the various parties to a private conference to “discuss the tone of recent pleadings,” according to court administration spokeswoman Karen Levey.

Often it seems much more like a clash of egos in a case the public can’t seem to get enough of. The cast of characters features some of Orlando’s most experienced legal minds – and some of its most ambitious.

Casey Anthony: EquuSearch Records Hearing on the Horizon?

It appears that Texas EquuSearch are fed up with playing games with Anthony’s defense attorneys and are pushing for a hearing on EquuSearch records.

From The TV Guy:

Anthony defense attorneys Jose Baez and Cheney Mason visited the office of Mark NeJame, attorney for Texas EquuSearch, on Friday. The Anthony attorneys had gone to look at records of EquuSearch volunteers for the first time after an eight-month battle.

The defense had wanted photocopies of the records, but the judge twice ruled that the defense had to view them in NeJame’s office.

“The attorneys stormed out after the media showed up,” WESH anchor Martha Sugalski said of Friday’s visit.

From WESH:

For more than eight months, officials with Texas EquuSearch have waged an epic legal battle have fought to keep private records of Central Florida residents who answered their call for help.

A source said EquuSearch plans to file legal paperwork to have the judge order Anthony’s defense to review the records and be done with it.

EquuSearch attorney Mark NeJame would not comment on what the group is planning.

Casey Anthony: Ruling Delayed on EquuSearch Documents

UPDATE: Motion denied!

Judge Stan Strickland has withheld ruling on a motion Monday on whether records should be released in the case against Casey Anthony.

From WESH:

Anthony’s defense team is seeking about 4,000 pages of documents from Texas EquuSearch, but Tim Miller, who is president of the group, opposes the motion. Miller called it an invasion of privacy for volunteers who searched for Caylee.

Anthony’s attorneys want to know the names of the volunteers who searched the area around Suburban Drive and Hidden Oaks Elementary.

Attorney Mark NeJame represented Miller at the hearing. He said that Miller and the records have been available for months, and no request was made by the defense to speak with him or visit his office to review the documents.

“I think they should have the time to come to my office and review the 4,000 documents they’re jumping up and down they haven’t had access to because they haven’t made the time to come over,” NeJame said. “It is beyond me. It is incredulous to suggest that there is this bombshell, that things have been hidden from them when they’re still sitting in my office.”

Casey Anthony: Is Defense Team Running Out of Money?

I doubt that they are, but you never know right?

I’d say that it is a valid question and I open it up for discussion. For further details, WDBO looks at this possibility today.

From WDBO:

Marti Mackenzie, a well-known public relations executive, offered no explanation for why she was leaving the case. But high-profile Orlando attorney Mark Nejame says it does make him wonder.

“That would be one of the first places you would look (if money is running out),” Nejame told WDBO. “That’s just a luxury and maybe a determination has been made that too much has been spent already.”

Anthony’s case has dragged on for almost two years, and her attorneys have refused to explain how they’re being compensated. Her team includes lawyers and experts from New York, Chicago, and, until recently, California.

Casey Anthony: EquuSearch Fights Back

A lawyer for Texas EquuSearch has filed a response to claims made by Casey Anthony’s defense team earlier this week.

From the Orlando Sentinel:

In recently filed documents, the defense said the organization’s argument that releasing all its information, including the volunteers’ cell phones and other identifying details, to the defense could have a “chilling” effect on volunteers in future searches.

The defense argued that EquuSearch attorney Mark NeJame invited a local television station to view some of the records, which makes the chilling effect argument moot.

But in a response filed Wednesday, NeJame stated the defense team’s motion is “inaccurate and lacking in demonstrating any proper investigation or due diligence prior to its filing.”

“If counsel for the Defendant had conducted a proper inquiry he would have ascertained that none of the previously approximately 4,000 undisclosed names of the searchers were shown, reviewed, or looked at by Adam Longo, reporter for Central Florida News 13,” NeJame wrote. “In fact, those approximately 4,000 names of the searchers were in a separate box and in a separate office located approximately fifteen (15) miles away when Mr. Longo was present.”

Casey Anthony: Defense Files New Motion

Casey Anthony’s defense team has filed a new motion that they hope will help gain them access to all of Texas Equusearch’s records.

From the Orlando Sentinel:

According to court documents filed today, the defense says the organization’s argument that releasing all its information, including the volunteers’ cell phones and other identifying details, to the defense could have a “chilling” effect on volunteers in future searches.

The defense argued that last year Texas EquuSearch’s attorney, Mark NeJame, invited a local television station to view some of the records — which makes the chilling effect argument moot.

Tiger Woods Will Not Play in Own Tournament

Tiger Woods has announced that he will not be playing in his own golf tournament in southern California because of injuries he suffered near his Florida home early Friday morning.

There are still rumors running wild surrounding this incident. Was Tiger drinking? Was there a domestic violence issue? Was Tiger cheating?

All I know is that Tiger is not speaking with the police but his attorney Mark NeJame (well known recently from the Casey/Caylee Anthony case) handed over the required documents on  Sunday at Woods’ home and no further discussion is expected.

