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Tom Tingle/Pool via AP
Jodi Arias answers written questions from the jury during her murder trial March 7.
In three long and bizarre weeks on the stand, Arizona murder suspect Jodi Arias said little that would convince 12 jurors she was acting in self-defense when she shot and knifed her lover — but she may have saved her own life by testifying, legal experts said.
Many attorneys who have closely followed the sensational, sex-drenched case say they would be stunned if Arias isn't convicted of murder and the real question is whether she will escape execution.
"This is not a case about guilt and innocence. This is a case about death and life," said Mel McDonald, a former judge and federal prosecutor who is now a Phoenix defense lawyer.
"I don't think the defense had a choice," he said. "Before she took the stand, she established herself as a serial liar, as someone who murders a man and goes to bed with another guy the next day. Every part of her was so dark. They had nothing to lose."
Arias, 32, contends she killed boyfriend Travis Alexander in 2008 when he attacked her after a sex romp, but she initially told police she knew nothing about his death and later tried to pin the slaying on masked intruders. She portrayed the victim as an abusive brute with a kinky interest in young boys.
But prosecutors say it was a premeditated killing steeped in jealousy. An autopsy showed she stabbed Alexander more than two dozen times, slit his throat, shot him in the forehead and left him in the shower for five days while she tried to cover her tracks, taking time out for a passionate encounter with another man.
With no one to corroborate Arias' version of events — and nude photographs from his digital camera undercutting her timeline — her lawyers took a risk by calling her as a witness.
"The problem is, once she's up there, you as her counsel lose control," said Phoenix defense lawyer Julio Laboy.
Prosecutors were able to corner her with inconsistencies. In often-graphic testimony, Arias described Alexander, a Mormon, as the aggressor. They confronted her with X-rated text messages that suggested she was a more-than-willing participant.
Hard-nosed deputy county attorney Juan Martinez was relentless in his cross-examination of Arias, even shouting at her, but experts said she may have squandered any sympathy with her smirking responses.
"Her demeanor on the stand was demonstrative of a person who has some personality disorder," Laboy said. "The jury takes away from that, 'Oh, here's another different version of Jodi.'"
Arizona allows jurors to grill defendants, and those who will decide her fate had plenty to ask: they submitted 220 written questions, many focusing on the apparent lies she'd told and the gaps in her memory about what happened the day of the killing.
"They don't seem to like her very much," said defense lawyer Richard Gierloff, who noted one juror even asked Arias if she could define the word "skank," which Alexander allegedly called her, according to her testimony.
But Gierloff and other lawyers noted that Arias doesn't need all of the jurors to like her — she only needs one to feel enough of a connection that they will be reluctant to vote for the death penalty.
So while Gierloff thinks Arias' 18-day stand was far too long, Laboy said there may have been a method to the madness.
"She had 18 days of eye contact with the jury. Even when she was admitting she lied in the past, she did so with eye-to-eye contact," Laboy said. "She needs just one juror to think, 'I can't kill this person, she has sat here with me for 18 days.'"
Under Arizona law, all 12 jurors must agree on the death penalty. If they can't, prosecutors can empanel a second jury, or even a third, for a do-over of the penalty phase. If the third jury is hung, the judge will decide between 25 years to life or life with no possibility of parole.
Before the sentencing, the defense usually tries to show there are enough mitigating factors that Arias' life should be spared, and puts on witnesses to back up those claims.
But don't expect Arias, if she is convicted of first-degree murder, to reprise her turn as star defense witness.
"It will avail a defendant nothing to get up on the stand and testify about what a miserable, rotten life they've had," Gierloff said.
Former prosecutor Karen Desoto and Legal analyst Lisa Green share their insights on the Jodi Arias murder trial with MSNBC's Alex Witt.
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If the jury is foolish enough to buy her lies, perhaps. After the Casey Anthony verdict nothing surprises me anymore.
Most of the people with whom I have spoken who are carefully following the trial thinks she deserves the death penalty.
