Jurors cried and were “sick to our stomachs” after acquitting Casey Anthony of murdering her 2-year-old daughter, one member of the panel said today.
“I did not say she was innocent,” Jennifer Ford told ABC News. “I just said there was not enough evidence. If you cannot prove what the crime was, you cannot determine what the punishment should be.”
“Everyone wonders why we didn’t speak to the media right away,” Ford added. “It was because we were sick to our stomach to get that verdict. We were crying and not just the women. It was emotional and we weren’t ready. We wanted to do it with integrity and not contribute to the sensationalism of the trial.”
VIDEO: CASEY ANTHONY DEFENSE TEAM CELEBRATES VERDICT
The 12-strong Florida jury found Anthony, 25, not guilty of first-degree murder on Tuesday and also acquitted her of aggravated child abuse and aggravated manslaughter of a child. She could have faced the death penalty if convicted.
Ford’s comments came on the same day that an alternate juror said he agreed with the verdict.
But Russell Huekler, who sat in on all the deliberations as an alternate, told Orlando’s FOX 35 he was not surprised by the verdict and believed the biggest factor for the decision was the testimony of Casey’s father George Anthony.
“I agree wholeheartedly,” Huekler said. “It was the right decision that they made. The prosecutors didn’t meet the burden of proof. We had a lot of reasonable doubt there. They didn’t show us the evidence good enough for a conviction.”
Huekler, a school teacher, said he thought Anthony was a liar but did not believe that made her a killer.
“There was some type of horrific accident by the family,” he said. “Whatever happened I think more than one person knows and I think that was possibly George Anthony.”
He added that the defense’s argument that Caylee drowned made sense to him. Huekler said, “For some reason they made an accident look like a murder scene.”
Meanwhile, the prosectuor in the case said he was “shocked” and disappointed by the jury’s decision.
“I think I mouthed the word ‘Wow’ five times,” Assistant State Attorney Jeff Ashton told NBC’s “Today” show about the moment when he heard the not guilty verdicts.
Ashton, who is retiring after this case, said he and the prosecution team had hoped for a guilty verdict.
“We felt like we presented a strong case,” Ashton said.
The jury only found Anthony guilty of four counts of providing false information to law enforcement and she could receive up to a year in jail for each of those counts.
She has already served nearly three years behind bars so could walk free from court when sentenced tomorrow morning.
The nationally-televised trial lasted 35 days and involved dozens of witnesses and some 400 pieces of evidence.
The case generated a media frenzy since Caylee’s disappearance, as well as emotional responses from those convinced of Anthony’s guilt.
With Newscore