From CNN:

“I am extremely disappointed that I will not be at my tournament this week,” Woods said of the Chevron World Challenge in Thousand Oaks, California. “I am certain it will be an outstanding event and I’m very sorry that I can’t be there.”

He also canceled a Tuesday news conference for the start of the tournament, which helps raise money for Tiger Woods Foundation programs.

Woods suffered minor injuries in a vehicle accident early Friday in his luxury neighborhood near Orlando, Florida, according to a police accident report.

State police in Florida said Monday an investigation of the single-vehicle crash “is ongoing and charges are pending.”

The incident has ended Woods’ golf appearances until next season, according to a statement posted on his Web site.

“Woods will not participate in any other tournaments in 2009 and will return to action next year,” the statement said.

Tiger Woods Continues to Dodge Police

I guess he’s better at dodging the police than fire hydrants and trees

Tiger Woods has skipped yet another meeting with state troopers but talked about his accident on his Web site today, stating that the crash was his fault and that his wife acted courageously.

Don’t get me wrong, I’d love to believe Tiger. But something just doesn’t make sense in this whole thing.

Tiger denies the “rumors” that are being spread, but I hate to tell you Tiger, if you don’t come out and speak about the issues, the rumors are going to continue to fly. The more you keep this a private matter, the more chance you are going to have that you, or your wife, will continue to be scrutinized.

Oh, and for those of you familiar with the Casey/Caylee Anthony story, here is an interesting connection: Woods attorney is Mark Nejame.

Thoughts?

From the Associated Press:

The statement was posted about an hour before troopers were to meet with the world’s No. 1 golfer at his home inside the gates of Isleworth. A meeting was not rescheduled.

In a tape of a 911 call released Sunday, two days after the accident, a neighbor told dispatchers that a black Cadillac Escalade hit a tree and “I have someone down in front of my house.”

Woods’ neighbor never mentions the golfer by name, and the call is inaudible at several points because of the bad connection.

“I came out here just to see what was going on,” the neighbor, who was not identified, told dispatchers. “I see him, and he’s laying down.”

One woman is heard in the background yelling, “What happened?”

In his statement, Woods took responsibility for the accident.

“This situation is my fault, and it’s obviously embarrassing to my family and me,” Woods said. “I’m human and I’m not perfect. I will certainly make sure this doesn’t happen again.”

Woods said it was a private matter, and he wanted to keep it that way. What he failed to address was where he was going at that hour.

“Although I understand there is curiosity, the many false, unfounded and malicious rumors that are currently circulating about my family and me are irresponsible,” he said.

Casey Anthony: Former Equusearch Volunteer to be Questioned

Investigators seem to want to know more about Joy Wray, a former volunteer with Texas Equusearch who claims to be a witness in the case against Casey Anthony.

From WESH:

Wray said she has video from November that proves Caylee’s body was not in the woods at that point. She said it backs up the defense teams claims that someone other than Casey dumped the body in the woods.

Wray will meet with a detective Monday from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.

From the Orlando Sentinel:

Attorneys for Casey Anthony want Texas EquuSearch, a nonprofit volunteer search group, to turn over all of its records regarding the search last year for slain toddler Caylee Anthony.

Jose Baez filed the paperwork in court Monday asking the judge to order EquuSearch founder Tim Miller to turn over information — such as names and phone numbers — for the thousands who volunteered to look for the missing 2-year-old Orange County girl.

The nonprofit, represented by Orlando attorney Mark NeJame, has given Casey Anthony’s defense attorneys information about 32 people who searched in the area between Hidden Oaks Elementary School and the area near Suburban and Hopespring drives, where Caylee’s body was found.

From MyFox Orlando:

Texas EquuSearch already turned over records for a few dozen volunteers but the defense wants all the names and phone numbers of thousands of volunteers.

Casey Anthony has pleaded not guilty on charges that she killed her daughter, 2-year-old Caylee Marie , claiming a babysitter kidnapped her toddler. Caylee was last seen in June of 2008, but she was not reported missing until a month later. Her remains were found in woods near the family’s Suburban Drive home in December.

Volunteer Joseph Jordan says in a signed written statement that on September 1, 2008 he and a couple dozen other search volunteers searched the stockade fence along the south side of Suburban Drive near Hope Springs Street. Jordan says one of the volunteers with him was a man with his search dog and a Panama City Sheriff’s Deputy with one of his dogs.

Casey Anthony: Father Storms News Conference

George Anthony barged into a news conference earlier this morning and demanded to speak with an attorney who represents a volunteer search group that looked for his granddaughter, Caylee Anthony, last year.

From the Orlando Sentinel:

George Anthony spoke to attorney Mark NeJame behind closed doors for several minutes until Anthony’s attorney, Brad Conway, showed up and joined them. About 30 minutes later, the three emerged, appearing calm.

George Anthony said he received a call from his daughter’s defense attorney, Jose Baez, about the news conference and photos of the wooded area back in November — a month before the remains were found.

There was a misunderstanding and everything had been resolved, Anthony said.