Anthony trial may move south

A change of venue motion has been filed in the murder trial of Casey Anthony.   On Monday afternoon, lead defense attorney Jose Baez filed the motion at the Orange County Courthouse in order to get the high profile case moved out of Central Florida to a venue in South Florida.  The decision now rests with Judge Stan Strickland of the Ninth Circuit Court.

Baez cited what he perceived as sensational media coverage as one of the reasons for moving the trial.

"There have been overzealous journalists who have gone beyond reporting the news and instead are making the news," said Baez in a news conference on Monday. "Both sides, the State Attorney's Office and Casey, are seeking justice,"  he added.

Baez also said that the community was too closely tied to the case to present an impartial jury, citing friends and associates of the Anthony family, volunteers who came out to search for the missing Caylee and the throngs of people who have held numerous vigils and memorials for the toddler.  "The case has become deeply embedded in this community."

Baez initially intended to keep the location of the trial sealed, "but after extensive research, the defense believed it should not make that request, in good faith," said Baez.

When asked if he expected a different dynamic among possible jurors in South Florida, Baez responded, "We don't believe we can avoid finding people who have not heard about this case."

"I can't imagine finding 12 people somewhere in the state that are not aware of allegations and some of the evidence or haven't seen it," said criminal defense attorney, Diana Tennis. "I'm not sure you'd want those people on a jury anyway."

Tennis explained while Baez filed the motion asking for Miami, it doesn't mean he'll get it. It's up to the judge to decide if the case will be moved out of Orange County and, if it is moved, where it will go.

So why South Florida?  "First it has the largest population, combined with the 7th lowest coverage out of 10 media markets that Florida has," Baez said. "So, if you combine those two aspects, South Florida is the best place to have the opportunity to get an impartial jury."

Anthony is charged with killing her 2-year-old daughter Caylee.  Law enforcement workers and volunteers spent months looking for the girl after she was reported missing in July of last year.  Caylee Anthony's remains were found in a wooded area of East Orange County in December 2008.
 

FOX 35 Reporter Holly Bristow contributed to this report