ORLANDO, Fla. – Casey Anthony told a judge Wednesday that her agreement with an attorney who is defending her against accusations she killed her 2-year-old daughter does not allow him the rights to sell her story to collect legal fees.
Prosecutors said they wanted to know if Anthony had given her defense attorney, Jose Baez, the right to sell her story. Prosecutors said such an arrangement could provide grounds for an appeal if she is convicted.
They noted in a court motion that she has limited assets to pay her defense and that such an arrangement could encourage a defense attorney to take decisions that heightened the value of that story — rather than doing what was in the best interests of a client. In such an arrangement, a lawyer could earn money by charging for TV interviews or getting a publishing deal for a book or movie.
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"We want this on the record now so that five years from now we're not back having to retry this," said Jeff Ashton, an assistant state attorney.
Circuit Judge Stan Strickland ruled that he saw no conflict of interest that would jeopardize Anthony's trial. He made his decision after a private session with Baez and prosecutors to review the lawyer's agreement with Anthony.
Baez accused the prosecutors of trying to interfere with his work, adding "I'm trying to defend this case."
Anthony is facing a first-degree murder charge after her daughter Caylee was found dead last December, months after her disappearance.
Casey Anthony has said previously that prosecutors filed their motion as retaliation because she did not agree to a plea deal for a crime she didn't commit.
Anthony had told authorities a baby sitter kidnapped Caylee, who disappeared last June. The child's body was later found in woods near her Orlando home by a utility worker.
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