Casey Anthony: Is Jose Baez pulling a Columbo?
Peter Falk promoted a 'Columbo' movie in 2003. Photo credit: Damian Dovarganes/ABC
What was the most-talked-about development last week in the Casey Anthony trial?
The opening statements, by the defense and the prosecution, would win many votes. But Jose Baez’s cross examination of George Anthony seemed the high point because the questioning was so, well, confounding.
In his opening statement, Baez accused George Anthony of sexually molesting his daughter and covering up the drowning death of his granddaughter. Casey Anthony is charged with first-degree murder in the death of her daughter, Caylee.
The prosecution called George Anthony as its first witness, and he denied abusing Casey or knowing that Caylee had drowned. When it was time to question George, Baez didn’t seem prepared.
“It fell completely flat,” said WKMG-Channel 6 legal analyst Mark O’Mara this morning on “Flashpoint.” ”He had a great opportunity to cross examine this person and he never made any real inroads.”
WKMG anchor Lauren Rowe wondered, “Is this sloppy lawyering? Is it not being prepared? Or is there a method to what seems like madness?”
O’Mara said he hoped that defense attorneys Baez and Cheney Mason had a plan after having two and a half years to prepare. ”His [Baez's] beginning is now a Columbo effect of how to present a case,” O’Mara said. “He seems to be bumbling, and not making a lot of headway, but maybe, Columbo does get the answer at the end. We’ll see.”
Ah, Columbo, one of TV’s greatest heroes, played brilliantly by Peter Falk. Is Baez pulling a Columbo? Or is it sacrilege to compare Baez to Columbo?
Baez’s cross examination of George Anthony drew a lot of attention. “One could argue that the move that he [Baez] pulled on George was in fact a sleazy maneuver,” WFTV-Channel 9 legal analyst Bill Sheaffer said.
WFTV anchor Josh Benson said the defense in the opening statement “called Casey a victim and dropped bombshell after bombshell about what they say really happened to Caylee.” Benson also added that “many say that Jose Baez delivered a strong opening statement.”
But WKMG’s O’Mara said that Baez’s opening statement mandated that Casey Anthony will have to take the stand.
The defense said that Caylee had died by drowning. Yet WFTV pulled out an Aug. 14, 2008, jail tape in which the visiting Cindy told inmate Casey that someone was speculating that Caylee had drowned. Casey dismissed that notion then, saying sarcastically, “Surprise, surprise.”
Reporters were studying the interaction — or lack thereof — between Cindy Anthony and her daughter on Saturday.
WFTV’s Kathi Belich described Cindy Anthony’s behavior. “She never looked at Casey the whole time she was in court, sending a clear message to the jury,” Belich said. “Casey appeared downright angry after the first time her mother testified.”
WKMG’s Mike DeForest said, “Cindy Anthony walked out of the courtroom without ever looking over at her daughter. Across the room, Casey Anthony watched her mother leave and began saying something to her attorney that we could not hear, then she began to cry.”
WESH-Channel 2’s Bob Kealing said that Casey had gone into “an angry fit” after her mother left the stand and the jury was out of the room. “It was Casey at her most emotional in three years of court hearings,” Kealing said.
Kealing also observed that the jurors were “looking confused and transfixed” when Tony Lazzaro read text messages between himself and former girlfriend Casey.
WKMG’s Mike DeForest highlighted that Cindy Anthony cried when looking at photographs of Caylee’s bedroom, “but Casey Anthony showed no emotion, something at least one juror noticed.” DeForest added that Casey “began to wipe away tears” when Caylee’s toys were displayed.
What’s up for the jury this holiday weekend? Jacqueline Fell of Central Florida News 13 said the jurors will get to see their families Sunday. “Judge Perry tells them he has something special planned for Memorial Day,” Fell added.
What’s coming next week? Cindy Anthony will continue her testimony Tuesday morning. WFTV’s Sheaffer said that Lee Anthony, Casey’s brother, will testify before law enforcement officers take the stand.
Sheaffer also predicted that Baez will adopt a different approach in questioning Cindy Anthony. “He doesn’t have to attack her, and as a matter of fact, if he does, he’s going to pay a big price for that with this jury,” Sheaffer said.
What do you think?