Baez denied closed-door meeting with judge

Defense attorney deposes Anthony's childhood friend

ORLANDO, Fla. – Casey Anthony's defense attorney has been denied a private meeting with a judge.

Attorney Jose Baez filed a motion Tuesday requesting a private meeting with Judge Stan Strickland, who is presiding over Anthony's first-degree murder trial.

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The motion sought to prevent anyone from hearing about the defense team's theory. The motion also indicated that the meeting may have involved subpoenaing records that may be admitted into evidence.

Strickland said Baez failed to show any legal authority allowing such a meeting.

Earlier Wednesday, Baez deposed one of Anthony's childhood friends, Kiomarie Cruz.

Cruz is the person who told investigators that as a child Anthony used to hang out in the woods near where the remains of her daughter, Caylee, were found.

Cruz also told the National Enquirer about an area she and Anthony called "The Zone," where they buried their pets. She is set to be deposed Wednesday morning.

A string of depositions is scheduled for this week. Baez deposed a corrections officer on Tuesday at the Orange County courthouse.

Sgt. Dennis Moonsammy was the first person to be deposed this week by Anthony's defense team. The deposition lasted just over an hour.

Moonsammy is one of several corrections officers who handled a letter written by Anthony on Aug. 14 to then-Sheriff Kevin Beary. The letter requested an in-person meeting between Anthony and her father, George Anthony.

George Anthony is shown asking Casey Anthony to write the letter during a videotaped visitation on the same day.

Months later, Baez filed a court motion alleging police misconduct was tied to the video visitation on Aug. 14.

Moonsammy's attorney, Erick Trivedi, said the deposition questions centered on general jail procedures. He would not comment on whether the letter was brought up during the deposition.

Three other corrections officers are scheduled to be deposed on Thursday.

Casey Anthony, 23, remains jailed in the death of her daughter, Caylee, whose remains were found in December. Caylee was 2 years old when she disappeared over the summer.


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