Anthony defense day 3: Dr. Garavaglia's autopsy called “shoddy” by defense expert

Judge Belvin Perry made no secret of his frustrations with both sides of court, most specifically Defense Attorney Jose Baez.

Baez may face contempt of court when these proceedings are concluded for his actions of today.

On the stand today, Dr. William Rodriguez a forensic anthropologists for the U.S. Department of Defense Armed Forces Medical Examiner’s Office began his testimony in the area of forensic evidence.

Dr. Rodriguez is also cofounder of the so named “The Body Farm,” and outdoor research facility devoted to the studies of human decomposition. Dr. Arpad Vass who is also associated with The Body Farm testified for the prosecution earlier in the trial.

During Dr. Rodriguez’s testimony Baez attempted to elicit an opinion from Rodriguez which had not been disclosed to the prosecution.

Rodriguez was going to give his opinion concerning the duct tape on the skeletal remains of Caylee Anthony. But this opinion was not included in the report that Judge Perry ordered long ago that all expert opinions in the case must be included in this report or their depositions.

After the jury had been dismissed, Judge Perry said to Jose Baez “When you have a new opinion from an expert, you disclose it. It’s quite easy to do. Even if it happens last minute.”

When asked by the judge, Dr. Rodriguez stated he had disclosed his opinion with Baez back in February of this year.

Perry went on to tell Baez, “It appears to me that this was quite intentional. This was not some inadvertent slip. It was not inadvertent. The question is whether Ms. Anthony should be punished because of this.”

Rather than completely dismiss the witness and his testimony, Judge Perry decided to allow prosecution to depose the doctor this afternoon. He will likely testify next week.

Perry commented that he would reserve ruling on how to deal with Attorney Baez’s apparent discovery violation, until after the trial ends.

…..

After Rodriguez was dismissed, famed forensic pathologist Dr. Werner Spitz, who has testified in high-profile cases such as O.J. Simpson and has served as consultant to the commission that studied the assassinations of John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King jr. took the stand for the defense.

Spitz took exception with Dr. Jan Garavaglia’s autopsy.

He stated that “I think the profession dictates that when an autopsy is done there should be an examination of the interior of the head, but that had not been done. Because the skull was not opened,” Spitz said.

Anthony defense day 3: Dr. Garavaglia's autopsy called “shoddy” by ...

Judge Belvin Perry made no secret of his frustrations with both sides of court, most specifically Defense Attorney Jose Baez.

Baez may face contempt of court when these proceedings are concluded for his actions of today.

On the stand today, Dr. William Rodriguez a forensic anthropologists for the U.S. Department of Defense Armed Forces Medical Examiner’s Office began his testimony in the area of forensic evidence.

Dr. Rodriguez is also cofounder of the so named “The Body Farm,” and outdoor research facility devoted to the studies of human decomposition. Dr. Arpad Vass who is also associated with The Body Farm testified for the prosecution earlier in the trial.

During Dr. Rodriguez’s testimony Baez attempted to elicit an opinion from Rodriguez which had not been disclosed to the prosecution.

Rodriguez was going to give his opinion concerning the duct tape on the skeletal remains of Caylee Anthony. But this opinion was not included in the report that Judge Perry ordered long ago that all expert opinions in the case must be included in this report or their depositions.

After the jury had been dismissed, Judge Perry said to Jose Baez “When you have a new opinion from an expert, you disclose it. It’s quite easy to do. Even if it happens last minute.”

When asked by the judge, Dr. Rodriguez stated he had disclosed his opinion with Baez back in February of this year.

Perry went on to tell Baez, “It appears to me that this was quite intentional. This was not some inadvertent slip. It was not inadvertent. The question is whether Ms. Anthony should be punished because of this.”

Rather than completely dismiss the witness and his testimony, Judge Perry decided to allow prosecution to depose the doctor this afternoon. He will likely testify next week.

Perry commented that he would reserve ruling on how to deal with Attorney Baez’s apparent discovery violation, until after the trial ends.

…..

After Rodriguez was dismissed, famed forensic pathologist Dr. Werner Spitz, who has testified in high-profile cases such as O.J. Simpson and has served as consultant to the commission that studied the assassinations of John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King jr. took the stand for the defense.

Spitz took exception with Dr. Jan Garavaglia’s autopsy.

He stated that “I think the profession dictates that when an autopsy is done there should be an examination of the interior of the head, but that had not been done. Because the skull was not opened,” Spitz said.

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