Defense Out Of Money? KC Files For Indigent Status

Here's the complete article Lottie referenced:

Motion Asks State To Pay Anthony's Defense Costs
Anthony Charged With Murder In Daughter Caylee's Death

POSTED: Friday, March 5, 2010
UPDATED: 7:25 pm EST March 5, 2010

Orlando, Fla. -- Defense attorneys for Casey Anthony have filed a motion requesting that the court declare her indigent and have the taxpayers shoulder some of the cost of her defense.

Jose Baez filed the paperwork at 5 p.m. Friday. He is asking Judge Stan Strickland to declare Anthony indigent for costs, meaning she does not have the money to fund her defense.

Anthony is charged with first-degree murder in the death of her daughter, Caylee.

Anthony has already paid Baez and death penalty expert Andrea Lyon $111,954, but Baez said that is not enough to give Anthony the defense she needs, and taxpayers should make up the difference. Nearly $90,000 of the amount was used for Baez's fees, the remainder covered Lyon's costs. She is working on the case for free.

Baez said Anthony, 23, was willing to pay for her defense until the state put the death penalty back on the table, making her unable to cover the expense.

The motion asks the state to cover the cost of depositions, transcripts, investigators, legal research, expert witness fees, medical or mental examinations, travel expenses and other costs the defense has or will incur.

Legal experts said defending a complex death penalty murder case like Anthony's can easily run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars, especially when potential witnesses and experts are dispersed around the country.

Baez estimated the total cost of defending Anthony will amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars.

If Strickland signs the order, Florida taxpayers will pick up the bill for the defense costs, but not the defense fees.

The state has more than $14 million set aside this year to pay for indigent criminal defense.

The question of how Anthony will be able to pay for her defense has prompted a great deal of speculation about possible movie deals and book rights. It is not known how she paid the more than $100,000 that has already been paid to the defense.

Anthony is being held at the Orange County Jail on no bond.

Caylee was 2-years-old when she was reported missing in July 2008. Her remains were discovered in a wooded area off Suburban Drive, near Anthony's parent's east Orange County home, in December 2008.

http://www.clickorlando.com/news/22757022/detail.html

Anthony has already paid Baez and death penalty expert Andrea Lyon $111,954, but Baez said that is not enough to give Anthony the defense she needs, and taxpayers should make up the difference

Why should taxpayers have to help pay for the defense of a child killer and where did Casey get that kind of money? I doubt that the Anthonys made that much money by skipping their mortgage payments and selling home videos and pictures, so it really does make me wonder about movie deals and book rights. I don't see how it would make sense for anybody to pay for movie deals or book rights though, sense judging from Diane Fleming's book, there was enough public information released through discovery to make movies and write books without paying the Anthonys for the rights.

Casey Anthony: Judge will declare Casey Anthony indigent for costs, WFTV analyst predicts

Posted by halboedeker on March, 6 2010 7:01 AM

What happens to a defense team’s motion asking the state to pick up costs for Casey Anthony’s case?

“This judge will not deny this motion,” WFTV-Channel 9 analyst Bill Sheaffer predicted.

The notion that taxpayers would have to help pay for Anthony’s defense might outrage some readers. But Sheaffer predicted the change would speed up the case because the state would have more control. Anthony is charged with first-degree murder in the death of her daughter, Caylee.

WFTV anchor Liz Artz this morning said the station had learned Anthony is keeping her legal team instead of getting a state-appointed attorney. But Artz offered no details.

The defense motion led the 6 p.m. news Friday on WKMG-Channel 6.

WKMG anchor Louis Bolden introduced the story this morning as “a Tony Pipitone investigation you will see only on Local 6.” It was another first-rate report from the top-flight Pipitone.

Pipitone noted that Anthony was “flat broke” when she was arrested in 2008. “That soon changed as television networks vied to pay for the rights to video and photos that helped tell the story of her then-missing daughter Caylee,” Pipitone said.

Anthony says she is broke again in an affidavit she signed Tuesday, Pipitone said.

Yet Pipitone outlined that Anthony paid $22,500 to defense attorney Andrea Lyon for costs and $89,400 to defense attorney Jose Baez. Lyon is working pro bono. An affidavit did not break down Baez’s money between costs and fees.

Pipitone set up the question for viewers: Where did Anthony get that money?

The defense motion asks the state to cover costs in Anthony’s case for depositions, investigators, legal research, travel expenses and other defense expenses. Anchor Bolden emphasized that the motion seeks money for costs, not attorney’s fees.

Why did the defense make this move?

Baez told WKMG in a statement: “Casey was willing and able to pay for her own defense, but when the state changed their mind about the death penalty that obviously exhausted her ability to do so.”

Pipitone put the issue in context for viewers with his clear presentation and attention to detail.

