ORLANDO, Florida (Reuters) ? Jurors in the first-degree murder trial of Casey Anthony had barely settled into their seats on Wednesday when the prosecution finished presenting its case, and the jury was dismissed until Thursday morning.
Prosecutors presented two small additional pieces of evidence before the defense team began an impassioned plea for the judge to acquit Casey for lack of evidence.
"The state has stacked up inferences, but has presented no solid evidence," said defense attorney Cheney Mason.
After a brief recess, Judge Belvin Perry denied the motion for acquittal. The defense will begin presenting its case at 9 a.m. local time Thursday.
Casey, 25, is accused of killing her 2-year-old daughter Caylee Marie Anthony on June 16, 2008. Now in the middle of its fourth week, the trial has drawn widespread TV coverage and national attention.
Caylee was reported missing on July 15, 2008, after her grandmother found Casey's car in an impound lot reeking of the odor of death. The child's skeletal remains were found in woods near the Anthony family's home on December 11, 2008 after a nationwide search.
Mason argued that prosecutors had not offered up solid proof of premeditation or child abuse, and were relying solely on very thin circumstantial evidence in their quest for a guilty verdict.
If convicted of murder, Casey could face the death penalty.
Mason said there was absolutely no evidence of any prior act of violence. In fact, he said, witnesses had attested to Casey being a loving, caring mother. He also said Casey had not been informed properly of her Miranda rights.
The state responded by saying that they only had to introduce evidence.
(Editing by Colleen Jenkins; Editing by Peter Bohan and Greg McCune)
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