Get off this site. We are talking about a trial here you stupid idiot
The pictures her camera accidentally took show him laying in the shower with blood on him. How was she in fear of her life?
I'm against the death penalty, but if this judge/jury can't see life without parole, our justice system is truly in a world of hurt.
She should get the death penalty, no question. I just hope the jury is aware of the different sides she's capable of, how she'll try and be fragile and demure with her attorneys and a snarky know it all (to put it nicely) with Juan Martinez. When he was grilling her about the actual murder, she was like a robot, void of all emotion, like a Stepford wife. She's not sorry for what she did and I haven't seen any sign of real remorse, I see fake crying, no tears. I think Martinez, has shown pre mediation, hopefully, the jury is still alert and does the right thing.
"18 days of eye contact"? Knowing a psychopath and sympathizing with one are two completely different ideas. I mean from what was stated she seems like a living being, but she is definitely not a civilized person
Burn the witch at the stake. If this jury doesn't, they've got 2 more tries to get it done and I can't believe 3 panels won't do it.
R U Kidding me? She is done. The gas cans, the photos, the blood evidence, the gun, the knife, and the 3 gas purchases? You think that she's got someone on the jury that will let her off the death penalty? Sounds like hopeful feminism run amok. Any man doing this to a women would get the death penalty.
Im tired of women getting the feminine discount. We are tired of women preaching equality but only willing to accept it when it benefits them. A lesson learned. Now it's time to side with us men and get our justice system back. We'll all benefit from it.
Death is a big deal lady. I would hold the whole process up out of the same principle of a "sincere" juror who didn't believe in the death penalty. By NOT killing her we're saying we are more evolved and bigger than her. Think about it...if you think death is a good punishment than you are no different than her. You're no different than she is for pulling that trigger when she was mad at Travis that night. Death is suddenly about vengeance instead of justice. LOOK IN THE MIRROR BEFORE YOU SPEAK!! By voting for her death you are a murderer...
The problem is after a few years she will have a yoga and voice recording studio along with her congenial jail visits. Is that punishment for the slaughter she did? Oh, and it will all be on YOURS, mine and the taxpayers expense. This will be a compasionate mercy killing trust me!
She will probably get off just like Casey Anthony.
It wouldn't surprise me if at least one juror made that very comment and votes to acquit. It also wouldn't surprise me if one said something similar to get her out of the death penalty. In fact I doubt she will get the death penalty. That's just my own opinion though. Juries tend to be softer on women then men and she has a certain vulnerable look to her that some people will eat up.
I think this woman went crazy when he wouldn't change his mind and take her to Cancun and she killed him because she was furious. I think she had been listening to his voicemails and reading his emails. She said that sometime in May they had agreed to not get into each other's emails and voicemail. This is why she didn't know that he and Mimi where just friends because Mimi had told Travis a week or so before the planned trip that she didn't want to be girlfriend only a friend and gave him the option to take someone else. Jodi wasn't aware. She had to have felt like a fool at his funeral when she became aware that Travis and Mimi were just friends. I think he could date other women but for him to take Mimi on a trip was more than she could bear because everyone in the Ward would be aware that Travis had moved on with his life.
She deserves nothing less than the death penalty,the chair or the needle.No waiting six months to do it,as soon as she's found guilty,get rid of her and have it on t.v. She loves the limelight and plays for the camera.Yes it was premeditated.She's a sick individual and such a liar.She's a freak,seemed to be proud of the sexual acts they performed on each other,didn't mind him ejaculating in her face but it made her eyes sting sometimes. Get her off of the planet soon.Her lawyer is boring and lacks legal skills,this must be him and his femals partners first case.The guy today sounded like he was pushing his books.Nancy came up with the scoop on him in N.J. He's not all he claims to be either.Where did the confused and biased judge come from?There will be a movie about this tragedy.