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment_tv_tvblog/2010/03/casey-anthony-judge-will-declare-casey-anthony-indigent-for-costs-wftv-analyst-predicts.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+entertainment%2Ftv%2Ftvguy+%28TV+Guy%29

http://itsamysterytome.wordpress.com/2010/03/05/caseys-broke-and-it-aint-no-joke-according-to-jose-baez-latest-motion/

Casey’s broke and it ain’t no joke according to Jose Baez latest motion

2010 March 5
itsamysterytome.wordpress.com

Jose Baez filed a motion Friday asking Judge Strickland to declare Casey Anthony indigent for costs. This means she’s broke and can’t pay for her defense. She has already paid $111,954.00–almost 90,000 to Baez and the rest to Lyon (who is supposedly working for free). It’s not known how Casey has managed to pay that amount.

Baez said Casey was willing to pay for her defense–until the state put the death penalty back in play. Because of that, she can no longer cover the expense because a case like hers can run into hundreds of thousands of dollars what with the potential witness and experts living all around the country.

Baez has asked the state to cover the cost of depositions, transcripts,, investigators, legal research, expert witness fees, medical or mental exams, travel expenses and any other costs the defense might have now and in the future.

If Judge Strickland okays this motion, the Florida taxpayers will have to pay for the defense costs–but not the defense fees. (whatever that means)

The State of Florida has more than $14 million set aside this year to pay for indigents. (Well, by all means, give the bulk of it to Casey Anthony!)

read it here:

