Casey Anthony Prosecutor Jeff Ashton On Verdict: ‘A Shock’ And ‘Not Easy To Hear’

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by Mark Joyella | 8:22 am, July 6th, 2011

» 13 comments

In his first public comments since the jury verdict in the Casey Anthony murder trial, prosecutor Jeff Ashton told NBC’s Matt Lauer this morning that going into the courtroom–with jurors coming back after just eleven hours of deliberation–”we were feeling pretty good. We didn’t feel that a not guilty verdict in that short a period of time was realistic, but that’s the jury system.” Ashton, whose work in delivering an emotional and powerful closing statement in the case was hailed by commentators, admits he was “shocked” by the jury’s not guilty verdict. “You pour three years of your life into a case, and as a prosecutor you don’t take a case unless you believe in it…it was not easy to hear.”

Ashton says he still feels the case he and his team presented to the jury was strong, and he has not changed his mind on making it a first degree murder case. Speaking of defense attorney Jose Baez, and his opening statement telling jurors Casey Anthony was molested as a child by her father–which never came up in testimony–Ashton gives Baez the benefit of the doubt. “I assume he said that because he honestly believed he could prove that, and something changed.”

As for the story that Caylee Anthony died accidentally in the family swimming pool, Ashton said “I cannot believe that.”

Ashton has announced his retirement. He also told Lauer it will be a tough call to decide whether Cindy Anthony will face perjury charges for her testimony in the case.

Watch it here, from NBC News:

Casey Anthony, Jeff Ashton, Matt Lauer, Today

skyfet

Its a disaster. But without credible evidence, what can you do?
david r

Anyone who has done much litigation has been there:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRadA7074wk
lane

Ashton represents the prosecutor’s office with honor, integrity and professionalism. As he said, the burden of proof in a murder trial is a high burden on the state’s end and the jury’s decision has to be respected.

Since there’s proof that Cindy perjured herself on the stand, I don’t see how they can avoid prosecuting her or via plea deal.
azgrandma

Shocking is putting it mildly. They did do their job – the jurors certainly got it wrong. Wonder why she is a pathological liar? Cindy needs to be held responsible for lying on the stand.
DonnaK

Jeff Ashton did everything right to bring justice for little Caylee, the defense was bound and determined to put the Anthony family on the stand to create reasonable doubt about dysfunction, which evidently, he did…Cindy should face some charges, I feel sorry for her, but more sorry that Caylee didn’t have anyone speaking for her other than Jeff Ashton & Linda…
Slapnuts

Jeff Ashton, you did the best you could do.Thats all anyone should ask of you.
seek

DonnaK said:
Jeff Ashton did everything right to bring justice for little Caylee, the defense was bound and determined to put the Anthony family on the stand to create reasonable doubt about dysfunction, which evidently, he did…Cindy should face some charges, I feel sorry for her, but more sorry that Caylee didn’t have anyone speaking for her other than Jeff Ashton & Linda…

When I heard Geraldo state that “Casey was a good mother” I wanted to jump through my t.v. and throttle him!
A good mother, my sorry butt – a pathological liar who didn’t care her child was missing – danced, tattoed and carried on like she was having the time of her life. Don’t you wonder what she did with herself for the years she claimed she was “working” which was also a lie. Her Aunt claims she stole money from everyone in the family namely her Grandfather. For Geraldo to call her a good mother because she looked like she was having fun while playing with Caylee in the videos is absolutely obscene.

I think the prosecution over reached with the death penalty on the table. The sad part is that we will never know the truth. All we know is a “good Mother” hid the disappearance of her child for 31 days. Lied and lied and kept up the lies and nobody could break her – not her parents, not the police and if she ever told the defence the truth (which I doubt with all the hugging and kissing at the verdict) – it will be an unsolved crime forever.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Jeck-Benny/100002286096264 Jeck Benny

Heyy Watch FULL VIDEO OF Casey Anthony Prosecutor Jeff Ashton On Verdict: ‘A Shock’ And ‘Not Easy To Hear’
http://bit.ly/nA2LfF
Woofie

Can’t something be done about blocking people going so far off topic, and in other cases, people being repugnant, and in still others, people totally distorting the truth.

WHERE ARE THE EDITORS?

WHERE IS THE COMMON DECENCY?

The majority of your readers/contributors didn’t sign on for this!
phku

Uhmmm… Let me get this straight, did he just admit that he had successfully prosecuted dozens of death penalty cases strictly upon circumstantial evidence? This murdering lawyer should be shamed.
http://societyfordaintydamsels.wordpress.com Lynda Appell

In a court of law everybody no matter what the charge is officially presumed not guilty. There are only two legal outcomes, not guilty and guilty. It is up to the prosecution to prove guilt. IOW the onus is on the prosecuting attorney. If there is any blame for Casey Anthony getting off, blame the prosecutors. In essence a trial is to prove guilt since officially every defendant is presumed not guilty. They unfortunately did not prove their case to the jurors. I don’t mean that they didn’t prove their case to the general public or else there wouldn’t be such a public uproar. What I mean is not to the 12 jury members who decide if she was guilty or not guilty. Jose Baez her defense lawyer planted to what the twelve thought was reasonable doubt. I say the twelve, not necessarily for myself. She sure didn’t act like a grieving mom, that’s for certain. .
I know I realize I won’t get any brownie points here.However in a capital murder case , to me, a juror needs to be absolutely certain for a guilty verdict. There can be no doubt whatsoever. Next is a general statement and not meant for any specific person. The stakes are way too high to be wrong. I suspect they decided to err on the side of caution. Not saying they are right Just trying to read their motivation. OTOH there was the option of life in prison without parole.
http://justplaythegame.us JustPlayTheGame

phku said:
Uhmmm… Let me get this straight, did he just admit that he had successfully prosecuted dozens of death penalty cases strictly upon circumstantial evidence? This murdering lawyer should be shamed.

Alot of cases happen that way..that’s why half those in jail say they are innocent. I believe we as a society are more quick to judge without evidence and belive the prosecutors are always right or why would they even bring these people into court? VERY BIG MISTAKE on the average Juror. How many murders are being sent free now due to DNA and finding those Prosecutors have just railroaded the jury? Quick to judge quick to imprision..it’s like McDonalds..fast serve these days…

get all the facts and dot your I’s and cross your T’s then bring it to court..that’s what the defense did and lucky Casey had Nancy Grace bring a good law team forward. Any average lawyer doing pro bono that most get assigned to defend would had this gurl in jail with the same evidence against her.. Thanks Nancy Grace for helping justice to be served as it should be. Be proud of your show..it possibly was the lean to freedom.
phku

If the jury in a capital case like this has to decide a verdict strictly upon circumstantial evidence then the death penalty shouldn’t even be in the picture. How the prosecutors thought they were going to get away with giving a 25 year old woman the chair because of the laughable opinions of Nancy Grace (and the like) is beyond me. They weren’t acting ethically and treated this like the salem witch trial. Nancy Grace should be ashamed of herself and thank god this witch hunting prosector is retiring. Perhaps more people won’t be *murdered* now that this prosector won’t be cherry picking circumstantial evidence cases in order to put people to death.