Criminal Justice

Accused Child Killer Casey Anthony Loses Another Lawyer

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Casey Anthony, the central Florida mom accused of murdering her 3-year-old daughter, Caylee, two years ago has lost another defense lawyer.

Andrea Lyon, a DePaul University law professor who specializes in the death penalty, is stepping down strictly for financial reasons, News 13 reported Thursday.

Lyon is the second lawyer to leave the Anthony defense team in less than six months, News 13 reported. Todd Malacuso filed a motion to be removed from the case in April when he was placed on involuntary inactive status by the California State Bar because of his alleged mishandling of client trust account money.

In court papers, Lyon said she had “no choice” but to withdraw from the case after the judge denied a request for taxpayers to foot the bills for her travel expenses.

Lyon, who was paid $22,500 in the 13 months she spent on Anthony’s defense team, said the money didn’t even cover one-third of what she had spent working on the case.

“It’s strictly a fiscal issue,” Jose Baez, Anthony’s lead attorney, told the station.

Anthony’s trial is set to begin next May.

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