Casey Anthony Video Sealed as Too 'Inflammatory' Now May Be Released
The video was taken eight days before the remains were confirmed to be Caylee's.
July 11, 2011 — -- A Florida judge is considering whether to unseal a jailhouse video of acquitted murder suspect Casey Anthony that was considered so "highly inflammatory" that it would have made it difficult to give her a fair trial.
The video shows Anthony reacting to news reports that a child's body had been found in a swampy area near the Anthony home.
The tape reportedly shows Anthony double over and start to hyperventilate when Orange County jail officials told her a meter reader had stumbled upon the remains near Suburban Drive, according to an Orlando Sentinel article from 2009.
At the time of the Dec. 11, 2008 video, the body was not identiifed to be the remains of her 2-year-od daughter Caylee. Positive identification came eight days later.
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The court took what is called an "unusual step" and sealed the video on June 17, 2009 claiming that allowing the public to see it would be "highly inflammatory," and that the court "could not absolutely protect the defendant's right to a fair trial," according to the order to seal document.
Casey Anthony, 25, was acquitted last week of charges of killing her daughter Caylee and is scheduled to be released from jail this Sunday after serving out the remaining sentence for lying to law enforcement officers about Caylee's disappearance.
Orlando television station WKMG-TV Local 6 filed the request to unseal the video last week on July 6 just before the verdict came down. The station argued in its filing that "Now that the trial has started and the jury is sequestered, no prejudice to the defendant's right to a fair trial could incur."
While other pieces of evidence could be seen as damaging, the court said that "no other item comes to mind that would carry a similar inflammatory impact."
Casey Anthony's attorney Jose Baez declined to comment on the request.
Danielle Tavernier, a spokesperson for the Orange and Osceola County State Attorney's Office, said that the matter is between the judge and the TV station. "We don't have a dog in that fight," Tavernier said.
If released, the tape could further fan the outrage surrounding Anthony's not guilty verdict in the murder of her daughter.
In the past week, the jurors, Anthony family and Judge Belvin Perry have received threats regarding the case.
Anthony's highly-anticipated release from jail on Sunday has already prompted concerns for her safety and the announcement that special measures will be taken to protect her.
The Orange County Courthouse did not respond to inquiries regarding the time frame for when this decision will be made.