Guilty Until Proven Innocent

I sat around the TV in the break room of my job a little past my lunch hour. Everyone left their cubicles at 2:15 to be present for the verdict for Casey Anthony. I have to be honest. I did not follow this case with much interest. Cases like this tend to bring out the worst in people and separate the masses.

Not guilty of murder. Guilty of falsifying reports to the police. The guilty charges are each misdemeanors which carry a max of 1 year in prison and a fine. Casey Anthony has been in jail since 2008 so I am fairly certain she will be sentenced the max 1 year, to be served concurrently, with time served. That means, she will be heading home after her sentencing.

No justice for Caylee though.

We live in an imperfect world. I get that. We live in a world where you are tried under the watchful gaze of the media before you ever enter a courtroom. We live in a world where you are essentially guilty before you are proven innocent. Casey Anthony was already guilty in the eyes of millions before she was ever formally charged. What mother does not report her child missing for 30 days? What mother does not show any emotions or remorse through the past 3 years that this issues has been in the headlines?

Guilty until proven innocent.

The burden of proof is always on the prosecution to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that the defendant is guilty. All the defense has to do is to leave an air of doubt in the room and poke a few holes in a story to get an acquittal. Simple in theory, but complex in real life. I sat and listened to all the comments my co-workers had about the verdict. I am reading all the blogs, news reports, and commentary about the shock of her walking away from a murder rap. I really don't have an opinion on Casey Anthony's guilt or innocence. It is a sad day to know that Caylee's life has been taken and there is no one to blame. Being a crappy mother isn't against the law. The prosecution failed to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that she killed her daughter.

Case closed.

For some reason, I am fairly certain we have not heard the last of Casey Anthony. She will stay in the headlines because she is a lost soul that is stumbling her way through life. She is guilty in the eyes of America and in some way, shape or form, they will punish her. She will never have a quiet life. She will forever be under the watchful eye of everyone she comes in contact with. She will never be allowed any grace to make a mistake for the rest of her life. Even though she has been found not guilty by a jury of her peers, she is doomed to wear the guilt and shame handed down by the jury of popular opinion.

No winners today. Rest in peace Caylee.