Richard Hornsby is an outspoken Orlando criminal attorney whose legal analyses frequently appear in the media.(Richard Hornsby photo/with permission)
In an interview on the subject--days before the Casey Anthony defense filed a motion claiming the death penalty is unconstitutional--asked about a possible plea deal in the State of Florida versus Casey Anthony, Orlando TV station WESH NBC and Fox News legal analyst Richard Hornsby said such an outcome in the capital murder case is possible. In the same dialogue, while not calling the death penalty unconstitutional, Hornsby says that in Anthony's case, it needn't apply.
While he says he has not spoken with any member of Casey Anthony's defense, Hornsby--an Orlando criminal lawyer currently handling 2 murder cases--has given numerous television interviews and has been blogging about the case, all in no uncertain terms.
Hornsby says he pictures Casey Anthony, "sitting in jail, [with] the novelty of her celebrity wearing off," in a stark setting where [she] " ... has had time to reflect" on her possible fate.
Against the static drone of jail house machinery and routine, above the incessant clanking of metal doors, the jangling chains, locks and keys Casey has come to know better than the omnipresent whisper of her own scheming mind, Richard Hornsby, on the other hand, envisions Andrea Lyon's "voice of reason," underscoring reality's bottom line to Casey, taking her aside and saying "Listen, honey, ... " consider a plea.
The wayward, high school drop-out--whose party-hearty life has fizzled from night-clubbing to early wake-up calls for grits or cold cereal--may listen to her new mother-figure, and could cop a deal with prosecutors, says Hornsby.
In a True Crime Examiner exclusive, as one of several pundits for all things considered Casey Anthony, Hornsby sat down to dissect matters surrounding the death case of murdered 2-year old Caylee, to consider the possibility of a plea deal for the accused mother, now contemplating receiving Florida's ultimate penalty some time in months ahead.
Hornsby, a consummate athlete during high school and college, and who believes fights should "be settled in back alleys or the courtroom," says death penalty specialist Andrea Lyon is "required to talk about a plea. If she did not," Hornsby notes, "she wouldn't be doing her job."
Lyon, suggests Hornsby, is "the voice of reason" who is "doing an excellent job with motions" since she has joined the Anthony team, and that the overall "quality of the work is much better" since the DePaul University law professor's arrival.
"Ms. Lyon is slowly giving Baez and [Kenney] Baden lesser roles, " observes Hornsby.
Hornsby--who also played football for UF's Steve Spurrier, and whose sports background positions him as "more brawler than [relying on] intellect,"--doesn't hesitate to pass his pithy remarks, readily letting fly on the controversial "angel of death row," Andrea Lyon, who he says is "bringing the case back to reality."
Add that "[Linda Kenney] Baden has backtracked," saying she "can't talk about that" when recently questioned about a possible plea deal signals this no trial-outcome would be possible, at least from a defense point of view.
But will the state have its way? Should capital punishment for Casey come to pass, Hornsby tells Examiner, "I'm not a big conspiracy theorist, but I believe in politics."
An award-winning former public defender for the Ninth Judicial Circuit, Hornsby believes the decision to seek the death penalty for Casey was "politically motivated," because, he maintains, "[District Attorney] Lawson Lamar had never before been challenged [in an election]."
Read: Lawson Lamar saw in the public's strong wish to obtain justice for Caylee--matched by voters' equally strong but negative reaction to Casey--a way to get re-elected if he decided to seek death for the woman whose lawyers are attempting to try the law in her favor.
For Hornsby, who says he is "not a vengeful person," Casey Anthony would be no danger to society if she is not put to death.
Conversely, for someone like John Couey, for instance--who abducted, raped and buried alive Jessica Lunsford, Hornsby feels "the death penalty is appropriate," although in many instances, the Orlando lawyer, whose shares the calling with his father and 2 brothers, maintains that capital punishment "is not black and white."
