MORE: Casey Anthony Trial
ORLANDO, Fla. -- It's the million dollar question:
How long will it take the jury to come back with a verdict in the Casey Anthony murder trial?
Jury selection began the day after Mother's Day and today is the Fourth of July. For nearly two months, 12 jurors and 5 alternates have slept in a hotel, been away from their families and been cut off from the outside world.
Now, the time has come.
Jurors got the case today at 12:10 p.m. They were so anxious to begin that they nearly began talking as they exited the courtroom.
A bailiff quickly chastised them saying, "No talking!"
It was clear during the state's rebuttal case that these jurors from Pinellas County are tired. Their faces showed signs of fatigue. Even prosecutor Jeff Ashton was overheard in the elevator saying, "I'm tired. I just want to go home."
Judge Belvin Perry began jury instructions shortly after prosecutor Linda Drane Burdick wrapped up her rebuttal case. Members of the jury were all glued to the faces of the prosecutors during the state's rebuttal.
After all, this was the last time prosecutors would have a chance to convince jurors that "Casey Anthony murdered her child."
"There are two words to describe [Casey] - pathological liar."
Prior to jury instructions, the judge gave a stern warning to people in the courtroom telling them that if they wanted to leave, they better do it now. Judge Perry ordered a lockdown of the courtroom while addressing the jurors concerning the seven counts against Casey Anthony, including the most serious of first degree murder, ranging all the way down to lying to investigators.
Everyone it seems, including the jurors, are ready for this high-profile capital murder case to be over.
After the verdict, the jurors will answer questions in a news conference. WTSP is the only Bay-area station to have a reporter inside that news conference.
WTSP