Hundreds protest as Anthony walks free

Hundreds of people have gathered outside a jail in Florida to protest the release of an American woman who was acquitted of killing her two-year-old daughter.


Protesters had been gathering outside Orange County Jail since Saturday afternoon waiting for Casey Anthony who was released on Sunday after three years.

"This killer is getting out. She had a jury trial that was a bunch of jokes. A six-year-old would've made a more conscious decision that what they actually did," ABC News quoted one of the protesters Hoch-Caplan as saying.

The crowd outside the prison screamed "murderer!" and "baby killer!" when Anthony walked out.

On July 5, the jury in Orlando city in the state of Florida acquitted Anthony of first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse and aggravated manslaughter in the death of her child Caylee Anthony in the summer of 2008.

Prosecutors had accused Anthony, 25, of killing her daughter by drugging her with chloroform and wrapping her mouth and nose with duct tape. They alleged she kept the body in the trunk of her car, eventually dumping it in the woods.

Apparently, the prosecutors were not able to prove and answer questions about how, when, where, and why the victim was killed.
Anthony was convicted only of four misdemeanor counts of lying to investigators who were looking into the child's June 2008 disappearance.

As the protests outside the courtroom during the trial and outside of Orange County Jail indicate, the verdict caused strong reactions among US public.

In a survey conducted by the Eyewitness News, 72 percent of viewers said they were surprised by the not-guilty verdict.

When asked if they believe Casey Anthony killed her daughter, 75 percent said yes, 10 percent said no and 15 percent said they were not sure.

"I'm not going to let some kooky jury stop justice. This was a bad verdict and this is the way our justice system works. We have to believe in it whether we agree with the verdict or not," Legal commentator Nancy Grace said in Good Morning America.

Pam Plesea, one of Anthony's aunts, reacted angrily to the non-guilty verdict and said, "I'm appalled, and now I'm angry and I say shame on this jury that they are either not too bright or just plain lazy."

"I don't think justice was served...," Former Orange County Sheriff Kevin Beary who was working on the missing person's case when officials discovered Caylee's skeletal remains said.

"This statement was yet another slap in the face to abused children. Abused children need to have a voice, and you, [Casey Anthony's lawyer, Jose] Baez, are not that voice. Shame on you," Dr. Deborah Fritz wrote in USA Today.