Accused Killer Casey Anthony Expands Defense Team

Sept. 14, 2010— -- Lawyers for the Florida woman accused of killing her 2-year-old daughter have assembled a legal "dream team" of expert defense attorneys while the mother, Casey Anthony, awaits trial from an Orange County jail cell.

Three new lawyers, all working pro bono, were added to Anthony's legal defense team, expanding to six the number of attorneys who will be seated at her side when the trial begins in May.

The new lawyers include Ann Finnell, a former Florida state public defender who has worked on several death penalty cases and was the subject of the Academy Award-winning documentary "Murder on a Sunday Morning," which is about her efforts to earn acquittal for a 15-year-old boy falsely accused of murder.

Also added to the team is Dorothy Sims, author of the book "Exposing Deceptive Defense Doctors," who suggested during a news conference today that she would be attacking the prosecution's forensic evidence.

Caylee disappeared in June 2008 but her mother failed to report the toddler missing for another month. In December that year, the skeletal remains of the missing girl were discovered in a wooded area near the family's home.

Anthony, 24, is likely to face the death penalty if found guilty. She has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and has blamed a babysitter for kidnapping and murdering Caylee.

Sims said she would not discuss the details of the case, but said prosecutors often rely on "junk science" and "that true science requires repeating the experiment." She said her book and much of her career have been dedicated to deflating scientists' theories on the witness stand.

One of Anthony's original attorneys, Jose Baez, said her legal team was pouring through 8,000 documents provided to them by the prosecution.

Several witness depositions had been postponed during the summer, he said, but the lawyers said they expected the trial to begin as scheduled. The location of the trial, however, has yet to be determined.

Anthony's defense team expects to depose the lead detective in the case this week.

Anthony Defense Stocks Up

Baez said the additional lawyers were necessary because the government had enormous resources at its disposal.

"I don't know a case that has more law-enforcement involvement, or more resources," he said. "I expect a vigorous defense to be put on.

"I'd rather be accused of being over-prepared instead of being under-prepared," Baez said. "We're all prepared to fight and fight as hard as we have to."

The third new addition to the team is attorney Charles Green, who will handle any civil matters that rise after the criminal trial.