Casey Anthony told a number of different stories over time about the death of her 2-year-old daughter, Caylee Anthony in 2008, and the new docuseries on Peacock does nothing to clarify the issues, the judge who oversaw her 2011 murder trial says.
Anthony was acquitted on charges of murder, manslaughter, and child abuse but was found guilty on four counts of lying to police, as CrimeOnline has reported. She was sentenced to time served and a $4,000 fine.
In “Where the Truth Lies,” Anthony blames her father George Anthony, for Kaylee’s death and says he sexually abused both her and her daughter. George Anthony vehemently denies those claims.
Judge Belvin Perry Jr, now retired, told the U.S. Sun that “Casey Anthony’s believability is pretty much zero.”
At trial, Casey Anthony claimed her father hid his granddaughter’s body after she drowned accidentally in a pool, something Perry said he found preposterous.
“Why would someone take a tragic drowning and turn it into something else?” he said. “You just don’t do that. … I’ve never heard of such a case.
“Casey’s always been one for dramatic flair … [her claims] are just not believable at all.”
Perry also noted that Anthony presented two sides in court — one almost “mousey” when the jury was present, and the other “very much in charge” when she dealt with her attorneys out of view of the jury.
The judge said that Anthony’s defense team masterfully presented her case to the jury, adjusting their presentation to fit the men and women who had been seated.
“You can’t take an audience that’s made for classical music and go and play classic rock for them,” he said. “Hindsight is always 2020, but [Anthony’s team] was able to find a way to make their case fit the jury and the makeup of that jury — they made those corrections.”
Still, he said, he was surprised by the jury’s verdict.
“The prosecution made a very strong and compelling case,” he said. “But even when you have a strong and compelling case, you have to be able to present the case in a way that will resonate with the 12 folks in the jury box. You have to make adjustments.”
As for the docuseries, Perry said Anthony has every right to present her side of the story however she decides to do that.
“You might not like the messenger or the message, but she has the right to give her version and people have a right not to listen to it, or they have a right to listen to it and condemn it,” the 73-year-old judge said.
“I don’t know how doing this is going to work in her favor, I’ll leave that to greater minds.”
For the latest true crime and justice news, subscribe to the ‘Crime Stories with Nancy Grace’ podcast.
