Casey Anthony Update: Judge Upholds Fifth Amendment Right To Keep Mum

By Barbara Liston

ORLANDO, Fla, Dec 30 (Reuters) - Casey Anthony can refuse to answer questions about the 2008 death of her 2-year-old daughter Caylee while she appeals her convictions related to the child's passing, a Florida judge has ruled.

Anthony, 25, was found not guilty in July of killing Caylee, but is appealing convictions on four charges of lying to detectives in the case.

One of the convictions was for falsely claiming that Caylee was kidnapped by a nanny named Zenaida Fernandez-Gonzalez.

A woman named Zenaida Gonzalez has sued Casey Anthony for defamation. In October, Anthony asserted her constitutional right to remain silent and avoid incriminating herself when she was questioned about the death under oath by lawyers in the suit.

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Gonzalez's lawyers then asked Judge Lisa Munyon to order Anthony to talk. But Munyon denied their request in a ruling issued on Thursday.

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