If the jury does see Casey's life--and how she lived it--painted in guilt's darkest tones, what about so-called mitigating factors in a jury's decision on how she should be punished?
Mitigating factors would include the oft-proffered mental or psychological factors. In the sentencing phase of the trial, Hornsby explains, "the defense is given more leeway to argue diminished capacity for Casey," who, he says "had a lot of [issues] going on."
Though such "leeway" often is not successful in Florida when a person is found guilty in a capital case, in attempts to soften a jury's collective heart, "the defense is allowed to reference hearsay," meaning, Casey's family could offer testimony in support of her being a "good mother," as Cindy Anthony often claims.
Meanwhile, there remains much ado about something, as veritable hot ash lingers from Andrea Lyon's recently-revealed "scorched earth," take-no-prisoners, capital case strategies--caught on the now- infamous, 2008 "tapegate," "Death is Different" lecture to the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys.
In a so-called "look behind the [defense] curtain," which legal analyst Bill Scheaffer equates to seeing how "sausage is made," the legal seminar's tape, which memorialized Lyon''s shocking, "ugly is presiding" remark about judges and other, perhaps more repugnant statements in her lecture, the death penalty attorney nevertheless gave the impression she was enjoying herself, much to the dismay and anger of those who never were supposed to hear her speech.
Comments aside, it must be remembered that the flurry of motions: those submitted and motions yet to come from team Anthony--and likely there will be many more--are typical defense tactics whose aims are to obfuscate, to confuse, to marginalize and distract the prosecution from their ultimate purpose.
If Richard Hornsby's death sentence opinion is not writ in black and white, he and a growing number of others are distinctly coloring the vanguard of capital punishment 's own demise.
Should, however, a Florida jury find Casey Anthony responsible for the murder of her child, it can deliver this punishment that the defense insists is untenable, unconstitutional and unseemly, even for the woman whose life, as many see it, went unspeakably wrong.
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Next: Part 2 of True Crime Examiner's Richard Hornsby interview
Comments
Wow, how interestingly written. From my perspective (the peanut gallery).. Casey is NOT a murderer. She is a stupid girl that brainlessly toted her child around everywhere she went. She had grandparents to watch Caylee. Caylee was a trophy baby; so cute and attractive in every way on the internet and to all of her social world, irresponsibly she and Caylee became victims of her stupidity.. she admitted it in the beginning.
I don't wrap my prizes up with duct tape and shoot them up with household chemicals......??? I don't throw my prizes or trophies out in the wet woods in garbage bags either or put them in the trunk of my car with other garbage,..... do you? thats a wierd way to show you love something.....
nice try cindy
Is this article about Hornsby or the case?, who cares about his past football experience, I personally do not like the guy at all. This is a horrible written article, at least in my opinion, most of it doesn't make sense on what point you are trying to get across.
Hmmmmm......I thought Roy Kronk killed Caylee. Why are they fussing over Casey if this is true??
I agree with what justice says, and would like to add.
The point of this article? Is RH on the defense now? What does his past have anything to do with the case?
Facts are that Caylee was Killed, Casey did not report her missing for 31 days, Neither did Cindy!, Cayless was Duct Taped, Chloroformed in one way or another from how I understand it and dumped like trashed down the street from her home. One thing Casey didn't lie about, she was "Close To Home"...she could feel it in her gut!
I pray that Caylee's killer is punished to the max and put in the electric chair...the needle is to easy. This case has been delayed to long! How many other cases like this in FL go on for over a year with all the B.S. and jury taiting? JMO
And why the defense claims DP as inhumane, well what are they afraid of? If Casey is not guilty then she will not get the DP. But if she is, why not give her the DP? An eye for an eye, it's OK to kill a child but inhumane to punish the killer!
**While he says he has not spoken with any member of Casey Anthony's defense.....I'm not a big conspiracy theorist, but I believe in politics....the decision to seek the death penalty for Casey was "politically motivated," because, he maintains, "[District Attorney] Lawson Lamar had never before been challenged [in an election].....
