Latest on Casey Anthony Trial : Coyotes in Florida?

While I like my university classes and like the idea of being a bona fide university student, I must admit that the humdrum routine of attending classes is seriously encroaching upon of my television viewing. Specifically, I'm finding it difficult to keep up with Casey Anthony's murder trial.

I don't return home from classes (wherever home is; some days it's with Scott and Jillian; other days it's at the looney bin) until well after three o'clock. Court is usually out of session by then. I'm forced to get my information from the recaps of Dr. Drew, Nancy Grace, Joy Behar, Jane Velez Mitchell, and Vin Politano. They do show some footage, but I'm required to rely on their interpretations of what was significant. It's possible that some small details occurring during the day that were either missed by the talking heads or considered unimportant to them might have seemed important to me, or, more importantly, to the jury. This frustrates me.

The talking heads are predictable. Unless the prosecution rolls over and plays dead, Nancy Grace will declare any given day in court a victory for the preosecution. She does bring other guests on her program to offer dissenting opinions, but she generally drowns them out. On a blog I read entitled Reluctant Whore, blogger Matt[surname unknown] refers to Ms. Grace as "professionally angry." I can't think of a more fitting description. The only thing that coaxes a smile from the woman is mention of her two miracle babies, John David and little Lucy Elizabeth.
In terms of the court cases I've seen her discuss, Nancy Grace has never met a defendant who wasn't, in her opinion, guilty until proven innocent. I recognize that she is not a judge or juror in a court of law, which therefore exempts her from the obligation of presumtion of innocense. Still, I wonder about her at times. If a crime heinous enough to receive coverage on her program lacked a defendant, and a person was chosen to be the defendant in the case by random selection from a telephone directory, I suspect she would verbally attack that defendant with the same venom she used in attacking Scott Peterson, brian David mitchell, or Richard Ricci, who was, ultimately after his death, found not to have had any connection with the kidnapping of Elizabeth Smart. The subject of coyotes, which I will address later in this blog, came up near the end of today's court session.

Ms. Grace, in my opinion, advertised her ignorance by mocking the idea that coyotes could be present in residential areas, particularly, "in a nice one," she stated. I live in California, where a booming population has caused subdivisions to be built further and further into what were formerly undeveloped areas. As humans encroach upon wilderness habitat, it's not uncommon for coyotes or even occasionally mountain lions to be found lurking around "nice" subdivisions, or on rare occasions even venturing into cities. As we have taken away their territory, they have wandered into ours in search of food.

Most talking heads, but not all, found Tuesday's court activity to, in general, favor the prosecution. The defense put several key winesses on the stand who were at times flustered. One defense witness faltered repeatedly under direct examination by Jose Baez long before the prosecution got a crack at him in cross examination.

Onee thing I found interesting if not highly relevant. A specialist of some sort was questioned about, among other things, one of little Caylee's bones that was found buried in four inches of dirt or mud. The expert witness was asked how that might have happened. She suggested a dog might have been the culprit. "Or a coyote," she added. "Do you all have coyotes in Florida?"

"No, we're not blessed with coyotes here," Prosecutor Ashton semi-quipped. I consulted several Internet sources. While I'm not of the "If you read it on the Internet, it has to be true" persuasion, sources seemed to fairly consistently indicate that coyotes inhabit Orange County, Florida. Will that be addressed, if not in court, at least by the talking heads? Time will tell. I'll probably Tweet Judge Alex, not that he relies on my research and input for his commentary.