some rest, others rage

The State of Florida, in the murder trial of Casey Anthony, rested today.

They rested after bringing forward a very strong case – delivering a concise argument that meticulously and tightly binds Casey Anthony to the murder.

Understandably, the State did not use all the evidence in its arsenal.  Perhaps they were concerned about overdoing their case in chief and so decided to wait until their rebuttal to introduce additional evidence.  Forgive the pun, but I’m sure the State was concerned with “over-kill” with regards to the plethora of evidence they have.

Denied Motion for Acquittal

The rules of criminal procedure in Florida require a defense lawyer to submit a motion to argue its position for a judicial decision of acquittal.  This is a standard practice in all criminal trials, and are rarely ever granted to a defendant.

The fact is, when a judge decides and rules in these matters, his or her explanation and reasoning for such a motion generally is a good indication as to what the outcome of the trial will be.

Today Mr. Cheney Mason argued the motion in front of Judge Belvin Perry, Jr.

Mason told the Court, there was no premeditation in this case. He said, there were inferences and speculation of it, but no evidence whatsoever of premeditation.

I beg to differ.

Mason also stated that there is no evidence of the defendant causing any pain or injury to Caylee Anthony.  In fact, he says, there were many witnesses who were happy to attest to Casey Anthony’s success as a mother.

Mason argues that Caylee Marie Anthony died accidentally since the State did not prove that a homicide existed.

The Judge asked Mason where in the record is there evidence of “accidental death” and Mason admits THERE IS NONE!

Mr. Mason claims the mere presence of duct tape proves nothing – no evidence of anything, he says, raising his voice.

No evidence of culpable negligence, he says.  And of course Mason brought up the Miranda Rights aspect of the case, which was previously argued repeatedly by the Court in pre-trial hearings.  Mason wanted this on the record yet again.  He obviously believes strongly that Casey Anthony’s rights were violated with regards the Court’s decision on these issues.

Mason grew increasingly agitated and demonstrative as his argument continued, and occasionally there was a fleeting glimpse of the good lawyer he once was.  But, it was very clear that he simply was not listening to the testimony these last three weeks.

And, during some moments of his argument, things seemed to fall apart and Mr. Mason resorted to histrionics.

Listening to Mason today, it sprang to mind that if he were an actor, he’d make a very good King Lear.

The aged Lear, who attempts to divide his kingdom between his three daughters, eventually goes mad.  He rages against storms, and descends into madness.

Lear bellows: “Blow, winds, and crack your cheeks! rage! blow!”

King Lear held back by his court jester

You sulphurous and thought-executing fires,
Vaunt-couriers to oak-cleaving thunderbolts,
Singe my white head! And thou, all-shaking thunder,
Strike flat the thick rotundity o’ the world! 

~King Lear

Anyway, that’s where my mind was when I listened to Cheney Mason – casting him as the perfect Lear.

Say What???

And so, the other big news today revealed that the defense wants to depose and possibly call to testify a convicted felon named, Vasco Thompson.  The defense is inexplicably suggesting today that on July 14, 2008, George Anthony made four calls to this man, who was previously convicted for a violent crime – kidnapping to be exact.

Vasco Thompson

The defense has not deposed this person as yet, and George Anthony, through his attorney Mark Lippman, is denying any knowledge of this man.

Can this defense get any more desperate?  Are they changing strategy now?  Since Judge Perry told the defense there is no evidence of an accident scenario, are they dropping the drowning, in favor of kidnapping?

And, why Vasco Thompson?  Is this suddenly a Susan Smith kind of excuse?  Blame it on a mean-looking black man?  If anyone had a connection with this man, my guess it was Casey Anthony.  Was she looking for a hit-man?

The motion about this new prospective witness, Vasco Thompson, reinforces my belief that Mr. Mason is well cast as King Lear.

Crack your cheeks!  Rage!  Blow!

p.s. Vasco Thompson has not returned calls from the defense team.