I am not buying what you are selling, Mr. Hornsby. The above political conspiracy which you are offering the jury pool is a restatement of the same rhetoric made by Casey's defense attorneys (and also repeated by the Anthony clan) very early on in this case. Nice touch, though, to add your award credentials to further back such a claim. Maybe such a clear cut and precise statement concerning Mr. Lamar's political ambitions you found scribbled on some napkin somewhere which you just happen to pick up? Well, ok then. For that I will give you credit. Nobody likes a litter bug. Thank you for sharing. IMO
Perhaps Lyons' filed the 'death penalty is inhumane' motion fully expecting it to be denied ONLY to show Casey that the time has come to plead guilty & accept a plea? Life without the possibility of parole.
It's in the state's best interests to avoid a lengthy & expensive trial for this sociopathic baby killer.
I disagree that she's NOT a danger to society because her pathological behavior shows that she methodically researched killing someone months before her baby was murdered & dumped like trash. And now she has even more motivation to retaliate against any & all the people who played a part in her arrest & her long incarceration.... her family members, her old 'friends' & various witnesses who provided information to investigators could all be targets of this sociopath.
**While he says he has not spoken with any member of Casey Anthony's defense.....I'm not a big conspiracy theorist, but I believe in politics....the decision to seek the death penalty for Casey was "politically motivated," because, he maintains, "[District Attorney] Lawson Lamar had never before been challenged [in an election].....
I am not buying what you are selling, Mr. Hornsby. The above political conspiracy which you are offering the jury pool is a restatement of the same rhetoric made by Casey's defense attorneys (and also repeated by the Anthony clan) very early on in this case. Nice touch, though, to add your award credentials to further back such a claim. Maybe such a clear cut and precise statement concerning Mr. Lamar's political ambitions you found scribbled on some napkin somewhere which you just happen to pick up? Well, ok then. For that I will give you credit. Nobody likes a litter bug. Thank you for sharing. IMO
I'm sorry but it seems like Richard Hornsby has an awfully close relationship with the defense. His tone from the beginning to now has changed completely. If you are going to be a so called investigative/law TV personality you have to completely down the middle which he has not been lately. For this douchetard to say that Casey isn't a threat is an ignorant statement. She is a child killer and is no different than any other child killer. Poor Caylee couldn't even defend herself against her mother. Casey is where she belongs and should stay.
OTP you might want to give it up. No one on this earth or on any jury is going to EVER believe you or your "mis-truthing" clan. Your power is GONE. Your credibility is GONE. Your grand daughter is GONE. Soon, the trash you allowed to take off with a child you were supposed to love & care for, will be GONE. And, not just to prison, but to Death Row if you do not smarten her up and beg her to BEG for a deal from the state.
GONE is everything you ever envisioned.
CASEY is responsible for it ALL.
Your insistence on fighting on the WRONG side of the court room makes you look WORSE than you could ever imagine.
PUT A STOP TO THIS NOW.
STAND UP FOR CAYLEE (after all, Casey's in a place where she CANNOT tear apart the rest of what's left of your family if you do the RIGHT THING!)
STAND AGAINST this murderer! You cannot LOVE your daughter and yet ALLOW her to continue to tear you all down!
That is NOT LOVE.
GEORGE WHERE ARE YOU? WHERE'S YOUR HEART?
DO THE RIGHT THI
BTW, all those pics show is that Casey didn't find a camera she didn't LOVE!
All they show is her SUBTERFUGE. Just POSING.
Take a look at Haleigh Cummings pics with her dad. NOW that's REAL LAUGHTER, REAL LOVE! Like the rest of Casey's entire existence you can PLAINLY SEE it was all for PRETEND! NOT ONE GENUINE SET OF REAL EMOTION SHOWS IN HUNDRED'S OF PICS!
