Judge Belvin Perry presided over the 2011 murder trial of Casey Anthony. For the first time the judge has opened up about the trial and the verdict on NBC's the Today Show. The Casey Anthony judge says he believed there was more than enough evidence to convict.
The "Velvet Hammer" as he was nick-named via social media during the trial sat down with NBC reporter Savannah Guthrie and spoke about the trial from his point of view for the first time.
"There were two sides to Casey [Anthony]," the judge explained. "There was the side that was before the jury where she portrayed the role of a mother who had lost a child, someone who was wrongfully accused."
Anthony's demeanor would change when the jury left the court room the judge said. "You could notice the change and transformation in her when the jury went out. She was very commanding. She took charge of different things. You could see sometimes her scolding her attorneys."
Casey Antony was represented by Jose Baez a Florida attorney who gained national attention representing the "Tot Mom." Since his debut Baez has gone on to write a book about the Casey Antony trial. Baez's latest high profile case is defending George Zimmerman, the Florida man accused of killing Trayvon Martin.
"I will never forget that day," Judge Perry said in reference to Casey Anthony's reaction to a plea deal. "All of a sudden you heard shouting coming from the holding cell," Perry said. The lawyers visited Casey Anthony in her holding cell to discuss a plea of aggravated manslaughter.
There were some "four letter words coming from the holding cell," the judge explained. "She was so upset that one council suggested that she was incompetent to proceed."
Part of Judge Perry's job was to weigh whether or not there was enough evidence to send the case to a jury. When asked by Guthrie if he believed there was enough evidence to convict Casey Anthony the judge replied,
"Yes there was sufficient evidence to sustain a verdict of murder in the first degree in this case."
"Surprise, shock and disbelief" were the emotions Judge Perry felt when he opened the envelope and discovered the jury had found Casey Anthony not guilty. He jokes with Guthrie he had to read the verdict twice.
The Casey Anthony Judge said he believed that the prosecutors proved their case but also added, "You got to realize this was a circumstantial evidence case. All the defense had to do was create that reasonable doubt and that's what they did."
When defending Casey Antony her attorney's planted seeds in the minds of the jury suggesting Anthony is the way she is because of prolonged sexual abuse by her father. While the prosecution could not prove a cause of death for Anthony's daughter Caylee, the defense suggested the little girl drowned in the family swimming pool.
Perry finished up his interview by responding to a question regarding whether or not cameras in the courtroom are a good idea.
"I think people need to know how their justice system works" Perry said.
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