Jodi was on a roll... she rushes out to purchase a 9mm, because she claims she wanted it for protection while going on a camping trip with all guys and she didn't really know them that well. Why not stay home and not even take that chance, especially after her "claims" [cough, cough] of how she defended herself with Travis and had just killed him!! Excuse my expression, but poor Travis wasn't even cold yet, and she was prepared to go and kill again!!
Indicative of a Serial Killer, if you ask me! She should NEVER be allowed to walk amongst us ever, again!!
Comparing Jodi Arias to Casey Anthony is comparing apples to oranges. The State of Florida did a great job of showing that Caylee was murdered, but there was no concrete evidence linking Casey directly to the crime. The entire case against her was circumstantial. Jodi Arias has not only confessed to killing Travis, but there is concrete DNA evidence that puts her at the scene AND contradicts her sequence of events. There's far more substantial evidence in this case - plus we have a confession.
Jodi may not get first degree/the death penalty, but she's definitely going to be convicted of something. Under the Arizona law of self-defense, it's stipulated that the person cannot use "excessive force" to defend themselves for their claim to be legally valid. The disparity between Travis' and Jodi's injuries from that altercation alone proves that Jodi used excessive force. She's done.
.....quite the cold sore (????) she's sporting.......
Looks like a herpes sore to me. As soon as that appeared on her lip, the SKANK comment became clearer.
HSV1 or 2?
My pig of a mother-in-law got cold sores on her mouth and would kiss my kids right square on the lips while sporting those nasty things. Now both of my kids have gotten cold sores ever since they were very small. I didn't realize my mother-in-law was doing that until I caught her once and by then it was too late. My mother-in-law was a nurse and should have known better. Disgusting.
A 'cold sore' passed on no doubt by Travis Alexander.
Is no one else bothered by his lies, his hypocrisy, his selfishness, his ego, the way he manipulated and used people? He reminds me of Scott Peterson.
There are so many things wrong with how their relationship played out that the death penalty would be inappropriate.
Even if Travis was the worst boyfriend on the planet, doesnt mean he deserved to be shot, stabbed 29 times and have his throat slit from ear to ear. And the only person who has testified about his alleged abuse and manipulation is crazy Jodi, who lies every time she opens her mouth!! Jodi is clearly a psychopath and feels no guilt or remorse. I hope that the Arizona jury is smarter than the florida jury and doesnt let this crazy person back onto the streets.
Hey Tom
All cold sores are herpes.
Jkatze: The only evidence - substantial or circumstantial - to show that Travis was manipulative or abusive is what comes out of Jodi's mouth. Given how awful her track record is with telling the truth, why would you lend her word any credence to begin with? Juries are specifically instructed to ignore parts or all of a witness's testimony on the stand if they're shown to be lying. The evidence in this case speaks for itself without Jodi trying to explain it away to us through a series of convenient coincidences.
Just for the record, I don't think there's anybody commenting who thinks Travis was perfect. No human being is. We just don't think Travis deserved to be slaughtered over it. Every woman has had a relationship with someone who they felt used them or didn't treat them well. That isn't legal justification for murder. No matter how dis-likable someone is.. you don't reserve the right to kill them over it. Period.
AMEN!!
If the jury is anything like the Casey Anthony morons, she's going to walk.
The prosecution could not prove guilt ..... what is your problem?
As we found out in Florida, a jury is made up of people who are not smart enough to get out of jury duty! Nothing surprises me anymore about jury verdicts.....remember O.J.?
I've been on a jury. The verdict is based on the personality of the prosecuting or defense attorney. Evidence doesn't mean a thing. I'm guessing that after that much time, the jury is really pssed at someone.
She may well get away scot-free with murder. With a jury of your inferiors rendering the verdict, just about anything is possible, as has certainly been proven over the decades.
What other parts of the Constitution do you scorn?
She's a classic sociopath and has no place on earth. Her lack of conscience would allow her to massacre others if she would be found not guilty. That's pretty unlikely. We can't have another crazy jury, can we?
