Casey Anthony stands after telling Judge Belvin Perry that she won't testify in her own defense as her defense attorney Jose Baez rests his case. (Red Huber/AP)
Casey Anthony has been found not guilty of murdering her daughter Caylee Anthony.
The seven women and five men of the Florida jury deliberated for more than 10 hours and returned guilty charges of providing false information to law enforcement officials, but found the 25-year-old not guilty of manslaughter or murder.
She was acquitted of the first three charges: murder in the first degree, aggravated child abuse, and aggravated manslaughter of a child. But she was convicted of the four counts of providing false information to law enforcement officials.
“While we’re happy for Casey, there are no winners in this case,” Jose Baez, her defense attorney, said at a press conference.
The maximum sentence is one year per count.
Anthony was accused of murdering her 2-year-old daughter, Caylee, by covering her mouth in duct tape. The prosecution said Anthony disposed of her child’s body and resumed living her life. The defense argued that Caylee accidentally drowned in the family’s pool, and that Anthony and her father, George Anthony, decided to stage the death to look like a homicide.
She was arrested in September, 2008 and indicted on charges of felony murder, aggravated child abuse and other charges in October.
The case has received a huge amount of media coverage, with over 600 press credentials requested for the trial.
“You cannot convict someone until they’ve had their day in court,” Baez said, referring to the media coverage of the case.
Casey Anthony’s parents, Cindy and George Anthony, have not made a statement yet. The jury will not make a statement and their names will not be released.
Most of the people assembled outside the courtroom reacted with shock when the verdict was announced, according to NBC’s Kerry Sanders. The overwhelming reaction on Twitter has been the same.
Read the recap of the Casey Anthony trial here.
Watch the live video here.
More on the Casey Anthony trial:
Live Chat: Why are we so obsessed with the Casey Anthony trial?
The AP: Casey Anthony acquitted of murder in death of her 2-year-old daughter Caylee
