Judge Chastises State, Defense In Casey Anthony Trial

ORLANDO (CBS4) – Monday morning's proceedings in the murder trial of Casey Anthony came to a surprise halt with Judge Perry calling recess until 9 a.m. Tuesday morning.

The trial began with Perry slapping the wrists of both the defense and state for wasting time and causing delays during the trial.

Anthony, 25, is accused of killing her two year old daughter Caylee in 2008.

At the opening of Monday's session, Assistant State Prosecutor Jeff Ashton asked Chief Judge Belvin Perry to delay the testimony of the first witness defense, Dr. William Rodriguez, whom attorney Jose Baez was going to call to the stand.  Aashton said they had not had the chance to depose him. Judge Belvin ruled that the testimony would be deferred.

Baez then complained to the judge that the state was trying to limit testimony and presentation.

Perry then chastised both sides; he said he would not tolerate surprises, basically cheating by ambush, in such a high stakes trial.

Last January, Baez was slapped with a fine by Perry for violating a court order to share expert witness testimony with prosecutors.

The judge also admonished the lawyers for wasting the jury's time with legal matters that should have been taken up before court began.

"I'm getting very, very close to starting this proceeding every morning at 8:30," Perry said.

"All of this folks is going to stop or you will be working some very fierce days. Be prepared Saturday to go the whole day

Last Saturday, a renowned forensic expert called the autopsy done on Caylee "shoddy" and that duct tape prosecutors claim suffocated the girl was not applied until after the child's body decomposed.

Doctor Werner Spitz has been an expert witness in several high-profile cases, including that of O.J. Simpson. He said it was a failure that Caylee's head was not opened during the official autopsy.

Spitz conducted a second autopsy afterward.

The defense maintains that the girl drowned in her grandparents' swimming pool.

Anthony has pleaded not guilty. She faces a possible death sentence if convicted.

Source: Orlando Sentinel