I love science of any sort. I love to learn. Science is fun!
Today I got a rare treat in the Casey Anthony trial, science that I have a grounding in. Having spent more than three decades as a computer nerd, and having been involved in a couple of court cases involving the Nerding Arts, this was an area that I found riveting.
It never fails to amaze me as to how unaware people are about what happens on their computers and cell phones.
Digital Forensics is a science that some claim in someways is still in its infancy, but it grows in stature and importance every single day.
I listened with interest as the prosecution started the march. In fact I said to my wife Jan, wait for it, they are going to start talking about ‘Write Blockers’, sure enough, two minutes later the subject came up. I doubt that many people have even heard the term, let alone have one in their arsenal of computer junk at home. Of course my junk pile is compendious. If you want to find out more about Write Blockers here is a review. Well, the way I look at it, you never know when you might need one.
In simple terms digital evidence is like any other evidence. It must be secured and preserved. The mere act of powering on a computer can taint the data.
Today’s court activity showed the great lengths that investigators went to to preserve the digital foot print. In my opinion defense lawyer Jose Baez was simply out matched. It was in someways humorous to watch the relentless beating being meted out. I was reminded of a great Bill Gates quote, ‘Be nice to nerds, because one day you may find yourself working for one’.
The prosecution played a sensible hand, get the nerd on and off the stand as quickly and painlessly as possible. Nerd testimony only appeals to fellow nerds (oops that would be me). Jury’s don’t dig nerds, they get way too complex in discussing nerd stuff. Jose Baez on the other hand seems bound and determined to dwell in the nerd world. This may be a bad play. Jose Baez can’t even spell the word nerd, so the nerds are eating him alive.
I am waiting for Jose Baez to ask Judge Perry to declare a mistrial on the grounds that the nerds don’t play fair.
I am sure that he scored equally poorly in discrediting the air samples experts, and the cadaver dogs. But those areas are outside of my arena. But to get beaten senseless by nerds, now that’s a problem!
Simon Barrett
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12 users commented in " Casey Anthony Trial – The Nerds Take The Stand "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackIf there were 84 hits on Firefox for scispot.com
did the computer keep track of the incidences up until the time the computers were handed over to law enforcement which might exclude time outside the history that John Bradley was asked to review? Also, the number 84 does not reflect the actual time for each hit. Where would these other hits show up?
Sadly, though I’m sure you’re right about the primacy of Nerd vs Baez in the logical world, to us non-nerds this didn’t necessarily come across in the courtroom. Follow Twitter during evidence & you’ll see how many people were nodding off/zoning out, & speculating on whether the jury were doing the same. The prosecutor seemed to find it hard to get the (undoubtedly good, honourable & intelligent) nerd to anticipate the need to speak in non-nerd to the jury: she almost had to beseech him to spell things out at various points. Compare what was made of his testimony, both by defense & prosecution, to what was made of the dog handler’s, & you might agree that out of pity to non-nerds such as me, & more to the point in the interests of justice, it would be good to have expert nerd witnesses who were better at translating articulating their knowledge to the non-nerd world.
I agree that I found myself talking to the TV saying ” please repeat in laymans terms”. I think that the whole issue of some things being typed searches and others being clicks from results or links was made so confusing and vague. Plus the ads , plus the misspellings. Geez I totally got it but was worried about the jury on this one. Lets face it jurors aren’t always hip on technology.
I really wish the individual giving testimony had been more like the dog handler or the body lab guy and didn’t just stick to ask and answer testimony but took the opportunity to INFORM.
This tragedy has bothered me from day one of hearing about it.The total truth is an innocent childs life was ended far to soon.Absolute proof of skeletal remains of child and dental records confirms idenity, not to include the evidence of foul play. Lets all pray that justice will prevail for little angel Caylee Anthony..
Good thing there’s an IT guy on the jury right?
Hello Simon,and Jan.Simon i though you may like the computor testimoney.As i have heard you speak about things to do with computors before.I found this interesting also.That so much could be found out about the sites hit,and how many times hit.Nothing is hid,it can all be found out.
I myself liked Dr Vass.He has that excitement about what he does.Im sure by now,20 yrs of work with the deceased(decomp) he knows the smell well.The air test he got excited explaining.Like a kid with a new game.Baezs thinks the can mix up will blow his testimony.But i think its a mistake that can happen.It believe dr Vass doesnt see well up close(glasses for reading),as he was trying to read a paper Baezs put before him.He saw Vass struggling trying to read it,yet Baezs kept pulling it further away from him.Simple mistake with the markings because of sight in mop.
I always wanted to work in homicide.Missed my calling.Im to old for it now,the schooling.
I like dogs so i to found the dog handlers testimony interesting.I did like the video of when the mans dog found,and alerted to the deceaced in the dark in water(near the retention pond).Also Bones had a perfect record for detection,the womans dog.Im sure they hit on Caylee being placed in the yard deceaced,the scent must have evaporated when the top soil was changed as the dog handler tried to explain
Those infer-red heat sencers used from the helocopter for the video taping on the first dogs alert, are something.Its also amasing how by the heat of our bodies we can be detected,anywhere!.i know American military has used the heat detectors in wars,to find terroist.LOL no one can hide while out where the heat detectors can find them.Its wonderful that dogs can be trained so well to pick up ,and only alert to decomep,bones,or what they are trained to alert to.They are a good tool to use in Cases such as this one.G & B both seemed to be well trained dogs.
So far Baezs is out of his leage tryng to even understand how to question the nerds as you call them.Even though each has broke things down so we may be able to understand some of it.I bet you know just what the computor people are speaking about.Im learning lol.Dr Vass is a cutie to be a nerd sientist. Well i have to go for now.Waving at Jan((~~~~)) and friends miss each of you.I havent been by in a while.
Does anyone know the average age of the jurors. Because, I’m not young by most standards but have owned a computer for over half my life, followed loosely and I found the testamony interesting and easy to follow. If most jurors are closer in age to Casey, then I think they got it and were probably a little board at questioning, breaking things down to dots and tittles. I would have to agree Baez took a beating and he has every day at one point come off as less than smart.
jose,do you really think these jurors beleive that the little lying piece of shit client of yours is the only one that is being railroaded,or is it your make beleive defense that yooumade up that is railroading her right too the electric chair
Tough enough
Average age of jurors is 50. Not even close to Caseys age.
I got the testimony but then again I have daily contact with I Internet searches etc. Some people only use a computer as a very expensive mailbox.
This very important point was made today and all the Media outlets ignored it. Caylee’s bones were tested and she was not given Xanax by her mother, Casey. The Zanny equals Xanax theory is a lie but said so much that people think it is true. Casey Anthony has untreated schizophrenia and it made her helpless child an easy target, whether it be a drowning or a stranger abduction. I wonder why her family, even when accused of terrible things, did not demand that someone evaluate their daughter. Jose Baez is right when he claims that the prosecution throws anything against the wall hoping something will stick. The opposing side started with Xanax.
Marge, they did not say that the tests proved that Xanax was not present in Caylee’s remains. They clarified that the body was too decomposed for conclusive tests. We will probably never know, unless Casey herself tells us. And even if she gave a full confession, who would believe every word of it.
Casey WAS psychologically tested as a requirement to get bond when Padilla was bailing her out. Apparently, she was not judged insane nor found unable to know the difference between right and wrong. I know, who da thunk it? By rights the girl is as selfishly insane as they come.
For sure, her parents should have had her in counseling a long time ago.
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