Casey Anthony held in the Orange County Jail without bail on charges of child neglect, filing false official information and obstructing an investigation.
Judge Belvin Perry Jr., Orange County Circuit, reigned over a status hearing in the Casey Anthony murder case on Monday. During the hearing, Perry advised the attorneys involved to expect long days and no delays in the upcoming trial.
Anthony, 24, is still being held on first-degree murder charges in the death of Caylee, her two-year-old daughter. Caylee remains were found in December 2008 after being reported missing in July of 2008. Anthony has pleaded not guilty to the charges and did not attend the hearing.
Judge Perry reviewed potential witness lists with both the prosecution and defense during the status hearing. The judge also warned the attorneys to expect proceedings to be in session six days a week. In addition to the other words of warning, he told them the facet of discovery must be resolved in advance. There will be no “trial by ambush” in his court, he warned. “How much time you get to sleep at night will be strictly on you,” Perry said. “If you don’t share things, then y’all are going to find a lot of evenings ya’ll are going to be together, giving depositions, taking statements. It makes for a long next day.”
At least 5,000 pages of documents connected to the case have been released. These documents include letters along with fan mail and hate mail from the public. Anthony, most likely at the advice of her attorneys, has refused to see visitors, fearing the sessions would be recorded and released.
The trial is scheduled to begin on May 9 and opening statements are to begin a week later. Perry has ordered that the selection of the jury in another county. Jurors are to be brought to Orlando when opening arguments begin. Jose Baez, Anthony’s defense attorney, has repeatedly asked the judge to limit the release of public records about the case due to publicity, but Perry has refused.