Casey Anthony Trial: Televised Video of Defense Team Celebrating at Restaurant Criticized (Video)
After Casey Anthony was declared not guilty by a jury Tuesday, her defense team went out to a local restaurant to celebrate, a move that was criticized by some.
According to CNN's Issues With Jane Velez-Mitchell, the attorney closed down Orlando's Bistro 360 for a private party that lasted a good while Tuesday afternoon.
VIDEO: Casey Anthony Trial: Nancy Grace Reacts to Not-Guilty Verdict
"I spent probably an hour and a half in there today," truTV's Jean Casarez told Velez-Mitchell. "It is a celebration. It is a celebration, they say, for justice, they say for innocence, from someone who did not commit crimes of a great magnitude."
Casarez added that when the verdict being read was replayed on the seven flat-screen televisions in the restaurant: "They would cheer amongst each other, because they believe that victory had come to them on this day of a verdict."
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But the high-profile celebration -- which came after the verdict that many considered shocking -- was frowned upon by some in the media.
CNN's Anderson Cooper played a clip of the video and noted that it had raised eyebrows among many since 2-year-old Caylee was still dead and there are still unanswered questions about her murder.
STORY: Casey Anthony Trial: TV News Pundits Try to Explain Jury's Surprising Verdict
Meanwhile, HLN's Nancy Grace was more blunt.
"The defense team is inside a bar having a champagne toast right now," she said. "Now you know what? I'm not a preacher and I'm not a rabbi, but there's something wrong with that. Because Caylee is dead and her body decomposed just 15 houses away from where the Anthony's put their head on the pillow every night, every day searching for this little girl. Now I know it is our duty as American citizens to respect the jury system and I do, believe me I do. I've struck over a hundred juries. But I know one thing. As the defense sits by and has their champagne toast after that not guilty verdict, somewhere out there, the devil is dancing tonight."
STORY: Life After Casey Anthony Verdict: What Will HLN Cover Next?
The jury deliberated for nearly 11 hours, finding Anthony not guilty of first-degree murder in the 2008 death of daughter Caylee. But they did find her guilty of four counts of providing false information to law information, which are misdemeanors.
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