Reported By Adam Longo
KISSIMMEE -- We're getting a better idea of the strategies Casey Anthony's lawyers will use when her murder case heads to court.
News 13's Adam Longo spoke exclusively with Jose Baez about their defense as one of the biggest murder trials in Orange County history gets closer.
An Osceola County man, who was accused of murder, walked out of court a free man last Monday. His lawyer was Jose Baez, Casey Anthony's lawyer. News 13 talked to Baez to try to learn what tactics he employed in the courtroom in this case that he might also use in the case of a mother accused of killing her daughter, Caylee Anthony.
"The only thing I remember when I wake up, I was in the hospital, and the next thing I know, the next day I was in jail," said Rafael Contreras, who was acquitted of attempted murder.
Contreras has two young daughters. He used to be a truck driver. In February 2008 he was thrown in jail for attempted first degree murder. He spent 20 months in jail and got out on Monday.
"I feel like .. it's really unbelievable," Contreras said.
"I saw a lot of problems with the state's case," Baez said.
Contreras' family hired Baez last summer after firing their first attorney. Contreras proclaimed his innocence and rejected a plea deal from the state.
"They asked him, 'The offer is 20 years in prison, do you want to take it?' His answer was no. ... He's facing life," Baez said.
In court, the state argued Contreras had been thrown out of a Kissimmee bar, returned with a gun and shot the owner. the prosecution had eight eyewitnesses, but Baez and his team broke down the state's case piece by piece.
He showed the jury a side-by-side photo of Contreras (see slideshow in this story), who had been severely beaten, and his alleged target, who did not appear in the photo to be as badly injured. The defense asked, "Who's really the victim?"
The defense told the jury Contreras was beaten severely by other men inside the bar, and that the man who was shot set the whole thing up after learning Contreras was having an affair with his wife.
The defense highlighted an expert who said the alleged target's wound was consistent with being self-inflicted. Forensic scientists pointed to blood spatter evidence as proof the man was lying.
"You always put your heart and soul into a case and I don't think the arguments would be as persuasive if you didn't," Baez told Longo.
The defense had thousands of pictures, charts, graphs, a picture of a muzzle burn on the alleged victim's face that they said was self-inflicted.
During his 20 months in jail, Contreras said it was Baez who kept his spirits up.
"Well, I was down and he was always giving me hope, like, 'Don't worry, trust me, everything's going to come out OK," Contreras said.
"These people put their lives in your hand and they trust in you and that's not something you should take lightly," Baez said.
What's next for Contreras?
"Trying to get my job back, start from zero," Contreras said.
Contreras now has his life back. He said his faith kept him strong.
"I put my hope in the Lord and him [Baez] that he's going to do the right job, and he did. We came out with the victory," Contreras said.
As a prelude to the approaching trial of Casey Anthony, Baez told News 13 that with her, and with all of his clients, if the state wants to convict his clients, they will have to work harder than they ever have before.
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