clickorlando.com

~~~~~~
Where the heck did Casey get $112 THOUSAND dollars to pay her defense team? She was unemployed and stealing gas/money from her friends and family at the time of her arrest?! kh

Baez said Casey was willing to pay for her defense–until the state put the death penalty back in play.

Bless her little heart! She was willing to pay her own way until the nasty prosecution put the death penalty back on the table.

So did she stop being willing, or is she unable? LOL

She was always unable.... she had NO money to begin with.... what a joke....

Apologies~ I did not see that this article had already been linked! I am just so astounded!!! kh

She got about $200K - $225K selling pics of Caylee... remember her backpacks that were always so full when she was going to JB's office while out on bond??? Guess what they were most likely full of????

It has already been establish they got at lest $200K....

They will have to disclose all this if they seek indigent status, right ? kh

I think so, kh....

Defense wants state to cover costs

By Susan Jacobson, Orlando Sentinel

9:04 p.m. EST, March 5, 2010

Casey Anthony's defense team wants the state to pay costs associated with her upcoming death-penalty
case, saying it's the only way to ensure they'll have the resources to fight to save the young mother's life.

In a statement released this evening, Anthony spokeswoman Liz Brown said the defense team has incurred "extensive costs" defending the 23-year-old mother in the first-degree murder case. She would not specify a dollar figure.

Anthony is charged with killing her 2-year-old daughter, Caylee. The child's remains were found in 2008 in woods near the east Orange County home that Anthony and Caylee shared with Anthony's parents.

The statement says initial cost estimates to defend Anthony have skyrocketed since the state decided to seek the death penalty. If Anthony is to receive a fair trial, the government needs to pay the cost of travel, serving subpoenas, hiring experts, deposing witnesses and investigating "all aspects of the case," her team contends.

"This assistance is critical to enabling the defense to interview the 100+ individuals on the State's witness list, investigate thousands of tips, and analyze complex forensic evidence," the statement reads.

The statement says Anthony's attorneys were filing a motion for the financial assistance Friday. It was not in the court file when the Orlando Sentinel inspected it shortly before 5 p.m..

The Anthony case has drawn interest from the national media and as far away as Australia, where a play about the case, created by Oscar-winning director Steven Soderbergh, opened in December.

Caylee was missing for about six months before meter reader Roy Kronk found her remains in December 2008. The prosecution says Caylee died with duct tape over her nose and mouth. The defense says a nanny
disappeared with her.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/caylee-anthony/os-casey-anthony-trial-costs-20100305,0,5355542.story

Should Taxpayers Pay For Casey Anthony’s Defense?

Saturday, March 06, 2010 7:13:15 AM

ORLANDO -- Casey Anthony's lawyers said it is time for Florida taxpayers to help pay for her defense.

A representative for Anthony’s defense team said they have filed a motion asking the government to pay for the cost of their travel, along with money for serving subpoenas, hiring experts anddeposing witnesses.

In the motion, the defense asked the court to declare Casey indigent, meaning she does not have the money to pay them.

Casey faces a possible death sentence for allegedly murdering her 2-year-old daughter, Caylee.

Because the trial will now be a death penalty case, lawyers said their costs have skyrocketed, and the money will help ensure their client gets a fair trial.

The defense said the assistance is needed to subsidize their costs, especially since they said they have to interview more than 100 people on the prosecution’s witness list, investigate thousands of tips and analyize complex forensic evidence.

It was not immediately known how much money Casey’s lawyers wanted. The defense has been tight-lipped throughout the case regarding how they were being paid in the first place, and who was footing the bill.

Casey’s murder trial has been tentatively set to begin in May 2011 at the earliest.

http://www.cfnews13.com/News/Local/2010/3/5/caseys_defense_seeks_state_subsidy.html

News 13 Viewer Poll

What do you think? Should taxpayer money be used to help pay for Casey Anthony’s defense?

Vote Now

Snaz wrote:What do you think? Should taxpayer money be used to help pay for Casey Anthony’s defense?

Vote Now

Guess how I voted.

By the way, the no's are leading 94% to 5%.

Looks like my whole family - me, hubby, mom, dad, brother, sister, son, daughter, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles - will all have the honor now of paying our good hard earned money to defend a monster who planned and carried out the murder of her 2 year old daughter... and is now working the system.

It literally makes me ill..... and it breaks my heart.

Justice4all wrote:

Snaz wrote:What do you think? Should taxpayer money be used to help pay for Casey Anthony’s defense?

Vote Now

Guess how I voted.

By the way, the no's are leading 94% to 5%.

I saw that!!! And if there had been an option to vote "Not no, but HELL no!!!!", I would have chosen that option......

It's a good thing that Florida doesn't have a State IncomeTax....Just the state /county sales tax...and county property taxes...At least I know my tax dollars won't be going for her defense...and if they are I OBJECT!!!!

Is Casey's defense team running out of money??

We can only HOPE!!!!!!!!

The Florida taxpayers will now be paying for KC's defense....... assuming JS grants the motion... which he will...

Bold is mine....

Defense Wants Help Paying For Casey's Defense

Posted: 6:30 pm EST March 5,2010
Updated: 10:30 am EST March 6,2010

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Casey Anthony’s defense team asked a judge Friday to declare her indigent, for some of the costs of her case. Orange County taxpayers would pay for part of the trial, if a judge accepts the motion.

“The defense team is faced with extensive costs to defend Miss Anthony, ensure she receives a fair trial, and prevent the State from taking her life. The initial cost estimates for defending Miss Anthony have been far exceeded by the additional costs incurred since the State’s decision to pursue the death penalty. As a result, the defense is seeking state assistance to subsidize the costs of travel, serving subpoenas, hiring experts to interpret evidence and transcripts, deposing in- and out-of-state witnesses and investigating all aspects of the case,” the defense team’s media spokesperson wrote in a release issued early Friday evening.

Eyewitness News found out the fees for Anthony's attorneys would not be included in what taxpayers have to pay.

Since taxpayer dollars could be involved, the judge could question Anthony's attorneys about any possible book or movie deals that may be planned.

If Anthony does have money coming in from any such deals, she would be obligated to reimburse the county.

Anthony has been in jail since October 2008 and faces the death penalty for allegedly murdering her daughter Caylee.

http://www.wftv.com/news/22757843/detail.html

This article is dated February 17, but I just came across it and it has some VERY interesting information.... does anyone ever remember hearing that BRAD CONWAY & the A's tried to get KC a new lawyer to replace JB??? And take note of how they said he would be paid... possible book or movie rights down the road!!!!

Also, note that KC was paid $200K for photos and videos.....

Bold is mine....

Is Casey’s Defense Team Running Out Of Money?

Posted: 4:45 pm EST February 17,2010
Updated: 6:05 pm EST February 17,2010

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Casey Anthony’s team is made up of some of the most high-profile lawyers in the country and it’s not a cheap case to fight.

Tuesday, Eyewitness News reported another member of the defense team dropped out of the case, but former spokesperson Marti Mackenzie didn't say why she was leaving. Wednesday, WFTV reporter Kathi Belich heard from another lawyer who was told Casey and her family were too broke to pay anyone.

Eyewitness News was told the Anthonys and their lawyer, Brad Conway, were looking for a lawyer to represent Casey who was willing to forego getting money upfront. Longtime Orlando attorney Robert Buonauro told Eyewitness News on Wednesday the Anthonys and Conway wanted to replace Casey's defense attorney, Jose Baez, early on in the case.

Buonauro says Conway said Casey and her family were broke and, if he were willing to do without money upfront, there was the possibility of some sort of defense fund or book or movie rights down the road. Buonauro said no.

The defense team has just lost its second spokesperson, longtime public relations expert Marti Mackenzie. Some speculate it's because the defense is out of money. All she would tell Eyewitness News was she was being paid for her year of work, she was not under contract and that she quit for confidential, professional reasons.

WFTV legal analyst Bill Sheaffer says a stronger indication that defense finances are in trouble is the fact that the defense has not really even begun to depose major witnesses in the death penalty case. He says depositions are labor intensive and expensive.

“There's too much on the line to pick and choose which depositions of the individuals you want to take,” Sheaffer said (watch full interview).

Sheaffer also said the fact that Mackenzie and two nationally-known members of the defense, Linda Kenney Baden and Andrea Lyon, have written books could indicate an expectation that at least some compensation for work on the case would come from possible book or movie deals down the road about the case against Casey.

Eyewitness News was first to report that the ABC network paid Casey Anthony about $200,000 for all her photos and videos of Caylee about a year and a half ago. But Sheaffer said an experienced defense lawyer might charge almost that much to take on a case like this.

Article:
http://www.wftv.com/news/22593225/detail.html

Video: (Bill Sheaffer)
http://www.wftv.com/video/22593166/index.html