Another bizarre development in the ongoing pretrial hearings of accused murder mom CASEY ANTHONY defense counsel grills investigators in presumed media leaks and possible violation of civil liberties.
Casey, who stands accused of murdering her 2 year old daughter Caylee, key defense attorney Jose Baez was throwing some legal jurist prudence on the claims of a potential witness for the trial in the battle for admissible evidence to be presented to jurors.
When Baez questioned sheriff's detectives, crime-scene investigators and even an FBI agent about their involvement in the Casey Anthony case, Jose Baez asked each about reputed media leaks.
Baez hammered home the following points: Did they talk to reporters? Did they know who did? Was the Orange County Sheriff's Office investigating the leaks?
The Orlando Sentinel reported that while Baez seem preoccupied with the media coverage of the case, legal experts say the defense may be conducting a “Sub-rosa” (under the radar) probe in chambers trying to discover whether rogue investigators worked the case and possibly showing that Anthony's due-process rights may have been violated.
Baez's love-hate relationship with working the media began in the summer of 2008, when Anthony's 2-year-old daughter, Caylee Marie Anthony, was first reported missing and the then-22-year-old single mother first arrested.
After being hired as defense counsel, Baez quickly held multiple news conferences — his Kissimmee office, across the street from his office, outside the Anthony family's home, and, outside the Orange County Courthouse.
Baez traveled to New York to make national TV appearances and was lensed boating with vet TV tab journo and host Geraldo Rivera.
"From the very beginning, (Baez) attempted to use the press to further his interests," said Orlando attorney Bill Sheaffer, a legal analyst on the case for WFTV.
"The problem with Mr. Baez in this regard is never having played with the press. He wasn't prepared for the consequences of unleashing the beast."
The sensational murder trial is scheduled to begin next month.
