<p>I was happy to hear Ablow’s conclusion, MommaJ, because it’s the one I had already come to. I don’t know anything about the man. There seemed to have been very few commentators willing to take a stand on even the possibility that Casey was not guilty. It was actually is rather alarming–causing me to search out cheesy message boards on which to air my minority opinion! :)</p>
<p>Innocent until proven guilty. And that means she is INNOCENT.</p>
<p>She may be in need of psychological counseling, both for her life before the trial, and now afterwards. But she is INNOCENT, and has been found such in a court of law. “Not guilty” in our system of law means innocent.</p>
<p>*The defense lawyers were so stunned after the verdict was read that they didn’t even think to ask the judge to immediately release Casey on the spot when they were discussing scheduling sentencing for the misdemeanors Thurs or Fri. They should have requested she be released or released on her own recognizance until sentencing hearing seeing how she had been in jail already 2 or 3 years. *</p>
<p>This is soooo true!!! That’s how stunned they were.</p>
<p>A “not guilty” verdict does <em>not</em> mean “innocent.”
It means that the jury did not have evidence beyond reasonable doubt to convict the person on trial. The jurors were most likely confused by the whole trial and had too much doubt as to what happened. </p>
<p>Just a clarification.</p>
<p>HLN just reported that Jeff Ashton has retired as of today.</p>
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<p>In America that means innocent. There is no separate “Innocent” designation. Not guilty means innocent in the eyes of the law which means innocent.</p>
<p>Unless you have some evidence that SHOWS that she committed the crime she is innocent. I’m pretty sure no one here has any evidence. Therefore… She is innocent.</p>
<p>Feeling or thinking someone is guilty of something does not alter their innocence.</p>
<p>There is this phenomenon in America were someone is found not guilty and everyone continues to treat them as if they were guilty but “got away with it.” So much for justice…</p>
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<p>Where does this come from, MommaJ?! My understanding is that Casey’s parents did not know she was pregnant until well past the point of Casey being able to obtain a legal abortion. Second, Casey was 19 years old, old enough to get an abortion on her own if she had wanted one; she could have done that without her parents even knowing she had been pregnant. (Casey certainly didn’t have any trouble keeping secrets from her parents.) And someone saying Casey told a friend that her mother would not let her put her child up for adoption means absolutely nothing – unless you believe everything that comes out of Casey’s mouth is the truth.</p>
<p>Also, this jury did not think there was enough evidence to convict Casey of being involved in her daughter’s death, but there are lots of people willing to believe George Anthony sexually abused his daughter simply because she is a liar – with no testimony or other evidence to support that the father sexually abused the daughter.</p>
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<p>Actually, I think they may have not made the request because they had no idea where she could go. It does not seem as though Cindy and George would want her in their home, and even if they did, too many people know where Cindy and George live. There’s a good chance that Casey will be released on Thursday anyway, and at least this way, some better plan to get her away from that courtroom (and preferably out of Orlando) can be worked out.</p>
<p>For the next couple of days, she’s safer in jail.</p>
<p>No, it doesn’t mean innocent. Not guilty means there is doubt in the juries’ mind if she committed the crime; and so the jury cannot rule guilty. There was evidence that she committed the crime, plenty of it. But rightly or wrongly, the jury wasn’t convinced that her committing the crime was the only possibility. They saw a possibility that she hadn’t committed the crime.
They didn’t rule that she didn’t do it, but rather that they weren’t sure that she did. There is a difference. Therefore, there was a reasonable doubt in their mind.</p>
<p>She needs to move to Wyoming (or somewhere remote) and attempt to start over. But right now, if she were to be let out of jail, she would be in danger. So the proceedings will go on, and once everything is cleared up legally, they will plan something to get her back into society in as best of a way as they can. </p>
<p>Not Guilty = Innocent of the charges not a hard concept.</p>
<p>Could a crime have been committed? Certainly. But with what is available to us now, we can’t make such conclusions.</p>
<p>If Casey got out now and partied with the attorneys and/or miraculously made up with George this might tilt the judge to go the max on the lying convictions and not give credit for time served, etc.</p>
<p>In Scotland they used to have a verdict that I feel applies here (as someone said a while back)–Not Proven. That way the defendant is not exonerated even if guilt was not shown beyond a reasonable doubt. Not much different since that verdict did not come with the ability to impose a prison sentence, but at least they weren’t able to go around proclaiming innocence.</p>
<p>^^^^ Unfortunately “time served” doesn’t work that way and these misdemeanors are unlikely to be stacked. I strongly suspect she will be out on Thursday.</p>
<p>I just hope she has lots and lots of nightmares - vivid, terrifying, blood curdling nightmares.</p>
<p>Cheney Mason said that Casey will not be going to live in her paents’ home.</p>
<p>I guess he doesn’t want his client asked…“hey, if your dad abused you, why are you living with him?” </p>
<p>And, then the defense team would be worried that she might say, “well, Mr. Baez and Mr. Mason made that part up…I never said that.” And, that would get those two in trouble with the bar.</p>
<p>To keep their story, they need Casey to live elsewhere. </p>
<p>Cheney Mason has said that Casey is like a grand-daughter to him. Ugh… I guess she can live with him???</p>
<p>I believe it was Casey’s own attorney that stated the prosecution hadn’t proven anything except thar Casey is a liar. I have a hard time believing her abuse allegations simply on her word. Reasonable doubt certainly exists for that!</p>
<p>What has always been most upsetting to me about this case is the allegation (assuming it’s true) that Casey’s mother convinced her not to get an abortion.</p>
<p>this isn’t true. Cindy didn’t know she was pregnant til she was 7 months along.</p>
<p>And someone saying Casey told a friend that her mother would not let her put her child up for adoption means absolutely nothing – unless you believe everything that comes out of Casey’s mouth is the truth.</p>
<p>Exactly…Casey just told Kiomarie that because she didn’t want Kio to be mad at her for not letting Kio and her H adopt the baby.</p>
<p>Cindy, a nurse, didn’t know Casey was pregnant until she was 7 months along? Hard to believe, I think. Cindy’s denial/over reaction is very odd.</p>
<p>Um, this is embarrassing but have you ever seen the TLC show “I didn’t know I was Pregnant?” Sounds (and is) cheesy, but the women are a lot more credible than you would expect. I am sure Casey knew she was pregnant, but it is entirely believable that Cindy did not. Casey could easily have worn clothing that concealed a belly, especially if she carried small.</p>
<p>I have a daughter who just finished her freshman year of college. Is she heavier than she was a year ago? Yes. Is her middle a bit thicker? Yes. Do I think it’s a good idea to ask her if she’s pregnant or if she just gained the Freshman 15? Not necessarily. Do you? I believe our relationship is good enough that she would tell me if she was pregnant or if she even thought it was a possiblity. (I also know she’s on the pill, but we all know that is not 100 percent effective.)</p>
<p>I also know there is a TV series called “I Didn’t Know I Was Pregnant,” so the whole undetected pregnancy (by parents or spouses or friends) is not completely unheard of, even when the pregnancy goes the full 9 months.</p>