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June 11, 2011

Conflict ensues among hopeful spectators at Casey Anthony trial

Posted: 09:00 PM ET

Orlando, FL – It was just after 5 a.m. when the crowd threatened to get ugly again. Police had already been called once that night. Now, they were hovering to keep a watchful eye on the line of 100 or so people who were waiting  Saturday morning for courtroom seats to the trial of Florida v. Casey Anthony.

Tracy Bucciarrelli from Chicago was threatening to jump the line, and she was confronted by angry "Sharpies" yelling, “You’re a trouble maker!”

The "Sharpies" are those in line who have agreed to abide by a crowd-imposed honor system in which people write numbers on the backs of their hands with a Sharpie pen. The number represents their place in line, and those who participate agree to honor the Sharpie order.

It was Karen Jennings’ pen and her idea. She was as at the courthouse earlier in the week when a stampede caused one woman to be trampled, and paramedics were called to the scene. The woman suffered only minor injuries, but the incident irked Jennings.

“No one needs to get hurt. We are adults. When you go to a deli counter you pick a number,” Jennings said. “If it works, there it should work here.”

Competition for the limited seating in the courtroom is fierce, Bucciarelli who arrived sometime after 4 a.m. found herself behind more than 60 people. With only 50 seats reserved for members of the public, she could be shut out. She told the crowd, “According to the published rules on the Internet, the line officially starts at 8:30 a.m.”

She went on to say that there was nothing in the rules to stop her from walking to the front of the line.
Bucciarelli and her friends set off a boisterous argument prompting number 13 in the line, or Joe C. Castillo, to call 911. Castillo had been waiting since 11 p.m. Friday night. The mother of three and grandmother of four had been following the case closely, and she was determined to see the trial from the courtroom on her day off. She called 911 to warn police that, “there’s going to be a riot.”

Trial followers like Shawn Chisson, who has been admitted to the courtroom six times, complain that the courthouse deputies do nothing to stem the unruliness of the crowd. This time, however, police officers for the City of Orlando arrived and announced to the crowd that anyone caught running would be arrested.

When the clock struck 5:30 a.m., the time when deputies move the crowd to the official waiting area, there was no stampede to the front. Troy Mitchell from Denver took his place at the head of the line, thanking the Orlando police officers for supporting the new Sharpie order.

-Grace Wong, In Session Sr. Field Producer

Filed under: Case Updates • Casey and Caylee Anthony • In Session • Trial Updates • Trials


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Kelly   June 12th, 2011 1:45 am ET

Personally this sort of behavior makes me sick...the "potential" spectators acting like it is "Black Friday" at a courthouse over a murder trial? Is she really WORTH getting a glimpse at? I think not.
It's like they have forgotten Caylee altogether...Sad.


shirley b   June 12th, 2011 1:05 pm ET

I have been watching and following this case from the beginning. Im very sure if the crowd keeps up this bs about getting in and getting a seat that NOBODY will be allowed in. Come on people just watch it on tv and relax. U dont even have to wait for a break to just get and use the bathroom, U can watch in your pj s get a beer make a snack. CALM DOWN .


Phillip   June 12th, 2011 5:51 pm ET

I have not drawn a conclusion on guilt or innocence.

I have been a juror in rape and murder trials and have found it dramatic how a case changes when both sides make their presentations. As a previous juror, the medical examiner did not provide me with any medical evidence that the defendent murdered anyone let aloto connect the defendant to murderso, her sensationlism could only be for promoting her show.

I am truly struggling with this judge's fairness. I want the judge to be careful but i also want him to be fair and impartial. So far, most all his rulings are for the prosecution... in fact he acts likes he's part of the prosections team. Just like in sports, i want a good and fair game, not one where the referee calls for one side "over" another to such an extent that it affects the outcome (remember basketball's Donohue).


Cindy   June 12th, 2011 10:31 pm ET

I would put 1 million people behind me; she wanted the attentionthat the child had. Find the father!
She has destroyed her family's life, the people that secured this child a future!
Attention what she wanted and she is getiing!
I have two chidren, I would sacrifice MY LIFE for them!


kim   June 13th, 2011 11:04 am ET

If I were a juror and the judge is frequently asking the jurors to leave so that testimony may or may not be heard, in my mind I would be thinking there is a lot the defense don't want us to know....hmm I wonder why!


