What's That Smell? Casey Anthony Trial, Day 4
Part of Technorati's ongoing special coverage of the Casey Anthony murder trial.
Friday’s testimony in the first week of the slowly building of the trial of Casey Anthony began to heat up further, as Casey’s father George was brought to the stand once again to testify.
Much of the testimony in today’s session revolved around circumstances surrounding a car owned by parents George and Cindy Anthony, and driven by daughter Casey. Brought to the stand today were those who had come into contact with the vehicle while it was being held at a wrecking yard following being towed in July of 2008.
Casey Anthony, 25, is charged with murdering her then-two year old daughter Caylee, in 2008. If found guilty of the crime, she could face the death penalty.
What is that smell?
On June 27 of 2008, Casey’s white Pontiac was parked in the lot in front of Amscot Financial, by a dumpster, where it stayed for 3 days, until district manager Catherine Sanchez called to have it towed. Sanchez testified that she noted a foul odor around the car; however, it was parked next to a dumpster that typically smelled of trash, and assumed that was the cause.
Johnson Wrecking Company manager Simon Birch appeared before the jury, and stated that while the car was being held in the wrecking yard following the tow, he noted a “unique smell” coming from the trunk. When pressed for the nature of the smell, Birch noted that it was due to human decomposition. According to Birch, he knew this particular odor well, because it was not the first time a vehicle arriving at the yard had been found with human remains in it.
When pressed as to why he did not immediately report the smell to authorities, Birch simply stated that he treated the vehicle like any other in the yard, and “would just leave it to fulfill its course.”
George and Cindy pick up the car
When George and Cindy Anthony arrived to pick up the car, Birch noted that the couple appeared agitated at not having been notified earlier, and at the $500 bill to pick up the vehicle. Birch had been called in by the receptionist to handle the couple personally, due to Cindy’s demeanor.
Testimony then centered around George’s statements, his handling of the Pontiac, and discussion of the smell emanating from the vehicle. According to Birch, while walking to the vehicle George apologized to him for Cindy Anthony’s earlier outbursts, then told Birch that he had been worried about his granddaughter Caylee “having been missing for a lot of time, and that his daughter wouldn’t tell him where she was.”
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