call that is your client allegedly made to a telephone number that's now belongs to a man named vasco thompsonompson today said he'd never met or spoken to george anthony, didn't know who he was other than what he'd seen on tv. to your knowledge has there ever been any contact between the two men? >> no, mr. cooper. i asked my client point blank, and generally i never talk about attorney-client privilege stuff but he authorized me to say. this he's never met this man, never talked to him, never placed any phone calls to him. >> as you sit in this trial and listen to the defense make all sorts of allegations about your client, about casey's father, george anthony, what goes through your mind? i mean, clearly it seems like day after day they are trying all they can to raise as many questions about george anthony as possible. >> well, that's my own personal battle between being a human being and being an attorney. as an attorney i have to represent my client tellously, but also maintain composure and follow the florida bar rules and the constitution on behalf of my clients. but as a person, it ju

in response, casey's father said, he does not know vasco thompson. hompson may join a long line of witnesses who either helped casey anthony beat the rap against her or helped the state secure the death penalty for her. and i had to do some quick math this morning. the prosecution's case, 18 days, 59 witnesses and 323 pieces of evidence. so, we'll start all over as the first witness takes the stand today. george, they started lining up at 10:30 last night to get into court -- i just have never seen anything like this. >> earlier and earlier, okay. ashleigh, thanks very much. >>> let's bring in the rest of our trial team now. nancy grace host of "nancy grace" on hln and legal analyst dan abrams. thank you for both of you joining us again. nancy, let's start out. vasco thompson, who is he? why would the defense want to call him? >> well, he's a 52-year-old felon. he has a kidnapping conviction, several probation -- parole violation and another arrest. this is who he is. his phone number pops up on george -- father george anthony's cell phone about four

the defense added vasco thompson, a convicted kidnapper.ecords show george anthony called thompson's cell phone number days before casey admitted her daughter was missing. vasco, his attorneys say, has nothing to do with the case. and that the number was not even his where most calls were made. >> i have no dealings with this man. i never heard of casey anthony, caylee anthony, cindy anthony or lee anthony. none of them. >> reporter: george anthony denies any connection to vasco thompson. although thompson is on that witness list, it's not clear whether he'll actually take the stand. no word on who the defense will call today, but, dan and bianna, we will be here for every riveting moment. >> yunji, thank you, this case continues to fascinate. let's go back to ron claiborne with another look at the headlines. >> you know, dan, i really hope that the researchers find a solution to the scourge of gray hair, you know. you wear it well. >> you have the salt and pepper look nailed to a tee. >> yeah, turning salter. >>> good morning, everyone, pe

today the defense will attempt to question a convicted felon named vasco thompson, it's not clear if he judge will allow it. thompson served time for kidnapping. and casey martin's lawyers are trying to link him to their father through cell phone records. george anthony's attorney released a statement saying his client doesn't know thompson. >>> the jury in the casey anthony murder trial could begin deliberations as early as next week. martin savidge is covering the trial in orlando. it happens in the trials where the defense move to get the charges dismissed. to get her acquitted. >> right. pretty much a standard tactic, ali and the who eggs was denied by the judge. the case is moving forward. say what you will about this case and it definitely is a tragic case, but it's also fascinating to watch all the developments. four weeks in, the prosecution comes to a rest here. but not until we've seen a number of dramatic instances take place on the witness stand. one of them took place when you had dr. jan keravaglia, the medical examiner for the state of florida. celebrity status, she has

this is convicted felon vasco thompson. in 1988, he was sent to prison for kidnapping.one records show he was in contact with casey's father on july 14th, 2008. but before he even took the stand, thompson dressed the accusations. >> i have no idea who he s i didn't have that phone number until february of 2009. and i don't know why they got me involved from all this. >> the defense hasn't said what the alleged contact between thompson and casey's father has to do where this case but thompson's denial came as a shock to casey's lawyers. so far no word on who will be called to the stand there's. there's speculation casey accused of killing her two-year- old daughter could testify on her own behalf. >>> a same-sex marriage debate rages in california and new york may be close to making it legal. the new york governor expects lawmakers to approve a bill next week. they're trying to agree to greater protections for religious groups. pastors cannot be sued if they refuse to marry a gay couple. the new york may over says it's time for lawmakers to bring the issue to a vote. >>

who is this vasco thompson? >> this is the big news of the day, brooke.hey intended to call this new witness. they wanted to depose him. and his name is vascal thompson. i'm looking at his record in my hand. he's been accused of kidnapping. the defense alleges he spent ten years in prison for that. of course, now that's a big deal because one of the theorys that has always floated around is that caylee anthony was kidnapped. what's also interesting is that they allege that george anthony was in contact with this person four times. four phone calls on july 14th 2008 just two days before caylee anthony was reported as missing. now george anthony's attorney issued a statement. he said mr. anthony does not know mr. thompson, does not recall speaking to him, does not recall ever receiving phone calls from him. so obviously a very big discrepancy when the defense here is saying that they have george anthony's cell phone records. so i think this is going to be one of the big issues we're going to hear about tomorrow in court. >> okay. and then this is something

the courtroom now, the surprise witness the defense put on its list this week, convicted felon vasco thompsonys, the defense's claim that he's linked to casey anthony's father is a surprise to him, too. >> i have no idea who george anthony is. i just seen him on tv. i never talked to george anthony. i'm not going to say i never -- i don't know him. and the phone number they got in question, i didn't have that phone number until february of '09. and i don't know why they got me involved in all this mess. >> well, yes, one of the witnesses there kind of having his own press conference outside. you're seeing live pictures. this trial, again, as you know, going on right now. live pictures of what's happening there. they have one camera that's always fixed on casey anthony, as you see there. the other one showing a witness on the stand right now. let's turn to david mattingly. he is there with us. david, let's go with what's happening inside the courtroom for a change. it seems like so much is happening outside, but inside the courtroom today, what kind of a day was it for the defense? >> reporter