Court TV Host: Hello everyone...we're about to start our chat with Courttv.com's John Springer about the trial of Joseph Smith.

John Springer: Hi, everybody!

Court TV Host: Hi, John, thanks for joining us.

John Springer: Good to be here. It's been awhile.

Court TV Host: John is joining us from Sarasota...where he's at the courthouse. What's the latest, John?

Question from kk: Tell us the latest news on the case.

John Springer: The prosecution is wrapping up its case against auto mechanic Joseph Smith. They appear to be finishing with tape recordings of phone calls Smith had with relatives following his arrest for the kidnapping and murder of Carlie Brucia. Prosecutors seem to want to leave jurors with Smith's own words. They started with images from a security camera that resemble him. (Boy, I can type fast.) Anyway, the prosecution may rest today.

Question from Cosmo: HI John...was Carlie's mother in court today?

John Springer: We haven't seen here today. She was here yesterday. Carlie's father, Joseph Brucia, has been here every day. I'm not sure who, if anyone, has been here for the defendant.

Question from kiara: John_Springer, is Smith's atty seriously going to implicate John as Carlie's killer? There is a big height difference btw John and Joe, and the video is clearly Joe.

John Springer: Well, they need another suspect. Who better than the guy who led police to the body? Who better than the guy who implicated Joseph Smith? I don't know to what extent that the defense will argue that John was the killer. They will certainly argue that police could have just as easily seized on John as a suspect.

Question from Trisha: And her father...how is he holding up?

John Springer: He is solid as a rock, from what I've seen. He's here to see justice carried out. He doesn't seem overly anxious about the prosecution's ability to win the conviction.

Question from nk: How did the family react to the photos?

John Springer: The family did not see the photos. Nor did the public. Florida is one of the most open in the country in terms of public disclosure. The judge said he wanted to spare the family undue pain. I hope everyone has Court TV or Court TV Extra on. They are about to play the prison tapes.

Question from kiara: John Springer, I have noted that Joe Smith has laughed and smiled during court.....has the jury noticed?

John Springer: Usually when he does that, it's during a recess. He has been stone-faced while the jury has been in the courtroom, as far as I can tell.

Question from raine: John, do you feel that his brother had anything to do with aiding his brother in this kidnapping and murder.

John Springer: I don't know. I wondered that. Wouldn't it be interesting if Smith took the stand and said he and his brother were in on it together and the brother killed Carlie when he wasn't present? I don't think the defense is going that way.

Court TV Host: Hello everyone...

Court TV Host: John's got to listen to the tapes, which I imagine you will want to do as wellHe'll be back in a little while

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John Springer: WARNING: Moderated chat resuming momentarily.

Court TV Host: Yup, John's back! John, what did you make of the tapes?

John Springer: As I said already, they were quite powerful. The jury heard it from Smith in his own words: I messed up. I was on drugs. It was an accident. I never knew the girl before. I tripped up. The defense will have to try to put those comments in some other context, but it will be difficult. There was such emotion in his voice. He clearly wasn't talking about a hit-and-run car accident.

Question from kiara: Welcome John...what type of questions were the jurors asked prior to be chosen for this trial?

John Springer: The usual: what have you read, what do you believe, can you put it aside, can you vote to recommend a death penalty if the case is proven and the aggravatig factors outweigh any mitigating factors that might be presented.

Question from nk: Smith looks so much heavier in court than in the video, what's up with that?

John Springer: Nancy Grace said it best: He's getting "three hots and a cot," a reference to hot meals. As I told Nancy, if I was in jail and suspected of child rape and murder, I'd want to bulk up too.

Question from nyparrot: John: What's up with all these side bars??? Is it the defense's fault? Are they trying to mess up the states witness testimony?

John Springer: The sidebars are a far cry better than sending the jury out all the time, which I've seen in other cases. The defense wants to make sure jurors don't hear anything that is not legally admissible.

Question from Ally: What did Smith tell Carlie to get her to go with him, and not fight?

John Springer: You mean allegedly. I don't know. There was no sound on the security camera video.

Question from Ally: John_Springer, is there a lot of public interest in this trial?

John Springer: Uh, yeah. That's why we're here. That's why they have a limited number of passes to the courtroom each day for public and media. The nation became interested in the case because of the video images. The local community is still in shock that such a thing happened.

Question from LawW: Can you describe the extraordinary security around the defendant in the courthouse?

John Springer: It's not extraordinary, really. I've heard that said, though. It's a major trial, with lots of people in the courtroom, and a defendant facing Death Row if convicted. There are no fewer than eight court security personnel in the courtroom at any one time. And they don't put up with anything. People have to turn in their cell phones upon entering. Talking isn't allowed. The doors are locked during breaks.

Question from Ally: John_Springer, why is it ok to tape prisoners? Was Joseph Smith aware his calls were taped?

John Springer: He seemed to be aware early on. There were signs everywhere and inmates are told. It's permissible as long as a) it's for security purposes b) inmates are informed and c) no conversations with attorneys are monitored.

Question from Terry: Hiya John, forensic testimony is often too technical and boring ... was there any testimony that proves there was sexual assault involved?

John Springer: The medical examiner opined that Carlie was sexually assaulted based on everything he knew about the case, Smith's statements, the crime scene, the condition of the body. He conceded that there was nothing about the body itself that indicated sexual assault, however. The semen on Carlie's shirt and her state of undress seem to be the best evidence of sexual assault, that and Smith's alleged statements to his brother that they had "rough sex."

Court TV Host: John, I know you've got to get back to the trial and write your story for today...any closing thoughts?

John Springer: There seems to be a lot of evidence against Smith. The defense is trying to raise reasonable doubt, but it may not necessarily be to win an acquittal. The defense may later say to the jury during a penalty phase, "Look, we thought there was reasonable doubt. But if you have ANY doubt, don't recommend a death sentence." It's just a theory of mine. That may change after I hear the defense case tomorrow.