Lauren   June 13th, 2011 11:09 am ET

Regarding Phillip's comment: I think you are the only person except me who has commented on the judge's obvious. His ruling on the inadmissibility of the color power point of hair experiment. The judge has stated he wanted to be sure that they would not have to do this trial again but he sllaowed a jury to be chosen against the defense's objections in only 2 weeks! And this is for a death penalty case!!! She could potentially win an appeal and all of the state money will have been wasted. Casey in not getting a fair trial and the coverage of the trial is appalling biased


judy lowe   June 13th, 2011 11:51 am ET

Cindy : I sincerely DOUBT Casey KNOWS who little Caylee's father is.


margie smith   June 13th, 2011 12:27 pm ET

I think she killed her child by accident. She been using sleeping aides and this time she tried chloroform. promised her daughter she would give her a heart sticker if she let her put the tape over her face. She than gave her and over dose of chloroform. with the child taped she could not scream. I dont think this was the frist time she had put her daughter to sleep, calling it zanny.


Linda   June 13th, 2011 12:56 pm ET

I'm a bit confused..what does the alleged incest abuse between George and Casey have to do with George and/ or Casey killing Caylee Anthony? Did I miss something? What is the reasoning behind this theory??


james   June 13th, 2011 1:34 pm ET

I think she left her in her car to go party and had locked the doors and whenever she returned 1 day 2 days her baby was dead,,heat exposher,maybe she left the car on and there was a carbon monoxide poison, when she saw what she did so she put the baby in the trunk ,,no knowing what to do,,because she knew if she told the police about it she wouuld still be responsible for her death and still would of gone to prison,,she confined in someone, about the situation,,Dad,,brother,,but some one ..She didn't know what to do,,This is as bad, as any other scenerio ,knowing she was partying doing drugs ect..once she was home they tried to bury her in the sand in back yard,,the dogs smelled it and try to dig her up,,than back to the trunk of car,,then buried in woods,,duck tape so bugs would'nt get in,,its simple thats my opinion


joyce from St. Bernard, La   June 13th, 2011 2:27 pm ET

When Lee was on the stand he said that Casey told him she went to the park with the nanny and her sister. Now casey said the nanny was taking Caylee from her to teach her a lesson because she is an unfit mother. Ok the nanny doesn't exist, so why is she saying the nanny thinks she is unfit and what was she doing that the nanny would think Casey was unfit in the first place? Was this really Casey thinking in her on mind on a deeper level that she herself thought she was an unfit mother and if so could this had been Casey's way of asking for help and no one recongized it? Could her insecurity about being a good mother be enough motive for Casey in her on mind?


Harvey   June 13th, 2011 3:28 pm ET

The prosecution has not proven their case. They have, however, proven that Casey is a lier. The evidence indicates that there was decomposition in Casey's car. It does not prove that she diliberately killed her child. Also, isn't it odd that the meter reader chose to releive himself in an area that was known to retain water.


fran   June 13th, 2011 3:52 pm ET

My questrion is; DID NO ONE SEE THIS BABY IN THE BACK OF THIS CAR? If not, then she had her covered up so no one could see her and she was sleeping from the drugs her mother gave her.


Debbie   June 13th, 2011 4:42 pm ET

So now the prosecution made it very obvious there will be a hung jury and another trial, does that mean the state of Florida will pay Baez for another trial? Or will be be humanized like everyone else and have a Public Defender?


NanetteNunez   June 13th, 2011 5:22 pm ET

like your Theory James, could be she probably gave her Chloroform too much to put her to sleep then went to party party then got so drunk forgot about her then she realized she left her there found her dead and then it goes on from there what she does to hide her body. I just know she is guilty! I know they say no one saw her do it but look at Scott Peterson no one saw him kill his wife Lacy and now he is on death roll.


toni   June 13th, 2011 5:22 pm ET

No No...Cindy said when they went in the pool She would help Caylee up the ladder and get in behind her...


