Lawyers for Fla. mom accused of killing her toddler want charges dropped; say lack of evidence

Casey Anthony seeks to have murder charge dropped

ORLANDO, Fla. — Attorneys for a Florida woman charged with killing her 2-year-old daughter want to prevent prosecutors from seeking the death penalty and said Wednesday that charges against her should be dropped.

Casey Anthony’s attorneys filed the motions a day after the State Attorney’s Office released hundreds of pages of documents related to the case.

Anthony’s attorneys said that prosecutors can’t prove first-degree murder was committed or that Anthony ever abused her daughter, Caylee.

“Specifically, the state cannot establish whether Caylee Anthony’s death was accidental, natural, or the result of an intentional or negligent homicide,” they said.

The 23-year-old woman has pleaded not guilty and claimed that a baby sitter kidnapped Caylee.

The toddler’s remains were found last December in woods near the home where she lived with her mother and grandparents. Although the death was ruled a homicide, a specific cause was never determined.

Meanwhile, an attorney for Anthony’s parents released a forensics report that he said shows duct tape found with Caylee’s remains doesn’t match duct tape found at the Anthony home, key evidence in the state’s case.

The forensics report released by attorney Brad Conway appeared to contradict an earlier report that had determined the tape on the skull and that found on gas cans at the Anthonys’ house originated from the same roll of tape.