The Autopsy Report: Casey Anthony's Defense Team Speaks Out

Friday, Judge Stan Strickland held a hearing out of courtesy to the Anthony family and listened to an emotional speech by George Anthony about the grief the release of the autopsy would have for his family. He did not want Caylee's memory "tarnished."

TARNISHED??? There is nothing in the world that could ever tarnish this little angel's memory. What the autopsy could do is tarnish the alleged murderer's reputation!

If you haven't done so, view the raw footage of the hearing supplied by WFTV. Note that after making his ruling to release the reports, Jose Baez got to his feet to request a 48 hour stay so the defense team could consider filing a motion of their own. Denied!

The reports were issued immediately and available to the public within the hour.

Autopsy and related reports, also courtesy of WFTV:

Examination
Skeleton Dispersal
Skeletal Remains
Examination of Bones

The Orlando Sentinel provided the following documents:

FBI Report Forensic Report

Forensic Report on Car Contents
We heard a little bit from Jose Baez concerning his reaction to the release. While not baiting intrepid reporter, Kathi Belich, and speaking Spanish to some reporters, he seemed unconcerned about the results but was a bit concerned about tainting the jury pool. Figure it out for yourself.
Video: Baez reaction

Today, we had some reactions from the defense experts. The Today Show featured a mini-debate between Werner Spitz and Cyril Wecht. Dr. Spitz, the defense forensic pathologist, stated that there was, "nothing that I know to put the lid on this, that tells you that there was a murder here. Everything, as far as I know, is in question." Concerning the duct tape itself, which he has yet to examine, he stated, "When I saw the body, there was no duct tape, there was no evidence of duct tape, there was no evidence of residual glue or adhesive on the bone, there was no evidence to support that conclusion."

I have to wonder if Casey's attorney, Jose Baez has set up his secure server so that his experts can an least view the photographs from the crime scene and autopsy? In the January 8 hearing, there was extensive discussion of the issue. Read the article

The Today Show also had Cyril Wecht review the autopsy report and he came to a totally different conclusion. According to Wecht, "This would be the most likely way you would expect an infant, a young child, to be murdered, namely suffocation. It's easily accomplished, obviously, and would leave no tell-tale marks."

Sprocket suggested that the State's Attorneys review Dr. Spitz's testimony from the Phil Spector trial that just concluded. I would also suggest that they also call Alan Jackson to get the skinny on Dr. Spitz. For those of you who did not follow the Spector trial and have no knowledge of Dr. Spitz, I suggest you read one of Sprocket's entries which reported his performance on direct examination and cross-examination with Mr. Jackson. Read the article

The other defense expert to chime in an opinion was Dr. Lawrence Kobilinski (formerly seen on Nancy Grace). Orlando Sentinel blogger halboedeker posted an article based on a Click Orlando broadcast today. Part of the article included the back-and-forth between Tony Pipitone and Kobilinski:

Jan Garavaglia, the Orange County medical examiner, determined that Caylee's death was a homicide.

Kobilinsky dismissed the finding. "It is not clear how the child died, and if we don't know how the child died, we really can't determine whether or not it was a homicide," Kobilinsky said.
Kobilinsky said there was no evidence of drugs in the child's remains.

But Pipitone noted that only hair and bone could be tested -- and so exposure to drugs couldn't be ruled out.
Kobilinsky noted Caylee's hyoid bone wasn't found and that would have been examined to see if there was strangulation. But Pipitone added that the hyoid bone in a child could be so soft that it might not break in strangulation.

And what of duct tape applied to Caylee's face before decomposition? "That indicates a homicide, not a suicide, not an accidental, not a natural death," Pipitone said.

Kobilinsky disagreed. "That is not necessarily the case," he said. "If, for example, the child died as the result of accidental trauma and then, subsequently, for whatever reason, somebody took the child and did whatever was done involving plastic bags and duct tape."

Yet Pipitone concluded: "Of course, that would be for a jury to decide."

So, my friends, we are getting an interesting view of the defense tactics that will come up in trial. I'm looking forward to your comments!