Prosecutors in Casey Anthony case want transcript
5:09 PM EDT, July 21, 2009
Prosecutors assigned to the case against Casey Anthony are asking a judge to order a transcript of a side bar conference from a hearing on March 25.
The transcript would be used for "purpose of trial," according to a court document filed today by Assistant State Attorney Linda Drane Burdick.
It's unclear what information would be used for trial.
Anthony, 23, is charged with first-degree murder in the death of her daughter, Caylee Marie. The toddler's remains were found in December in woods less than a mile from her family home in east Orange County.
At the March 25 hearing, prosecutors wanted Anthony's attorney, Jose Baez, to reveal how the case was being funded and questioned whether he had any conflict of interest. They wanted to ensure he was not playing two roles for Anthony: defense attorney and story agent.
That would be a conflict of interest, Assistant State Attorney Jeff Ashton argued at the hearing.
Baez denied it, saying he did not have any literary rights to his client's story. He and New York-based defense attorney, Linda Kenney Baden, have retainer agreements with Anthony.
Orange Circuit Court Judge Stan Strickland met with Baez and the prosecutors in a closed meeting to discuss whether there any conflict of interest.
Strickland returned to court and announced he found no conflict of interest.
The judge has not ruled on the state's request for the transcript.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/orl-bk-casey-anthony-072109,0,984426.story