Casey Anthony verdict draws strong opinions on both sides

COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) - The Casey Anthony verdict shocked the nation, and has many in the Midlands talking -- including a former prosecutor and defense attorney.

"The fact that she was found not guilty is just frankly stunning," said David Cadieu, who has been following the Casey Anthony trial for the last 30 days. 
     
Cadieu thought the jury would be suspicious about Anthony's conflicting stories about what really happened to Caylee, from a pool drowning to a kidnapping nanny. "I work in sales, and it's an important part of my job to read people," said Cadieu. "Just from reading her actions, her words, her body language, there's more going on there than we're being let on."

Emily Dattilio, a mother of two, has been watching the testimony online and on-air for weeks. "I wasn't surprised when the verdict came out, because they don't have actual proof like knife in hand and fingerprints," said Dattilio.

Defense attorney and former prosecutor Dick Harpootlian agrees. He says instead of solid evidence, the prosecution only had a circumstantial case -- a prosecutor's worst nightmare. "In a circumstantial evidence case, you've got to connect all the dots," said Harpootlian. "If they knock out one of those dots it's not a conviction."

Harpootlian says prosecutors also made a crucial mistake. "They relied to heavily on the idea that she would have to explain what happened, and in every criminal case the defendant is presumed innocent," said Harpootlian. "They don't have to explain anything. She didn't take the stand. I think this is one of those cases where they calculated that she was going to take the stand and that was going to be the end of that."