Also, notice how in almost ALL videos she shot when you were NOT THERE how she treated her TROPHY??? She was SILENT & CRUEL--no matter how much Caylee tried to engage her mother she CONTINUED to IGNORE HER. You must wonder WHY? Look at the difference when YOU were shooting the videos! How you & George INTERACTED!
Casey did NOT INTERACT instead she TORTURED Caylee by WITHHOLDING!
You can bet the state will display these to the jury. They will display them side by side. Shows how Casey was mean & resentful toward a child she didn't love & could easily snuff the life out of.
George & Cyndi Don't be CASEY"S FOOL ANY
orlando teaParty,when is for you STUPID ,to murder a child,thats says a lot about you!
IMO Mr. Hornsby has a problem with accusing others of ratings and embelishing the stories.. When all the while this article proves he is doing exactly what he accuses others of doing... Going after ratings and embellishing the story for attention..IMO
I'm sorry but it seems like Richard Hornsby has an awfully close relationship with the defense. His tone from the beginning to now has changed completely. If you are going to be a so called investigative/law TV personality you have to completely down the middle which he has not been lately. For this douchetard to say that Casey isn't a threat is an ignorant statement. She is a child killer and is no different than any other child killer. Poor Caylee couldn't even defend herself against her mother. Casey is where she belongs and should stay.
ORLANDOTEAPARTY-
casey is a stupid girl, but she is also manipulative,narcissistic, a pathological liar, and a sociopath.
if OTP is really cindy, than i read an admission of guilt in her post. yes they both became victims of casey's stupidity. Caylee was a victim of casey's stupidity.
OTP......who admitted what in the beginning?
did casey admit caylee was a victim of her own stupidity?
What I would fear if somehow Casey got out...is that another child she might have would also pay with his or her life.
She IS a danger to others.
Casey is a threat to anyone who gets in her way. Her plans for "getting the house" may have been interrupted, but I'll bet that Caylee was just for practice. Mummy and Daddy would have been next on her list. Just as she increased her lying after successfully lying for several years to her apparently brain-dead parents. She got better at stealing after graduating from quarters from a bank to hundreds/thousands from bank accounts/credit cards. Casey would have done in her parents or graduated to "widowing" herself with older men...evil is ingrained in her. No conscience, no regrets, thank goodness no bellavita. Good job LE. Start the trial already........GUILTY!
Brainlessly took her child everywhere? She got anyone she could to watch her. Lauren for months watched Caylee, thinking Casey was working. What a friend and what an abuser of a friendship Casey was. Pretty rough life for Casey. The Grunds watched her child while she pretended to go to work. Casey slept until 9 or 10 every morning...delaying getting up meant that someone else fed Caylee/watched her for those early hours. Apparently some days she could stand the 3 or 4 hours she had to be with Caylee while she pretended she was at work and dropped her off EARLY with Cindy at her work. Casey's biggest problem probably was finding enough "friends" to hang out with while she was supposed to be working.
This really is a hard case. I'm having issues with the syringe with steroids found. I use to think it was "Jesse Grund" who looked at caylee as his own only to find out it wasn't his. An extremely jealous boyfriend possibly? finding steroids in a syringe will leave reasonable doubt to prosecute. yes very obvious casey was a bad mom by not reporting her daughter missing and so fourth, question is.. did she murder her very own child. Could be she did. I think who ever killed Caylee should be put to death, just hope the wrong person doesn't get convicted. thats all. so sad. RIP caylee.
OrlandoTeaParty, let's not forget she was so stupid she even continued toting along Caylee's corpse UNTIL the stench made it impossible for her to enjoy her car anymore.
She ditched her dead baby. She ditched her stinking car.
Oh what a "beautiful life" she had..... for 31 days.
I'd like too see the Crazseyone Crispy,zapped in the chair!!Sindy,yer all going to hell screaming all the way!
i do not know if cassy is guilty are not .i would hate to think a mother could do this to her child .i let god deside her case . he loves her as much as he loves any of us ,i pray for your soul cassy.
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