Discussing the racial or class implications of this case does not mean that one believes that this woman is not guilty of murder. It is simply a side discussion about how very different POC are investigated, processed, represented, arrested and sentenced in our court systems. It is not equal justice for all.

On the other side of this, I firmly believed OJ Simpson murdered his ex-wife and the young man that was with her. No doubt what-so-ever. Yet, race played a part in that verdict as well (also a circumstantial case). Anyone from the LA area that is a POC can explain how very alive "Jim Crowe" is in the LAPD. And for may POC, that verdict was justified based upon years of biased treatment in the LAPD racially. I don’t agree with this thinking, but I see where it comes from and why.

I certainly had a problem with that verdict in terms of it allowing a psychopath free and I feel the same way about this case. But, I do see race and the media coverage as related- in both cases. POC with this kind of tragedy in their lives are not equally represented. Their missing children, are not subject to the same utilization of resources or support in attempting to find them in most cases.

I wouldn't mind the same thing happening to Casey Anthony that happened to OJ- eventually being convicted of a crime in which time is spent. Getting both of these people off the streets is a very good idea. So is Anthony not having any more children... but that brings me to...

.... the fact that POC have been the populations in the USA that have been subjected to forced/mandated sterilization types of proposed legislation. There is a lot of historical evidence supporting forced sterilization as a means to conduct genocide against POC. I do, however, support certain situations in which women could lose rights to a child/baby such as giving birth to one while being a chronic drug abuser and using while pregnant. But, I also think that under certain rehab situations, this should not be done. That is a whole other subject for another thread.

Talking forced sterilization makes me nervous. I wish Anthony would voluntarily get her tubes tied, but I doubt she will/would. I fear that since her having Kaylee, she was able to play her parents in many ways- it is so obvious to me that that little girl was thought of their "second chance" to raise a child more effectively. She was a very powerful means for Casey to manipulate her parents. This family is desperately dysfunctional. I can see Casey trying to get back in her parents graces by getting pregnant again in the future. That makes me want to scream- but I just can't go with forced sterilization given the history it has in the US in terms of racism.

There is no “excuse” for what this woman did, yet, in the eyes of the law, she was found not guilty. Consequently, the courts can’t do a thing in terms of her having children in the future. Scary.

I wonder now if her parents will attempt a wrongful death suit against her. They might have standing in terms of the care and housing they provided for her. Might be nice for them to get some of the money we all know Casey will be coming into with her “story” publication and donate it to missing children or victims of violent crimes organizations. If Kay lee’s biological father was ever around and cared, he could of brought such a suit. Yes, I am having trouble with this child’s death not having any kind of justice. But this case has a myriad of psychological, social and political implications. I fully expect to see her parents at a later date with Gloria Allred in tow at media events related to this case.

When I heard the live verdict....
 

I wanted to be pissed off at the jury for being lazy and clueless.

I wanted to be pissed off at the prosecution for not presenting a better case.

I wanted to be pissed off at our judicial system.

I wanted to hurt this mother that could do that to a child, her child, any child!

But.......it doesn't bring this little girl back, does it? None of it.

So what do we do? :readfineprint: This is the biggest bunch of bullshit I've smelled in quite sometime!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

*shaking my head and going to cook dinner*

I see...
 

Thank you for the explanation, Medusa. I also believe this was something that should have come into play - why wasn't the question asked? Here again, is a missed opportunity on the prosecutor's side...why, I wonder.

Yeah, it was frustrating watching the defense throw out weird theories about how the meter man must have moved the body or how there was molestation or how she drowned in the swimming pool and not have to provide any evidence that what they were saying was the least bit true. I know this is the very cornerstone of our judicial system but I felt like the authorities finding this baby's body in a swamp less than a mile from the house and all the lies Casey told would have amounted to "Casey Anthoney, the child's mother, at the very LEAST commited manslaughter or child abuse"

I still can't get over the fact that the words "neck breaking" and "chloroform" were searched on the home computer, Casey's mother LIED about being the one doing it AND was busted out by computer forensics, and still? The jury didn't think that was at least some form of pre-meditation.

I dunno. Maybe she really did drown and Casey Anthony panicked and threw her body in the swamp. It still doesn't explain why she made up stories about "Zanny the Nanny" or her brother and father abusing her.

CAsey Anthony got lucky,very lucky.At the very least I thought she would get time for child indangerment or child abuse.In my opinion she should be sent to a mental intsatution so she can get help,without it she will do something like this a again.One thing for sure she should never have another child in this lifetime.The only thing she had guilty in was lieing to the police,insted of doing any time for it she could be let go with time served.