I heard that before the trial started she said she was much too beautiful to be convicted. Beautiful?
Beautiful?... I just don't see it...
It seems to me that they were both scum and need to be culled from the general population.
Scum, why? Because they liked sex? If you took a pole, I think you'd find that anal sex. role-playing and voyeurism (sp?) is very much quite common in today's society. Just because you don't participate in such activities does not mean it's not normal or healthy for a relationship. Sex is between two willing, consenting adults (which they both were) and anything they did behind closed doors (or out on the porch) is no ones business but their own. Enjoy your dull missionary position night after night and leave everyone else alone.
...took a pole...Freudian slip?????
.....or clever pun??????
Getting life in prison without parole..is a death sentence. But killing someone with a shot to the head is one thing..then stabbing the hell out of the corpse 27 times is another. Give her the chair,sofa,bed whatever and get her off this planet!
No doubt she did it..she admitted to shooting him..well did you leave honey and someone else came in and stabbed him 27 times to make sure he's dead?
Really hoping this is a smart and attentive jury. After 18 days of listening to her, I seriously doubt they'll deliberate very long. They have got to be so sick of her and her unbelievable demeanor while on the stand with the prosecuting attorney, who did such an excellent job of showing premeditation in this case.
Why should her fate be any other than that of her victim? Of course, she will never suffer the brutal violence that she imposed on him. So, either way, it will be a much easier (out) for her.
Putting someone to death costs the govt more than holding them for life without parole, just so you vengeance selfish "conservatives" understand. Aside from that, Jesus, both the leading prosecutor and defense attorney involved in this case totally sucked. Granted, the defense didn't have much of a position to work with, but the prosecutor kept letting Arias control the room and he was forever getting sucked into jr high level smartazz whizfests with her. Focus on one thing son; premeditation. THAT'S the point. You do not travel to commit self defense. The sex stuff has no bearing. Even if he beat her, no bearing. She was far away, and she snuck back. End of story.
The cost to incarcerate one is more expensive ONLY if they have automatic appeal rights. Otherwise, I wouldn't think the serium would cost much more than a couple hundred dollars.
I agree with you that it was premeditated murder. Early on, it came out that he told her he was not taking her to Cancun. I believe she gave him one last chance to take her and when he said no, she used the knife in her pocket and the gun in her purse which belonged to grandpa.
Virgil V, no need to be ugly with regard to conservatives. I am one, and I do not believe in the death penalty or abortion. So life without parole would be the best sentence for her in my opinion.
I've got news for you. when you count the money going to the lawyers who file appeal after appeal after appeal the death penalty is a joke. A vote for the death penalty is a vote to blow millions of public money on greedy lawyers. By the way, if the death penalty was really carried out in a reasonable time (say one month)
I would be a fanatical supporter
Exactly. Much cheaper to put her in prison for life without parole. Let her think about what she did for a long, long time.
How could Arias slash Alexanders throat? That was the question searing in my mind for this whole trial. How a small little girl, could slash this guys throat from ear to ear ? It just didn't seem plausible, yet it was/is a FACT. SHE DID SLASH HIS THROAT EAR TO EAR. Period.
I've been vexed by this from the beginning, but please hear me out, I believe the fact that she slashed his throat ear to ear, is actally the key to "proving", her claim to self defense.
Here we go.
Arias is taking pictures and drops the camera, Travis comes out of the shower, and because he's an ex wrestler, body slams her with no trouble.
Arias rolls over and runs away, Travis yelling "@!$%#ing kill you bitch", ringing in her ears.
Travis gets up, kicking the camera down the hall, as he chases Arias in a blind rage.
Arias, making it to the closet, and the gun , grabs the gun and retreats once again to the bathroom.
At this point Travis comes charging out of the closet door like a raging bull and somehow, the gun goes off.
Both Travis and Arias collapse in the bathroom and once again Arias takes flight down the hall (possibly kicking the camera FURTHER down the hall).
