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Orlando (CNN) -- The defense is calling the prosecution's use of a graphic video that features a smiling Caylee Anthony with a skull and duct tape superimposed over her face highly prejudicial, saying it only serves to inflame the jurors.
The accusation came in the third week of the trial of Caylee's mother, 25-year-old Casey Anthony, who faces seven counts in her daughter's death, including first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse and misleading investigators.
If convicted, she could face the death penalty. She has pleaded not guilty.
Caylee's cause of death and the condition of her body when discovered months after she was reported missing have been the focus in recent days. The trial is scheduled to resume Saturday.
The defense on Friday argued against allowing the video into court, saying it presented just one of many possible scenarios and would only inflame sentiments among the jurors.
But the prosecution countered, saying it was necessary "to establish the state's theory that this duct tape was sufficient to be the murder weapon."
Orange County Chief Judge Belvin Perry agreed to allow the video into evidence, saying the role of duct tape in the girl's death was "highly relevant."
Perry also denied a mistrial motion made by the defense, related to the video, at the close of Friday's proceedings.
Attorneys for Anthony have said Caylee drowned in the family pool and that Casey Anthony and her father, George Anthony, panicked and tried to cover up the death. George Anthony denied that scenario during his testimony.
Prosecutors allege Anthony used chloroform on her daughter and suffocated her by putting duct tape over the little girl's mouth and nose.
They allege she put her daughter's body in her car trunk before disposing of it. Caylee's skeletal remains were found on December 11, 2008, less than a mile from the home of Anthony's parents.
Earlier Friday, the chief medical examiner in the case said the way in which prosecutors say Caylee's body was discarded left no doubt that the girl was intentionally killed.
Dr. Jan Garvaglia testified that Anthony's failure to report her daughter missing for more than a month was just one of three red flags that strongly indicate foul play.
The others were the discovery of the girl's remains amid black garbage bags in a wooded field -- "tossed in a bag to rot" was her testimony -- and the presence of duct tape on the girl's skull.
On Friday, jurors saw graphic photos of Caylee's bones and heard testimony that they had been gnawed by animals as her body decomposed during as much as six months in the field.
The accusation came in the third week of the trial of Caylee's mother, 25-year-old Casey Anthony, who faces seven counts in her daughter's death, including first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse and misleading investigators.
If convicted, she could face the death penalty. She has pleaded not guilty.
Caylee's cause of death and the condition of her body when discovered months after she was reported missing have been the focus in recent days. The trial is scheduled to resume Saturday.
The defense on Friday argued against allowing the video into court, saying it presented just one of many possible scenarios and would only inflame sentiments among the jurors.
But the prosecution countered, saying it was necessary "to establish the state's theory that this duct tape was sufficient to be the murder weapon."
Orange County Chief Judge Belvin Perry agreed to allow the video into evidence, saying the role of duct tape in the girl's death was "highly relevant."
Perry also denied a mistrial motion made by the defense, related to the video, at the close of Friday's proceedings.
Attorneys for Anthony have said Caylee drowned in the family pool and that Casey Anthony and her father, George Anthony, panicked and tried to cover up the death. George Anthony denied that scenario during his testimony.
Prosecutors allege Anthony used chloroform on her daughter and suffocated her by putting duct tape over the little girl's mouth and nose.
They allege she put her daughter's body in her car trunk before disposing of it. Caylee's skeletal remains were found on December 11, 2008, less than a mile from the home of Anthony's parents.
Earlier Friday, the chief medical examiner in the case said the way in which prosecutors say Caylee's body was discarded left no doubt that the girl was intentionally killed.
Dr. Jan Garvaglia testified that Anthony's failure to report her daughter missing for more than a month was just one of three red flags that strongly indicate foul play.
The others were the discovery of the girl's remains amid black garbage bags in a wooded field -- "tossed in a bag to rot" was her testimony -- and the presence of duct tape on the girl's skull.
On Friday, jurors saw graphic photos of Caylee's bones and heard testimony that they had been gnawed by animals as her body decomposed during as much as six months in the field.