Fact is, there was a lot of court room activity that the jury did not see and we were privy to it because of live feeds - discussions and arguments (what-have-you) that could have been crucial in the jury's decision making. How that happens is beyond me.

I dont get it.
I expected the death penalty. Now hearing this I am completely
floored.

I know a few myself, and yes, it is a scary thought. If anyone thinks that she will feel guilt over this - she won't - at least not for a very long time (if ever). The psychology associated with this type of behavior prevents them from having a conscience. They may SAY they have one, but they don't. They are geared to tell you whatever it is they need to get by for their own benefit.

Youtube the Casey Anthony tapes where she was recorded while interviewed by police, etc. Not one ounce of remorse or regret or guilt was found in her voice. Listen to all the lies and how unbelievable they are. Listen to how agitated she gets when Caylee is mentioned. Me Me Me is all you hear.

I doubt she wanted to kill her entire family. Cindy? Hmmm, maybe. She had some issues with her mother and that was obvious in those tapes. But she was close to George. I have no clue about her relationship with Lee.

*sigh* This verdict really bothers me.

And I also hope that the real Zenaida (sp?) Gonzalez...who was interviewed, put on TV and put through some hell......and also the black man (whose name I am drawing a blank on because my brain is mush) who is an ex-convict and currently has the phone number George Anthony was accused of calling both bring lawsuits against her as well.

They both had their personal lives dragged through the media and were connected with this case in a very highly publicized way based solely on Casey's lies.

I'd rather they get whatever money she ends up earning by "telling her story."

I don't dispute the fact that POC are treated differently in our justice system (or "just us" system as I prefer to call it)....but I don't think this case is about race, other than the deeply disturbing accusations and lies....that a Hispanic woman stole the baby and a black ex-con must have been involved.

For me it just feels like a victory for narcissism.

I respect the way our system is set up. It's better that a guilty person go free than an innocent person be convicted. I just don't agree with what's happened here. I know that juries are human and therefore not perfect....I just find this all heartbreaking and disturbing.

The real Zenaida already stated that she will sue Casey for defamation. She was denied employment because she was believed to be a baby kidnapper.

I hope they appeal and file a civil suit. It will keep Casey in the judicial system for a while if nothing else.

Good! I hope Zenaida wins a great big pile of Casey's future money.

I'm perfectly ok shedding a tear and mourning the death of an innocent child, and glad we can all come in here together and do so if we wish without fingerwagging.

then there's this pesky thing called justified anger
which to me is not about drama at all but real life

Thank you for your (self) esteemed opinion.
 

To whom, exactly, does this refer?

Why is it that people have to come in and try and parent other adults?

That's not really offering healthy discourse. It's silencing.


I saw very little drama and rage and plenty of thoughtful discussion.

The drama I saw was someone (you) coming in and starting off a lecturing post with "with all due respect" and then accusing the rest of us (I assume that's what you meant by ya'll) of being dramatic and full of rage.

What's also strange is that you directed it at a member who is neither dramatic or full of rage, so it looks like you're just annoyed in general and may have been looking for an opportunity to get it off your mind.

I'm sure you can consider your opinion noted. :)

Casey's actions after the fact can't be ignored. Someone dumped her body like trash. Someone drove around with her dead body in Casey's car. Someone put duct tape on her mouth. If it was truly an accident, she wouldn't have been out partying like nothing was wrong.

If your kid goes missing for 30 minutes and you don't report it you're a bad parent. 30 days and you go partying and never report it, you most likely killed her - sometimes written law sucks and common sense must take over.

a bumper sticker thought

If you're not outraged you're not paying attention.

I do agree that our legal system- like all of our social institutions and culture- is racist. I have no doubt in mind that the way this case was discussed in the media would have been far different if the mother was a woman of color. The outcome of the case could have very well been different as well.

I do feel the jury was in a tough spot. The standard of Reasonable Doubt does need to be high to protect the innocent. People of color are also the most likely to be falsely accused of crimes.

I remember watching the O.J. Simpson case. I followed it quite closely. I was absolutely convinced he killed his former wife. To this day I don't understand how anyone could kill the mother of his children. However I also remember thinking to myself if I had been on that jury I don't know if I could have voted to convict him even though I was absolutely convinced he did kill her. There were too many holes in the case, too much evidence not handled properly, etc. It sounds like in this case there may have been too much reasonable doubt to convict her of first degree murder, but I also agree there should have been other charges other than first degree murder that she could have been charged with. I don't know what caused this. Several factors no doubt. I don't understand why she wasn't convicted of child abuse or manslaughter.