She grabs the knife from the bedroom, turns around, and Travis is on his way.
Arias begins flailing wildly with the knife, stabbing Travis a multitude of times to his frontal area.
Travis falls/slips to the floor, and at this point the camera is kicked/triggered, and takes the photo of Travis on the floor with Arias' foot in the shot.
She is standing over him.
Now, HERE is the KEY.
Travis once again gets up (probably yelling some obsenities) .But instead of turning to confront Arias, HE GOES FOR THE GUN!!!! (I'M GONNA BLOW YOUR HEAD OFF YOU @!$%#ING BITCH !!!)
Arias realizing the danger, begins chase Travis back into the bathroom stabbing him repeatedly in the back and head. But nothing is stopping him. He's going to make it to the gun !!
HOW DID ARIAS GET BEHIND HIM TO GET SUCH A DEEP SLICE OF THE THROAT FROM EAR TO EAR ?!!!!
Simple.
Travis still mobile and running for the gun had to BEND DOWN TO PICK IT UP. That is when Arias, realizing even the stabbings weren't stopping him, did the only thing left to do. Jump on his back, and cut his throat from ear to ear, to make sure, he stopped.
The reason Arias was able to slit Travis' throat from ear to ear is because at the time he had his throat sliced he was BENDING OVER, to pick up the gun that was still on the bathroom floor.
If she just wanted to kill the guy all of a sudden after they were having sex and taking photos, it wold have been way easier just to blow his head off while he was sitting in the shower.
Arias is innocent.
That small little girl put a bullet in his head before she slashed his throat ear to ear..not that hard to do if the person is already DEAD!
That makes no sense. She could have just put 2 in his skull while he was sitting down. The only reason blood extends from the bathhroom to bedroom is becase he obviously had to be moble.
What are you trying to say? She shot him, THEN decided to stab him on one side, flip him over, stab him some more on the other side, and then slice his throat? Are you joking? How come there are defense wounds if she blew his head off?
wake up
Jvip Mia..did you take you meds today as the doctor ordered you to do?
I think she dropped the camera, and was pushed, and assaulted. It's obvious she feared for her life. Most of those stab wounds appeared to be superficial, and they were in random places. If someone was being chased by an angry man, and they got a hold of a knife they would try to defend themselves. If I were being attacked by a huge man I would defend myself with any means possible. I am a small woman, and if attacked, or if I was afraid of being attacked I would defend myself. Noone else can swear that she didn't fear for her life because noone else was there.
@jvip Mia, exactly! She was obviously defending herself. It's clear to be that she was attacked. If it was premeditated she would have hid the camera, and washed off her prints. Her actons were that of someone in shock, and denial. If I feared for my life I would fight back like a tiger to survive.
Oh FreeTheMustangs that is why Travis had defense wounds all over his hands and arms. Do you look at those pictures? She was attacking and he was trying to get away and all along was trying to defend his self from this evil women. If she was defending herself she would of called 911 and the police could take pictures of her, but no she only got a broken finger which she never took a picture of. The only picture she had was acut on a finger she said she done where she worked. COMMON SENSE here.
Mia The blood came from her dragging him to the bathroom, then putting him in the shower. If you think she is so innocent, then why put him in the shower and try and clean the crime area. Leave a palm print and DNA. 911 should of been called if she was defending herself
There was never a gun in the closet, Arias stole her grandfather's gun and brought that with her. I thought that was made pretty clear from the testimony.
well i was not there so i'm not qualified to say what actually happened, but it would appear that she is a few bricks shy of a full load......but that does not mean she actually guilty, unless they can prove her intent to kill beforehand. She is playing it like the pro she is, if she planned it all i hope the jury sees that and hands down the proper punishment .
