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Anthony lawyers decry media coverage

By the CNN Wire Staff
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Defense: 'Disgusted by media'
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
  • "I'm disgusted by some of the lawyers who have done this," J. Cheney Mason says
  • "There's no way that this is a verdict that speaks the truth," says HLN's Nancy Grace
  • "Casey did not murder Caylee; it's that simple," attorney Jose Baez says
  • Case is "perfect example" of why death penalty doesn't work, Baez says
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Tune in to HLN's "Nancy Grace" at 8 p.m ET Tuesday as Nancy Grace reports live from Orlando. HLN also airs "Justice for Caylee: A Nancy Grace Special" at 9 p.m. ET Saturday. And share your reaction to the verdict.

Orlando (CNN) -- Defense lawyers for Casey Anthony lambasted the judgmental role adopted by some members of the news media and their guests in the months leading up to Tuesday's verdict.

"I hope that this is a lesson to those of you who (have) indulged in media assassination for three years," defense attorney J. Cheney Mason said after the verdict in the Casey Anthony case, which has attracted intense media scrutiny.

"Bias and prejudice and incompetent 'talking heads' saying what would be and how to be -- I'm disgusted by some of the lawyers that have done this. I can tell you that my colleagues from coast to coast and border to border have condemned this whole process of lawyers getting on television and talking about cases they don't know a damn thing about," Mason said.

Former prosecutor Nancy Grace, whose show on CNN sister network HLN has featured the case extensively, defended the media coverage. "I find it interesting that his first reaction was to attack the media like we had something to do with it," she said. "We didn't have anything to do with it; this was all tot mom."

She added, "There is no way that this is a verdict that speaks the truth."

"Casey did not murder Caylee; it's that simple," co-defense attorney Jose Baez said. "I think we should all take this as an opportunity to learn and to realize that you cannot convict someone until they've had their day in court."

He said he hoped Anthony would be able "to grieve and grow and somehow get her life back together."

And he called the case "a perfect example" of why the death penalty does not work.

"Murder is not right, no matter who does it," he said. "It's disgusting, and I think if this case gets any attention, it should focus on that issue, that we need to stop trying to kill our people."

Baez added, "The best feeling that I have today is that I know I can go home and my daughter will ask me, 'What did you do today?' and I can say, 'I saved a life.'"

Afterward, members of the defense team crossed the street from the courthouse to Terrace 390, a restaurant, where they could be seen hugging one another and watching television coverage of the day's events. As a reporter sought entrance, the owner locked the door and stationed a guard outside.

InSession's Beth Karas contributed to this story.

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