Casey Anthony Not Guilty, Twitter Erupts

After a trial that lasted weeks and became a media sensation, it took a jury only 10 hours to find Casey Anthony not guilty of killing her 2-year-old daughter Caylee.

The jury of 7 women and 5 men returned with not guilty verdicts for all the most serious charges of first-degree murder, child abuse and manslaughter of a child. The jury did find Anthony guilty of four counts of providing false information to a law enforcement officer.

Those counts are all misdemeanors.

To say that the verdict is shocking is an understatement. Most would agree that her fate had been sealed by the incredibly short deliberations by the jury. Common knowledge dictates that a quick verdict in a case like this usually means guilty.

But the jury felt that the prosecution failed to prove their case on the most serious charges, and Casey Anthony will presumably go free. Her sentencing will take place Thursday morning, but she isn’t expected to serve much more jail time if any for the 4 lesser convictions. Author and lawyer Jeffery Toobin said on CNN earlier that he would be shocked if Casey Anthony is forced to serve any jail time.

As you would expect, Twitter has erupted in a way I haven’t personally seen since Michael Jackson died. Almost every trending topic is related to the Casey Anthony decision. I think the funniest trend is “Law Abiding Citizen,” which from what I can tell is tending due to a quote from the film – “It’s not what you know, it’s what you can prove in court.” Sure seems to apply here. Check out these trending topic boxes –

This tweet perfectly describes 99.9% of the Twitter reaction so far –

@joshjackson
Josh JacksonThe verdict is in: Twitter is pretty sure Casey Anthony was really guilty. 6 minutes ago via HootSuite · powered by @socialditto

@rodney_at_large
rodneyThe Judicial System of America reached an all time low today with the acquittal of a mother who obviously killed her child. Sickening. 6 minutes ago via web · powered by @socialditto

@TheBillWalton
The Bill Walton TripA day after we celebrated the birth of this glorious nation, the American legal system failed by letting the insidious Casey Anthony walk. 5 minutes ago via TweetDeck · powered by @socialditto

@StuckOnBeauty
La’Shell Beauty♥I’m ashamed of the Orange County court system. What a disgrace to find Casey Anthony #NotGuilty 7 minutes ago via TweetCaster for Android · powered by @socialditto

Some Twitter users are tweeting about the burden of proof, however –

@MichaelHopkins
Michael Hopkinseveryone mad at our judicial system, be mad at the prosecution…they had the burden and didn’t meet it. They never answered how caylee died 20 minutes ago via Twitter for iPhone · powered by @socialditto

@glasscannonlj
GlassCannonBottom line on Casey Anthony: she seemed guilty, the media had convicted her, but the jury could only use what the prosecution gave them. 15 minutes ago via web · powered by @socialditto

@kingbry7
Bryan KingWhy are people surprised about Casey Anthony? Prosecution couldn’t make their case. It’s sad but by the law, this is how it has to happen. 33 minutes ago via Echofon · powered by @socialditto

Then, we have the funnies (and man are there a lot of jokes to be made) -

@elibraden
Eli BradenME TOO!! ITS LIKE WHEN YOUR DAD HELPED GET O.J. OFF!! RT @KimKardashian: WHAT!!??!! CASEY ANTHONY NOT GUILTY!!!! I’m speechless!!! 11 minutes ago via Twitter for iPhone · powered by @socialditto

@oldmonkMGM
Jyotishka RayCasey Anthony not guilty? Dexter Morgan. You know what to do. 10 minutes ago via web · powered by @socialditto

@kevin_nealon
Kevin NealonCasey Anthony. You go girl! You have three years of partying to make up for! 8 minutes ago via Twitter for iPhone · powered by @socialditto

@jeffreychrist
jeffrey christMaybe Casey Anthony should get OJs help in finding Caylee’s “real” killer. Fingers crossed! 33 minutes ago via Twitter for Android · powered by @socialditto

@PimpBillClinton
Bill ClintonClearly, they weren’t sequestering this jury at a Holiday Inn Express. 38 minutes ago via web · powered by @socialditto

@JennyJohnsonHi5
Jenny JohnsonRT @CaseyAnthony: Señor Frogs tonight, bitches!!!! 16 minutes ago via Echofon · powered by @socialditto

@shomanart
Evan ShomanJohnny Cochran just ghost high fived Biaz. 19 minutes ago via web · powered by @socialditto

@mindykaling
Mindy KalingAnyone else hoping Casey Anthony is stupid enough to sue herself for millions in a civil court? 2 minutes ago via Twitter for BlackBerry® · powered by @socialditto

@kellyoxford
kelly oxfordI can’t believe I live in a world where Casey Anthony will make more money than me. 4 minutes ago via Twitter for iPhone · powered by @socialditto

Of course, amidst all the joking, it’s easy to lose sight of one part of this whole circus –

@shelbylikeaboss
Hell’s belle.tired of it all being about casey. rest in peace, caylee anthony. you were a beautiful little girl, and deserved better than this. 1 minute ago via web · powered by @socialditto

There are 2 Comments. Add Yours.

feysal
July 5, 2011 at 3:41 pm

Thanks God,she is not guilty.congratulations to Casey, her lawyers,her followers.we all understood how much u took care of ur daughterbefore she dies.You are already in jail for those 31 days mysterious, and now u Hero!!!
Mr. Knowitall
July 5, 2011 at 4:26 pm

No, quick verdicts are usually FOR the defense, because they don’t have to deliberate about punishment, lesser versions of crimes (manslaughter vs 1st murder and such.) Particularly so in this situation as this was a death penalty case.