The Standard of Reasonable Doubt does get abused. On the murder trial I was on the man accused of murder had a rich father and he had two very talented attorneys. Weeks were spent going over this man's whole life story and how bad it had been for him. I think there should be limits to how much of a person's life story gets brought into play. We all have to be responsible adults, especially if we are the parent or guardian of a child.

Much of what goes on in a courtroom is actually quite theatrical. The cases don't come to trial for many months or many years. It's not hard for a talented attorney to cast doubt on what someone says on the witness stand. There's lots of back and forth between the attorneys which the jury is instructed to ignore. You can be in the courtroom for ten minutes and then told to leave and have that same thing happen several times in one day. It's all very choppy. Things are thrown out that you are supposed to pretend you didn't hear. Members of the jury are "courted" through eye contact, friendly smiles, etc. As a juror who is trying to do your job you just want to get down to the relevant facts. It can be quite frustrating.

I do think our legal system is quite flawed, but I have served on a jury and would do so again if called. I also vote. I do what I can. There are people in this world who do not have the legal and political rights that we have in the United States. As a white person I certainly do have rights and privileges that people of color do not have. I am not sure what can be done about our legal system. I do agree it is quite flawed, but part me still does believe in a jury system of some kind.

I do mourn for the loss of this child and for all children who are killed, harmed or neglected in any way. I support those who are expressing your outrage and grief. I do understand.

....even if it was an accident, and this body was dumped somewhere to maybe hide the fact that you are a negligent parent ....

Remember - Casey lied about having a job - she took it further to claim that this imaginary job gave her a promotion that would require her to work nights - just so she could go out and party. Cindy (her mother) expressed that she was getting a little tired of being used as a constant babysitter ... Casey didn't want to own up to her responsibility as a parent .... Casey had some decisions to make.

It doesn't take rocket science to do simple math. She may have been found not guilty, and for all intents and purposes, the jury says she is not a murderer. Why is it that most people in this country (and around the world) feel otherwise?

Yes, there are judgments, heated emotions, anger and disappointment in the way this case played out. Normally, I myself try not to let certain things get to me - and I don't consider myself a drama mama - but when it comes to baby and animal abuse - I go insane with anger - and admittingly, sometimes rage. But you know what? Expressing it is normal. Venting is normal. Sharing it is normal. What is unhealthy is not letting it out if it affects you in such a way. If you aren't affected by anything in the same manner as someone else, that's totally fine but I don't believe it necessary to tell someone to tone it down unless they are totally out of control and intentionally hurting someone else because of misdirected emotion. And I certainly don't think it's ok to tell someone how and what they should think, or how they should feel about it.

Rage alert !
 

It's part of human nature to try and make sense of irrational actions. The bottom line truly is that a beautiful little girl is dead and her death is shrouded in mystery and foul play. As a mother, whether it was an accident or not, there is responsibility as a parent. I'm not saying that George may or may not have had anything to do with this .... that in itself is it's own ugly web of lies. But lying to the police, IMO, was not enough for Casey. Covering up an accidental death is also a crime.

Unfortunately, everything is and always has been speculation, and all I can say is Casey dodged a bullet - she showed more emotion when she was found not guilty than she did when she was accused of killing her daughter or during the whole time her daughter was "missing". Her attorney - just got lucky.

You are correct. I should have been more precise and said the jury acquitted her of murder.

Ain't no thing ;) I should have been more precise - I am sure there are jurors who do think she was guilty, but had to make their decision based on evidence (or rather, lack thereof).

.... agreed.

I thought it was strange too. I think it is because there is no proof as to who actually transported and buried her out there.


Melissa

I think so too. Something or someone led to her death. But the who and the how were never proven. It could have been a premeditated murder or an accident and then a panicked response from the mother or grandparents, even. Someone did something and there are one or more guilty people, but no evidence to say who.

It seems the whole family had an issue with the truth, not just Casey. It was all very muddy. I watched some of the CNN coverage and most of the defense closing and all I could think was, God, I would not want to be on that jury because I could not see any other verdict but not guilty. And its not because she is not guilty, its because no evidence was found. She's a liar, she's messed up, and she seems to be disconnected from reality. she's probably responsible for the death of her child, but its all about the probably. And there are plenty of lying, messed up, disconnected from reality mothers who don't kill their children or even physically abuse them.

Melissa