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Casey Anthony attorney discusses Jodi Arias trial

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By Adam Longo - email
ORLANDO, FL (CBS5) -

Criminal defense attorney Jose Baez, who famously won the acquittal of Florida mother Casey Anthony, is offering his analysis to CBS 5 News on the Jodi Arias murder trial currently under way in Maricopa County Superior Court.

Like Arias, Anthony also faced the death penalty after being accused of killing her 2-year-old daughter, Caylee.

Anthony never talked to the media during her case, at the urging of her attorney.

"The best thing you can do is educate your client," Baez said. "Educate them on the law and educate them on the repercussions of someone speaking before they have their day in court. That's what I did with Casey, and that, unfortunately, was not done with Jodi Arias."

Despite her apparent pre-trial shortcomings, Arias is doing a "spectacular job" as a witness in her own defense, Baez said. He called her articulate and intelligent.

However, he said her biggest mistake was talking too much, talking to investigators and multiple media outlets.

"I certainly think she's paying the price for it now and probably regrets each and every one of those conversations," Baez said.

Baez offered praise for both the prosecution and defense teams in the Arias case.

"With what little they have to work with for a defense, I think they're doing a spectacular job, and they may save Miss Arias' life," Baez said.

Having Jodi Arias on the witness stand for so long is risky, Baez said. He said he believes it is likely a calculated decision to "humanize" Arias to the jury, a strategy designed to let the jury get to know her so they conceivably would be less likely to impose the death penalty if she is convicted of first-degree murder.

Baez said the evidence against her is overwhelming "due to the fact there's so much the prosecutor has to work with in this case. When do you have diaries and multiple statements on tape? When do you have a photograph of the death?"

The Arias trial resumes at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday. Insiders expect psychological experts to take the stand after Arias herself is finished testifying.

Stay tuned to CBS 5 News at 5 p.m. Friday for more with Jose Baez discussing the Jodi Arias case.

Copyright 2013 CBS 5 (KPHO Broadcasting Corporation). All rights reserved.

  • ONLY ON CBS 5Casey Anthony attorney discusses Jodi Arias trial

  • Tuesday, October 29 2013 7:57 PM EDT2013-10-29 23:57:41 GMT
    Jodi Ann Arias stands accused of shooting, stabbing and slitting the throat of her former boyfriend, Travis Alexander, in June 2008.
    Jodi Ann Arias stands accused of shooting, stabbing and slitting the throat of her former boyfriend, Travis Alexander, in June 2008.