Caylee's mom wants murder charge dropped

ORLANDO, Fla., Oct. 1 (UPI) -- Lawyers for a Florida woman charged with killing her 2-year-old daughter want to stop prosecutors from seeking the death penalty, court documents indicated.

The lawyers for Casey Anthony also asked a judge to drop first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse charges against the 23-year-old mother, the motions filed Wednesday said.

Anthony's attorneys said prosecutors are using the death penalty to "gain a strategic advantage," but they can't prove first-degree murder was committed or that Anthony ever abused Caylee, the Orlando (Fla.) Sentinel reported.

"Specifically, the state cannot establish whether Caylee Anthony's death was accidental, natural or the result of an intentional or negligent homicide," one of their motions said.

Authorities allege Anthony killed Caylee in the summer of 2008. The toddler was reported missing July 15, 2008. Her remains were found in December less than a mile from her family home.

The death was ruled a homicide, but a cause was never released.