I tuned into JVM last night just in time to hear Baez' claim to why ICA has these attorneys on her team...He wanted to level the playing field....JMHO
Also tonight -- breaking news, Casey`s dream team just got a whole lot dreamier for the indigent defendant. The announcement came this morning at a last-minute news conference. Casey`s getting three new powerhouse lawyers -- three added to the team; a replacement death penalty defender, a medical witness and a new guy to handle that whole Zanny the nanny drama.
Casey`s attorney Cheney Mason explained it today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
J. CHENEY MASON, CASEY ANTHONY`S ATTORNEY: We were up against the state attorney`s office that has changed his position of death penalty or not death penalty, have unlimited resources, you know, a law firm of 150 people. And they can bring whatever resources they want to.
We`re having to scrap from the bottom up against all of them. And as I said, when all of the enemy has got you surrounded, that`s good because I`ve got them right where I want them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Not backing down, is he. But time-out, what about the price tag for all of this? Aren`t Florida taxpayers on the hook for an amount of legal bills already? It turned out the new people are going to work for Casey Anthony pro bono, which means for free.
Meantime, Casey`s defense team is claiming that the state is withholding critical evidence for them and has been for two years. Just how critical? We`ll we`re going to go straight out to my very special guest, Casey`s lead attorney Jose Baez.
Jose, thank you so much for joining us. You held this big news conference today. Tell us why you felt the need to hire more attorneys and how many do you have at this point on your dream team?
JOSE BAEZ, CASEY ANTHONY`S ATTORNEY: Well, hello Jane.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Hi.
BAEZ: Well, you know, the issue is -- is this. We`re facing, as Cheney mentioned unlimited resources and it`s something simply that we cannot --
VELEZ-MITCHELL: What do you mean unlimited -- what do you mean by that?
BAEZ: Well, the prosecutors in this case don`t work on other cases. This is their case to -- to prosecute, and meanwhile we have to maintain practice -- a full practice. There`s over 200 lawyers in that building, and they can just pick up the phone and have any number of law enforcement officers go out and investigate whatever they need investigated.
We simply can`t compete with those types of resources so I would tell you that what we have up -- very close to what we`re up against is -- is minimal. It really is.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Now, how do you divide up the labor with that many attorneys and I understand you have something like 8,000 documents? Who knows how many pages? With all these new attorneys coming on all the time, how do you catch up and -- and get a handle on all this evidence?
BAEZ: Well, first of all, it`s 23,000 documents and over 300 hours of audio and video. Every alphabet of law enforcement has taken part in this case. And, you know, we`re fortunate that I have a lot of experience behind me with -- with all of these lawyers, and everything that they`re doing is very specialized.
So these are lawyers that can pick up the ball and run with it and deal with their specific area and their specific issues. And that`s what we`re -- we`re hoping that the new members will be able to contribute.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: All right.
So today`s big announcement, three more big-time lawyers joining Casey`s dream team. And you know, you guys went out of your way to make us aware that these people are not going to be charging the taxpayers. Let`s listen to exactly what was said at the news conference.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MASON: Graciously accepted my arm-twisting to come in and join the rest of us in a pro bono effort to defend Casey. There again, you know, a twisted arm in order to come in and help pro bono.
BAEZ: It takes a lot to ask a lawyer to sign on, A, to be a part of a case and even more importantly to do it pro bono.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: When you`re pro bono, you can really be selective.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Here is my big issue: pro bono, pro bono, pro bono. That was a lot of talking about pro bono, but last question to you, Jose, are taxpayers not on the hook for some of Casey`s defense? I understand that the tab has been six figures at this point already. Death penalty expert Andrea Lyon has billed up several thousands. You`ve been paid.
I mean, I`m not saying you shouldn`t be paid. But you`re talking about these new people pro bono, but there are still a lot that the taxpayers are going to foot.
BAEZ: There is a lot that the taxpayers have not paid for. And the taxpayers are paying for this prosecution -- number one the first and foremost. And all of the lawyers on this case are not being paid by the state. It is just the costs that are being paid such as depositions and things like that.
It`s not an issue -- if Casey had the public defender`s office representing her, she -- they would have to pay for the lawyers and the costs.
So, in actuality, the taxpayers are paying much less than they would normally pay --
VELEZ-MITCHELL: All right.
BAEZ: -- if -- is Casey was to use the public defender route. So that`s a big misconception.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, Jose -- we`re going to ask you to stand by.
BAEZ: Yes.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Now, we`re going to talk about another really extraordinary case that you`re handling in just a moment. And we`re going to move on for a second with the Casey Anthony case.
So stand by there. And I`m going to bring in, wow, I`m delighted to be joined by another major player in the Casey Anthony trial. William Jay is the lawyer who represents Casey`s ex-boyfriend, Tony Lazarro (ph). Tony is the one who was seen on the secret undercover video with Casey`s brother Lee. Cops actually fitted Tony with a fire so he could try to get information about little Caylee from Lee.
William Jay, thank you for joining us. I think that the most significant testimony that your client could offer is that he was dating Casey Anthony when the child disappeared and he had no idea for the whole month that she was missing before Cindy called 911. Is that correct?
WILLIAM JAY, ATTORNEY FOR TONY LAZARRO, CASEY`S EX: That is what his prior statements definitely say, is that he didn`t know anything about it, and he was interviewed several times by the police and his -- his story has never wavered from that.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Yes, so I mean, he`s dating her and she is not telling him that her daughter is missing, even though her contention is that she was secretly searching for her daughter during that time. Is your client going to be called as a key witness in this case?
JAY: I would expect that he`s going to be called as a key witness both during the fact phase and perhaps if there`s a penalty phase to talk about case Casey`s behavior during that month as well for possible mitigation if there is a sentencing phase. So I think he`s a witness for both parts of the case.
V-M: All right. Well, thank you, William Jay. Please come back soon. And thank you again Midwin Charles. Always great to have you.
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