Evidence, Witness Problems Persist In Casey Anthony Trial - Page 4
Eikelenboom’s lab, located on a converted farm in the Netherlands, was brought into question by the prosecution team during cross-examination. Ashton at one point referred to the lab as a “mom and pop” facility because Eikelenboom ran it with his wife, as well as another partner. Under redirected examination by defense attorney Baez, however, Eikelenboom stated that his facility was internationally known.
When asked by Ashton if his facility would benefit with exposure from the Anthony case, Eikelenboom stated that his lab was already swamped, and that although they were opening a new lab in the US, they were seeking to downgrade the amount of work they currently perform.
While being questioned by Ashton, Eikelenboom stated that the hot, wet summer conditions in Florida were very detrimental to the preservation of DNA, including trace amounts that could have been on the duct tape, if it had indeed been placed on Caylee’s mouth and nose.
Redirection to defense attorney Baez led Eikelenboom to show the jury other DNA evidence found under equally adverse conditions, including a pair of panties found 20 years after a crime was committed. A second piece of evidence shown was a graphic photo of a hand found underwater after being submerged for three weeks. A third was a jacket left underwater for 3-4 days. All of these items had DNA successfully recovered from it.
Under repeated redirection by both sides’ attorneys, Eikelenboom stated that a lack of DNA evidence on the duct tape could still support a theory that the tape once had DNA on it, and that it could have decayed off when the rest of Caylee’s body decomposed.
Questions remain about chloroform
Lead detective of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office Yuri Melich, previously a prosecution witness, took the stand and noted that during his three searches of the Anthony home he was unable to find any evidence of chloroform or products related to the manufacture or storage of chloroform. Melich noted that during the first search of the home, investigators were not looking for any chloroform evidence, simply because they were still looking for a live child.
Testimony began to unravel for the defense team when Dr. Marcus Weiss of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory was called to the stand to testify, his very first time testifying in a court of law.
A chemical analyst, Weiss tested carpet samples from the trunk of the white Pontiac Sunfire driven by Casey Anthony, and during his analysis had noted large peaks in chloroform. Weiss stated to the jury that in middle of testing, a benzene peak was also noted, pointing to possible contamination of the sample, although other labs noted gasoline to be present in the trunk.
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