Defense to call 1st witness in Casey Anthony trial

[June 16, 2011]  ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- The defense is expected to call its first witness in the central Florida murder trial of Casey Anthony, who's accused of killing her 2-year-old daughter in 2008.

The prosecution has presented all its evidence and Thursday jurors will look towards Anthony's attorneys to begin delivering on several promises they made at the outset to explain why the 25-year-old's child is dead.

Anthony is charged with first-degree murder in the death of toddler Caylee in the summer of 2008 and has pleaded not guilty. The state says she was suffocated by her mother with duct tape. The defense contends she drowned in her grandparents' swimming pool and her body was disposed of by her grandfather. Her skeletal remains were found in December 2008.

If convicted Anthony faces a death sentence.

[Associated Press; By KYLE HIGHTOWER]

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.