Imperfect Justice: Prosecuting Casey Anthony

Of the 300-plus cases Veteran Florida prosecutor Ashton has tried during his career, 70 were homicides and all but two ended with a guilty verdict. Now, following his most famous%E2%80%94and last%E2%80%94hearing, Ashton recounts the Casey Anthony murder trial%E2%80%94wherein she was accused of killing her daughter, Caylee%E2%80%94, a case characterized by circuitous twists and turns, and reviews the series of Anthony%E2%80%99s purported lies, including those regarding the mysterious Nanny, where Anthony worked, and the sexual abuse suffered at the hands of her father. Ashton discusses the Anthony family%E2%80%99s strange dynamics, the uneven relationship between Anthony and her parents, and her %E2%80%9Ctransformation%E2%80%9D and %E2%80%9Cperformances%E2%80%9D during the trial. While the book is meticulously detailed, it occasionally suffers from Ashton%E2%80%99s (or perhaps from former New York Times correspondent Pulitzer%E2%80%99s) overwrought language, as evidenced by lines like, %E2%80%9CCaylee was officially discharged to the care of angels.%E2%80%9D Ashton reveals that he %E2%80%9Cgenuinely dislike[s]%E2%80%9D defense attorney Jose Baez, a %E2%80%9Csmarmy%E2%80%A6underhanded%E2%80%9D man, and can%E2%80%99t resist the urge to share anecdotes that make Baez appear foolish%E2%80%94he even describes the defense%E2%80%99s arguments as %E2%80%9Cborderline ridiculous.%E2%80%9D Understandably, Ashton was convinced that the jury would find Anthony guilty and he would be able to retire %E2%80%9Con a high note,%E2%80%9D but the shocking verdict proved otherwise. For readers who haven%E2%80%99t reached their fill on information about this highly publicized trial, this is a must read. Photos. (Nov.)