Casey Anthony: the case that's gripped the US

The most talked about trial in US in recent year's features a single mother from Florida accused of murdering her two-year daughter. It was a trial impossible to avoid. For months, the face of a single mother who could soon be on death row has been ever present on American TV screens. The prosecution contends that Casey Anthony, 25, killed her daughter Caylee in 2008 by covering her mouth with duct tape and dumping her body in the woods near her parent's home, where she also lived. Her body was found after 6 months after she went missing. Following 33 days of testimony, another two days of closing arguments, 400 pieces of evidence, 100 people testifying, the jury are now deliberating. The jury are shielded from the media, which has gone into overdrive. Some stations even agreed to broadcast the whole trial, in live from inside the courtroom. Magazines had given the witnesses a lump sum to make them cover stars, and even ex-wives of witnesses have been thrust into the spotlight. Ms. Anthony has become a hate figure especially in the internet, ever since details have been emerged about her behaviour during a 31 day period between the last time Caylee was seen alive and her missing had been reported by her grandmother. There have been reports about the behaviour of Cassey from her friends stating that while all this was going on, she was busy partying and shopping, without even mentioning about this incidence even once. Prosecutors say the baby had become a burden that prevented Ms. Anthony from enjoying her party lifestyle. And she persistently told lies to police and to her parents to cover her tracks. They also stated that there was a fake nanny, a fake job and also a fake father for Caylee. But her defence contends that the toddler drowned in the swimming pool and later she tried to cover up this matter with the help of her father, George and made to look like a random killing. Ms. Anthony's lawyers explained Ms. Anthony's lies and erratic behaviour by saying that she was grieving her daughter's death by drowning, and that her father had sexually abused her. But George Anthony denied the said allegation and the judges said that there have been no evidence to support it. Her defence lawyer, Jose Baez also questioned forensic evidence presented by prosecutor's linking Ms. Anthony's car to the body. Reported by,   AR