CBS Show Focus Group 'Acquits' Accused Killer

CBS' "48 Hours Mystery" returns to the Casey Anthony case with a twist this weekend that is causing a furor: The program asks an Orlando focus group if it would acquit the young mother of first-degree murder.

The result of the jury-like group: CBS says most of the 12 people would acquit, according to a posting by The TV Guy, Hal Boedeker at orlandosentinel.com.

The program's unusual approach is "shameful," said Al Tompkins, an instructor at the Poynter Institute, a school for journalists. "We have a system in the United States that works pretty well. It's a system of discovery, of hearings, of cross examinations, and it's worked pretty darn well for a long time. We have no business trying this case."

Anthony, 25, is charged with first-degree murder in the death of her daughter, Caylee. The trial is scheduled to start in May.

"We wanted to do a focus group in the place where it had the most coverage," said Susan Zirinsky, executive producer of "48 Hours Mystery." "The results are shocking."

Defense attorneys Jose Baez and J. Cheney Mason are interviewed in the hour. But they were not involved in the focus group, although they know the outcome, CBS News said. Details about the focus group will be revealed on the show at 10 p.m. Saturday.
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