www.acast.com/karasoncrime/caseyanthonysprosecutorreacts
I just wanted to add this interview of Jeff Ashton by Beth Karas (from March '17) so that we have it here on one of our Caylee threads, it sums up all the recent discussions (and threads) we've had so well... and also, I'm a big fan of Beth Karas...she's been a Caylee Warrior. :luv:
I know it's long, but lots of good content... I avoided personal commentary, most is either me paraphrasing or using direct quotes...
● They discuss the AP interviews with fca... In general, Ashton describes them as "more of the same fca, completely self-absorbed, narcissistic, gives lip service to caring about her daughter, but when it comes to actually acting in a way that shows that, it's just not there"... "it's just more of fca's excuses."
● They discuss fca's new story, (how she "honestly" doesn't know what happeded to her daughter) What Ashton finds most shocking about that is, "I can't imagine how any parent in the world, who loved their child, accepting not knowing what happened to them. Under the circumstances that she's described, is just inexplicable to me."
● They discuss their frustration with the AP reporter who interviewed her, and how he didn't appear to do his homework on her, missing opportunities to challenge/dispute her new version/story... Ashton added that he was disappointed he (reporter) didn't bring out the details from her previous statements to mental health doctors when she gave this new account, etc...
● They discuss Perry's most recent thoughts... Ashton disagrees with him, and his whole problem with theories like his is, "none of them explain why you put duct tape on a child's head, if that child is already dead."
● They discuss the foolproof suffocation search...how it was missed, how he wished they had had that, etc...
● They discuss why he (Ashton) believes the case was not overcharged, and why they sought the death penalty (duct tape)... Their theory was suffocation. "The evidence was very, very strong that is how she died."... "Duct tape, duct tape, duct tape"..."that was always the most important issue."
● Ashton talks about the actual photo of the skull, which the jury saw, and he said there was "no question that the duct tape was right there, where the nose and mouth would've been."
● They discuss the jury, Ashton believed they came into it pre-programmed to find her not guilty... They just didn't want to find her guilty...
● They discuss the defense, how they started to plant the sex abuse allegations in the jury's mind during jury selection, and then they talk about it in opening, in great detail, but then nothing else about it. Ashton questions their ethics, and how he believed jbaez knew from the beginning he wasn't going to put her on the stand... Ashton said, "99% of defense lawyers I know would not have made that opening." Jbaez did it just to get the sex abuse story in...Unethical.
● They talk about how most juries would hold it against them, if they don't prove their opening statement (but this jury didn't care). Ashton said "the jury should've followed the judges instructions and ignored it, and I don't think they did."
● They discuss how fca acted diminutive and teary, with her seat lowered, in front of the jury... And then "bi+<hy" when the jury was out.
● Karas shared an observation she made of the jury foreman...he lingered behind the other jurors when they were filing out, he was staring at fca, his eyes lingered on her, she (Karas) saw a connection and was not surprised when she later learned he was the foreman and that "he led that jury to an acquittal".... Jeff Ashton is not surprised fca would notice that and exchange glances with him...
● They discuss her demeanor being one way with jurors present and another way when not, and all her courtroom antics (again, lowered chair, feigning tears, etc)... Ashton says prosecutors "rely on jurors to understand these things [about defendants] well enough to look past that and do their job anyway."
● They discuss cheney bringing up the possibility of a plea to fca, and how her reaction "was not this diminutive shrinking violet that she tried to portray in the courtroom, at all"...
● Ashton said, "One amazing thing that I did take from her interview is she actually said, and I can't believe that she is so, so senseless that she doesn't understand how we see this, she said that her only regret from this incident was admitting lying to the police. That was her only regret," he laughs. "Really? You lost your child, and your only regret is that!"
● They discuss Kronk, and why he wasn't a good witness, etc...
● They discuss circumstantial evidence, and how it's so misunderstood...and how this jury's main reason for acquittal was because they couldn't say how she died, Ashton explains they didn't need to know how it happened, just that it happened...
● Ashton on jury, "This jury did-not-want to convict casey anthony, that's the bottom line!"
● They discuss the shock of the verdict... Karas asks, "did u speak to the jurors afterwards?"...he repies, " NO...no, not at all...I, honestly, I couldn't have at that moment...I wouldn't have been able to have kept a professional decorum at that point"... (((say no more Jeff, say no more...we understand))) :wink:
All jmo...