G. Lidlow   June 13th, 2011 5:36 pm ET

Watching In Session just now and Jean Casarez made the comment that Cindy Anthony had testified that she would walk up the steps to the pool and then Caylee would climb up after her. This was not her testimony. What she said was that she would help Caylee up the steps and caylee would sit down on the top and wait for Cindy to get in the pool and then Caylee would get in. I live in Orlando and have seven grandchildren, one is three years old.

I have been watching this ever since I heard the first news report that the child was "missing". The very first time I ever saw news footage of Casey Anthony was when she was arrested the first time. Look at her face, her smile, her demeanor, it was all about her.

My daughter has five children and they have lived with me since the first one was born 14years ago and I am here to tell you that as mad as one can get with a child, if one of her children went missing or was "accidentally" drowned my daughter would be unconsolable and she or her husband or I would have tried anything to revive that child.

In my opinion, whether she planned the death of her child or it was an accident, in the end she is responsible for the safety and wellfare of her child. Not her Mom, not her Dad no one but her.


jennifer   June 13th, 2011 6:40 pm ET

i get so burned up the way these experts of hln can possibly or even remotely say or think the state didn't prove their case or that she is innocent. the state laid it all out. she cold blooded baby killer.


Debbie   June 13th, 2011 7:19 pm ET

TO EVERYONE BASHING THE JUDGE: It seems to you that he is favoring the prosecutors side, but in fact he is following the law. If Baez had it his way, every single piece of evidence would be tossed out, the hair, the body, the police reports, the interviews with police, her not calling the police and reporting Caylee missing, the witnesses, you name it. HES A LOW LIFE ATTORNEY, WILL SAY AND DO ANYTHING TO GET HIS CLIENT OFF. AND TO TOP IT OFF HE IS THE TYPE OF LAWYER THAT GIVES ALL LAWYERS A BAD NAME. As I see it Jose Baez thinks this case is his Willy Wonka's Golden Ticket. He comes off as a Loser to me with a capitol L on his forehead.

The Judge is following the law. Jose Baez is going to try and use everything to appeal or toss out any conviction. He fabricated the "opening Statement" just to put a reasonable doubt in the jurors minds, I just hope they are smart enough to see though his disguesting lies.

What really bothers me is her "acting" when the jury is around, and she is a poor actor as well not "hot" as Jose Baez thinks, actually I think her personality, looks, and attitude makes her one of the uglyest people of all time.


Lynn McCaghren   June 13th, 2011 7:45 pm ET

I have not drawn a conclusion on guilt or innocence. We all agree that the death of Caylee is heartbreaking down to the core of most of us. Right now, with all the months of media opinions which seem to have convicted Casey, there is someone many can blame and target their anger toward. As of this time there seems to be a lot of speculation and circumstantial evidence. Personally, I want to see the "guilty" individual suffer the circumstances whether purposely or accidental.

Ok, lets look at some opposing views concerning George.
1) He is knowledgeable and savvy in probably most things concerning deaths by accidental or purposeful means. He probably knows the system, the law and probably the order of collected and processed evidence.
2) IF Caylee drowned on his watch, what would this do to his and Cindy's relationship? She might forgive, but never forget. From what we have learned to date, this family is very dysfunctional. He is in the process of mending his marriage after returning home.
3) If Lee confesses that he tried to sexually abuse Casey, could it be because he was aware that his dad did, so tried to take the same advantage. How would have he had learned this? Possibly by seeing his Dad go into her bedroom?
4) The car belongs to George and (Cindy?) It is not her car.
5) George has a 2nd set of keys.
6) George had as much access to the car as Casey did.
7) George would have a much easier time holding a now very heavy corpse going through very dense foliage.
8) George cleaned the car on a regular basis (seems everyone forgot this)
9) Calling the police department to report a missing gas can...
What a way to start setting up someone (speculative).

