Imperfect Justice

Prosecuting Casey Anthony

By: Jeff Ashton

Narrated by: Jeff Ashton

Length: 11 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's summary

Filled with explosive new information, this is the definitive inside story of the case that captivated the nation and the verdict that no one saw coming....

It was the trial that stunned America, the verdict that shocked us all. On July 5, 2011, nearly three years after her initial arrest, Casey Anthony walked away, virtually scot-free, from one of the most sensational murder trials of all time. She'd been accused of killing her daughter, Caylee, but the trial only left behind more questions: Was she actually innocent? What really happened to Caylee? Was this what justice really looked like?

In Imperfect Justice, prosecutor Jeff Ashton, one of the principal players in the case's drama, sheds light on those questions and much more, telling the behind-the-scenes story of the investigation, the trial, and the now-infamous verdict. Providing an inside account of the case, Ashton, a career prosecutor for the state of Florida, goes where the press and pundits have only speculated, detailing what really happened during the investigation, showing how the prosecution built their case, and explaining how a woman so shrouded in suspicion was proclaimed innocent.

Moving beyond the simple explanations, Ashton offers an in-depth look at the complex figure of Casey Anthony, a woman whose lies he spent three years trying to understand. And yet this focus on Casey came with its own risks; here he details how this widespread fixation on Casey - both in the media and in the trial - may have undermined the case itself. As everyone got caught up in the quest to understand the supposed villain, somehow the victim, Caylee, was all but forgotten - not just to the public, but more important, to the jury.

Complete with never-before-revealed information about the case and the accused, Ashton examines what the prosecution got right, what they got wrong, and why he remains completely convinced of Casey Anthony's guilt.

©2011 Jeff Ashton (P)2011 HarperCollins Publishers

Excellent --grabs you.

Would you listen to Imperfect Justice again? Why?

Yes, further on down the road. Jeff Ashton does an excellent job of explaining all in one fell swoop what really happened. We viewed it on the news from day to day, we didn't get the whole picture clearly. There were so many things interjected by the defense, it made your eyes morph into pinwheels. This puts it all together step by step.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The Prosecution team. They did a good job, with hands tied behind their backs as usual.

Which scene was your favorite?

Casey Anthony going to the Theme Park & waving to everyone, like she knew everyone there, and insisting to the police that she actually worked there, and ending up in a dead end in a corridor.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

4 Things that were mind baffling. 1. Poor George, the dad, who was accused of sexually molesting Casey, starting as a child. 2. The strange behavior of the mom with her vacillation back and forth of support of Casey. She just could not face reality as a personal defense mechanism for herself. 3. The frustration of a NOT GUILTY verdict. 4. Everyone here was a victim (the precious child, the parents, and the public) -- everyone was a victim except Casey Anthony. "She got away with murder."

Any additional comments?

This was excellent writing and information. In spite of the horrific crime, the book, itself, was interesting to listen to. It was an excellent summary for us to review what we watched at the time with our own lack of full information.

Made me angry

Great story, told well with great narration. Hated the outcome. I couldn’t recommend the book more.

Very well written

I purchased this audiobook because I followed this story with interest years ago as it unfolded. While much of the details has now faded from my memory, I remember the frustration I felt with Casey Anthony was found not guilty. I really appreciate the wonderful retelling of this story. It was riveting!

So Disappointed in our System of Justice

There was very little information that was new to me in the book, but I really followed the case closely while it was happening. It was news to me that Casey blamed everything on George and that her Attorney's tried to get her to accept a plea.
For anyone who is unfamiliar with the case this is a very succinct and detailed retelling of the entire case. It is well told by Jeff Ashton as narrator. I appreciate his candor and his humor in his retelling of the story.
My disappointment in our justice system is in the fact that Jose Baez can get up there and brazenly lie about the facts of the case, then not support his lies AT ALL with any testimony what so ever. But his so doing caused enough confusion for the jury that they felt they could not make a decision. I thought a trial was an effort to find the truth, not an effort to confuse with lies and deceit presented as facts.

Glad he and Lisa Pulizer wrote it.

It's a great story. I side with the defense on evidence, so I enjoyed listening to Ashton lose again.

Be warned: If you want more incriminating evidence to be part of this book, you'll be disappointed. Nothing new is here revealed.

Great book for wanting in the minds of the prosecution’s case

I don’t have one complaint. Mr. Ashton did very well in explaining not only the details of the case, but the path they took to conviction and what might have went wrong. I had no doubt in my mind that Casey Anthony killed her daughter, and this book just solidified it. I was young when then happened and I remember then and now what a loss the whole world felt. I hope that little girl knows how much she is loved and missed dearly and it’s despicable that her own mother would betray all the love and trust that little girl had for her mom. I wish Casey nothing but the absolute worst in her life following what she has done, and I hope she thinks about it everyday.

Clearly written, detailed and concise

I've been wondering for years how 12 people could have gotten it so wrong and acquitted a murderer. Spoiler alert: this book clearly explains how it was determined, beyond a reasonable doubt, that Caylee Anthony was definitely murdered. It describes all the ways that Casey Anthony sought to cover up the crime, probably knew that her daughter was dead, may or may not have known her whereabouts, and partied like crazy after her daughter disappeared. They proved, beyond a reasonable doubt, that Casey Anthony was a compulsive liar and a horrible person. But the prosecution never clearly established the connection between Casey herself and Caylee's death. They never prove that Casey committed the murder. The reader is left wondering if one of Casey's boyfriends could have been the perpetrator. I TOTALLY get how 12 jurors could acquit Casey Anthony. All they could show was that she was likely guilty of hiding Casey's murder through a web of lies and deception. Did Casey do it? Probably, but I would have acquitted her, too.
Aside from a few "slow" spots with maybe a little too much detail about the jurors, I could barely stop listening. I kept waiting for the smoking gun that never came. A well-told story from someone who still thinks the jurors didn't have the IQ's to process the forensic evidence presented to them when, in reality, it simply failed to connect Casey directly to the act of murder itself.

Interesting

I found Jeff Ashton a compelling element in this trial. His passion for justice in this case was infectious. I loved his speaking style and voice.

Unfortunately, his narration falls a little flat. Sometimes he really "gets going" and the spark I found so enjoyable to listen to is there. More often, he sounds like he is reading something he is only mildly familiar with.

The review of the case is interesting, the "behind the scenes" is interesting. I was just expecting a little more from this book. Worth listening to but not as great as I had hoped.

Riveting

I binged and listened to this over 2 days. Fascinating. Well-constructed, good performance. Never boring.

Can’t stop listening

Like so many people this, I won’t ever forget this case. The author takes us step by step into what happened in the courtroom. Great book.