Judge Belvin Perry sentenced Casey Anthony on Thursday to four years for lying to investigators but says she could go free in late July or early August because she has already served nearly three years in jail and has had good behavior.
While acquitted of killing and abusing her 2-year-old daughter Caylee, Anthony was convicted of four counts of lying to detectives trying to find her daughter in July 2008. She lied to them about working at the Universal Studios theme park, about leaving her daughter with a non-existent nanny named Zanny, about leaving the girl with friends and about receiving a phone call from her.
Her defense attorneys argued before sentencing that her convictions should be combined into one, but the judge disagreed. Judge Belvin Perry also fined her $1,000 on each count and said attorneys for both sides will have to decide exactly how much time she should be credited for.
Jurors declined to talk with reporters immediately after Tuesday’s verdict. But juror Jennifer Ford told ABC News in an interview that it was because “we were sick to our stomach to get that verdict.”
“We were crying and not just the women,” Ford said in an interview posted on the network’s website Wednesday night. “It was emotional and we weren’t ready.”
Ford, a 32-year-old nursing student, said the case was a troubling one.
“I did not say she was innocent,” Ford said. “I just said there was not enough evidence. If you cannot prove what the crime was, you cannot determine what the punishment should be.”
The prosecution didn’t paint a clear enough picture of what happened to Caylee, Ford argued in a portion of the interview broadcast Wednesday night.
“I have no idea what happened to that child,” Ford said.
As the sentencing was announced, Flora Reece, an Orlando real estate broker, stood outside the courthouse holding a sign that read “Arrest the Jury.”
“At least she won’t get to pop the champagne cork tonight,” Reece said of the judge’s decision to keep Anthony in jail for now.
The crowd of a few dozen emotionally charged protesters occasionally chanted “justice for Caylee.” A handful of Case Anthony supporters also stood outside the courthouse, separate from her angry detractors.
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