The fact the prosecution has only allegations of motive, method: could only be by chloroform or duct tape and Dr. G's 3 rules of murder.
Now we are suppose to take the prosecutions word on all of this because Casy is a liar. We know she is a liar. What we do not know, is why. She has been lying for months, why? Could it be because she wanted to get out of her parents home. Could it be because she really despises her father, angry at her Mom for trying to take control of her life and her daughter's.

There is a lot more I have been thinking about...but this is enough for now.


ernie   June 13th, 2011 8:33 pm ET

Defense to prosecution:"Fool if you think it's over!" I've been glued to the t.v. set(trutv/Hln), watching this trial and absorbing all the pros and cons(commentary); and for the life of me, I can't come to terms with the premise that Casey killed that sweet little girl! The evidence does not support that argument. In fact, it shows her to be:arrogant, snob, thief, and a liar-guilty as charged! But, the evidence/testimonies given so far, does not remotely come close in my estimation that Casey killed Caylee on purpose-not guilty! it's clear that the prosecution, in their zeal to convict,...overcharged. This is not a 1st-deg murder case. It's an accident that happened to a sick (mentally) young woman who doesn't have her head in its right orbit. Believe me, if i for one second thought she on purpose killed that little angel...i'd volunteer to inject her with poison.


Barbara   June 13th, 2011 8:49 pm ET

Linda the alleged incest charge was according to Baez Casey had been abused by her father since the age of 8 and she learned how to block it out by lying. So because of the horrific sexual abuse Casey became an habitual liar.
To me the holes in that defense is when she was being questioned by the police she should have told them then that story. Why would you go to jail and be in jail for 3yrs. Com on ??????And as one commentator stated it would make George sicker than Casey!!!!
Again I think Judge Perry is upset w/Baez and his defense logic, if this poor child drowned on June 16th then what the hell has been going on for the last 3yrs.???? All the expenses, peoples time, energy and efforrt to find her .....That's why I think the judge will throw the book at her. This is all a waste of TIME & MONEY!!!!!!
Unfortunately the prosecution has not proven their case, I say manslaughter, neglect and the 4 chgs. of misleading the police.


Mike   June 14th, 2011 6:02 am ET

There is no way the prosecution met their burden in this case. Not only is the evidence all circumstantial but the circumstantial evidence itself is all circumstantial. Almost every piece of evidence that the prosecution presented requires an inference to be made. Additionally the defense has elicited testimony that many are not focused on. Casey had a history of taking her father’s gas cans and the two of them have fought about it on various occasions. George, after finding out his gas cans were taken, calls the police first and not Casey? He does not even mention to the police the history of his daughter taking the gas to the police? This testimony combined with George’s testimony about picking up the car in the tow yard does not makes sense. Upon arriving at the yard, George said that the car smelled like a decomposing body, which he was sure about because of his experience as a detective. When asked what was on his mind when he smelled it, he responded by saying he was thinking please don’t be my daughter or granddaughter in the car or trunk. He has not seen either in almost two weeks; however, he decided not to call the police in that instance? This does not make sense to me since even if it was N.Y. friend and not a relative that was missing and I could smell a decomposing body in their abandoned car, the first thing I would do and believe anyone would do is call the police. Instead the family cleans the car and sprays deodorant in it?
It is also very strange to me that Casey had menstrual problems since she was 10 and no one took her to a gynecologist until just shortly before the child was born. Casey gained weight; something so obvious to an uncle at a wedding. He asked both of the Anthonys if they thought she was pregnant and both had no doubt that she was not. In light of these facts, I could make an inference that the Casey’s parents not only may have known about the pregnancy, but were trying to cover it up for some reason. All of Casey’s imaginary friends as well as the two she made up as the father does not make sense as well. They were not created to be alibis for Casey. Most were created at the time of Caley’s birth, including Zanny. What type of parents accept so easily stories made about their granddaughter’s father and do not inquire more diligently into who he is and what his family is like, especially when Casey told them he existed. It would make more sense to me if Casey said it was a one night stand and she does not know who the father is. Something is wrong. I am not saying that Casey did not do something wrong, but something is not right enough to put someone to death without clearer evidence of what took place.


Mary Fiore   June 14th, 2011 10:57 am ET

Where is Caylee's father? And who is paying the for the lawyers on the trial?


