Full Answer Section

The defense argued that Caylee had drowned in the family’s swimming pool and that Casey had panicked and covered up the death. They presented evidence that Casey had a history of drug use and that she had been struggling with mental health problems.

The jury found Casey Anthony not guilty of murder.

Trial 2: The trial of Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd. The trial was held in the Hennepin County District Court in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The prosecution argued that Chauvin had used excessive force when he kneeled on Floyd’s neck for over nine minutes. They presented evidence that Floyd had been unarmed and that he had been begging for air.

The defense argued that Chauvin had used a reasonable amount of force to restrain Floyd and that Floyd’s death was caused by a combination of factors, including his underlying health conditions.

The jury found Chauvin guilty of murder and manslaughter.

Similarities:

• Both trials were held in state court.
• Both trials involved the death of a child.
• Both trials were highly publicized.
• Both trials resulted in a conviction.

Differences:

• The trial of Casey Anthony was a jury trial, while the trial of Derek Chauvin was a bench trial (i.e., the judge decided the verdict).
• The trial of Casey Anthony was for first-degree murder, while the trial of Derek Chauvin was for second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter.
• The trial of Casey Anthony lasted for six weeks, while the trial of Derek Chauvin lasted for three weeks.

Actors in the trial process:

• Plaintiff: The person who is bringing the lawsuit. In a criminal trial, the plaintiff is the state.
• Defendant: The person who is being sued. In a criminal trial, the defendant is the person accused of the crime.
• Judge: The person who presides over the trial and makes rulings on legal issues.
• Prosecutor: The lawyer who represents the state and argues for the conviction of the defendant.
• Defense Attorney: The lawyer who represents the defendant and argues for the acquittal of the defendant.
• Witnesses: People who testify in the trial and give evidence about what they saw or heard.
• Jury: The group of people who decide the verdict in a jury trial.

Sources:

• “Casey Anthony Trial.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 2023, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casey_Anthony_trial.
• “Derek Chauvin Trial.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 2023, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derek_Chauvin_trial.