Mike   June 14th, 2011 12:00 pm ET

I would like to hear more expert opinions on incest and sexual abuse and how victims behave and react mentally. I think that it is possible that a person who has been sexually abused by their father generally might prefer spending the rest of their life in jail rather than come to that reality. Maybe if that person truly accepted the reality or even the possibilty that their own father could be the father of their baby it would lead to suicide or total mental breakdown anyway. I would like to know who was with Casey all that time she was lying to her mother about where she was,, there must have been someone else invloved in this incident.


Darlene Farner   June 14th, 2011 1:18 pm ET

Was the forensic lab able to do a toxicology on the hair found on the duct tape? What is Zanny the nanny is actually the drug Zanax.


Phil Stanchfield   June 14th, 2011 1:37 pm ET

Why didn't they test for DNA on the paper bags in the trash bag? They had body fluid on them? Or were they contaiminated because because they were put in Paper bags by the CSI


Nancy   June 15th, 2011 10:58 am ET

What is the cause of death on Caylee Anthony's death certificate??


Lynn McCaghren   June 15th, 2011 2:35 pm ET

Mike: You made some very good points, especially bringing to the forefront about this enigmatic missing father. How many times has a male/father killed a child for various reasons? We are wondering where her spending money has been coming from for a couple of years, more or less. Speculative: could she have been blackmailing him under the threat of disclosure, therefore child support for 18 years or more. There are many questions to be asked about this missing link.

Irking and problematic testimony not addressed: three phone calls in August to the police department about finding a skull and the lack of REAL response, especially in the light of the physical location to the Anthony home.


judy lowe   June 16th, 2011 10:58 am ET

Marylee,the good taxpayers of Florida are paying for her lawyers-except Cheney Mason who's doing it for free.I'm REAL happy this case wasn't in NC & as a taxpayer I had to foot her legal bills.I would be VERY UNHAPPY.


Kenneth   June 16th, 2011 11:26 am ET

Anthony trial, today starting with DNA expert, finish and then cross if you found no dna then we assume the real owner of the shovel never touched the shovel and must have used it as garage art, right, if not where is his dna ? Then if his dna does'nt exist or any other dna is missing then just maybe your test is flauded, correct ? Casey is guilty of this crime and I believe by putting Caley to sleep to sufficate her to enjoy the b-life. All circumstancial evidence leads one direction in this case and that really is undisputable the weight of this evidence out weighs the smoke the defense is blowing around the court room. Five defense attorneys, are you kidding!!!!!!!


Sally from Chicago   June 16th, 2011 12:47 pm ET

I was wondering, if the comment Lee Anthony made at the memorial service for Caylee, about a "secret " he would keep forever with CMA (Casey Marie Anthony ) was the reason for them asking for a test to see if he was the father?


ethan   June 16th, 2011 2:52 pm ET

there is no dna, that bothers me,what really happend and who was involved,she is a bad mother and she lies but whats the motive here,i am in a spot that there is no case strong enuph to convict her of a felony murder,who is she protecting,


Candice   June 16th, 2011 4:51 pm ET

First Degree can be charged and convicted even if the death was not intentional. It is first degree murder if you kill someone by committing another crime. I wonder if drugging your child is a serious enough crime? Probably not. The value of a child's life is so minimal in America. They act like it is a crime, but children die every day in America from abuse. It is only taken this far if the child ends up dead. What a shame!!


L. G. Garner   June 17th, 2011 9:37 am ET

Can you tell me – Where in the world is all the money coming from to pay for Casey Anthony's Defense Team, and how much do you think it will be when they are finished?


michelle   June 30th, 2011 11:38 pm ET

the only way us goodtaxpayers of FL would be paying for Casey's attorneys is if they are court appointed.


michelle   June 30th, 2011 11:40 pm ET

the state will help for court costs, but not in private attorney fees.


cassey   July 1st, 2011 1:06 pm ET

why hasnt anyone tuched on the fact that the defense called the bug expert on dec. 11 2008 when they did not even know that the body was caylees. they didnt know the body was hers till dec. 19, 2008


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