Rubbed salt on an open wound by sending the grandmother who raised him and loved him Irises.She hates her parents.I wish theyed be called and tell what she was like while living with them.Surprised she hasn't accused her father of sometype of sex offense.
dumba$$
jvip Mia,
REALLY???!!! All in 62 seconds????? Your as crazy as she is. With people such as you as potential jurors, we all have a great deal to worry about!!!! I am a TRULY abused exwife and had suffered REAL childhood abuse. Jodi Arias (as well as Casey Anthony) make me sick hiding behind FALSE accusations of abuse. I dont claim to know what goes on behind closed doors, but, I do know and recognize real symptoms of abuse from experience. There is no way in hell you could convince me (or pay me) to go within 5 miles of my ex-husband, never mind 1000 miles!!!! For ignorant people like you, all anyone has to do is mention abuse and POOF - they're automatically innocent of all charges (no matter how ridiculous their story)! And the experts can only be relied on IF what they are being told is the TRUTH - which we all know the answer to that!!! Please keep your moronic opinions to yourself. Thanks.
I am not following the trial...sick of it. But her lawyers did a good job of making her look rather dowdy with the bangs and ugly eye glasses. If they don't want to give her the death penalty....give her life and send her sorry ruthless butt to jail.
They did the school marm thing for Casey Anthony too.
That explains the photo with her foot in it 62 seconds after the bathroom photos, why he had stab wounds to his head and back, and how she could have possibly gotten behind himand head the height leverage, to slit his throat.
She probably slit his throat when he was down and already dead
I wonder when the US will join the rest of the civilized world, and abolish the death penalty for the barbaric sentence that it is.
The death penalty has nothing to do with how bad or evil the person sentenced to it is, its a reflection of the society that uses it.
I would rather get the needle and just go on to the next afterlife (whatever it is, and if you think there is one) that be locked up in a jail cell for the rest of my life. Imagine looking at an 8 x 10 jail cell and thinking that this is all I will see for the rest of my life. Now, if it was a slow and painfull death, I'd have a more cowardly decision.
If I was on that jury, this woman would be hanging. I have heard the same testimony as the jury. What the prosecution should do is show an hour's worth of the murder scene at the very end of the trial so the "O.J." jurors who fell in love with this woman will get another view of what she did.
i say offer her life without parole and get this crap off tv.the man is dead ,she admits she killed.less time has been spent on trying serial killers and less tv time.
I agree to the life in prison with no parole. She would have to sit there and think of what she did the rest of her life. Putting her to death would be to easy for her
Defense team (aka Arias) filed in 2010 a motion offering a plea to 2nd degree, with no more than 20 years. This motion stated it will be VERY difficult for state to prove premeditation, and should she go to trial charged w/ premed 1st degree murder ~ what Jodi will testify to in her defense will cause "collateral damage and undue pain to Travis' friends and his siblings".
Basically she threatened she'd drag his name thru hell & back, and take down (verbally) everyone she possibly can, in her effort to escape a life w/out parole or death verdict. THAT'S where all this BS about domestic violence & his issues with pedophilia were concocted - by Jodi only.
"If I'm forced to swirl the drain then I'll take Travis' reputation & his family with me" ~ pretty much sums up her plan since 2010. Prosecutor Martinez spoke to Travis' family and together they answered the motion by saying bring it on.
Mr Martinez got it out of her yesterday, when he said then you shot him and he was dead, and she said yes. Did you all catch that. Now the defense has a Doctor on the stand trying to say she did not know what she was doing due a mental state. Doesn't this Doctor know that she has done nothing but lie and believes her own lies?. Don't you think she was dishonest in answering his questions on this so called test he gave her? Maybe she knew he was coming to testify years ago and got his articles and books and read them. She is a liar and to this day she is a liar. If this jury lets her off the murder charge, I will never believe in the Justice System again. She is so evil
Is that a cold sore on her left lower lip?
From her girlfriend in jail
Jvip Mia-- You are the reason the US is sliding down hill. You seem to blame the victum here. She went to his place knowing that one way or the other he was going to die. I do not believe a word that comes out of her mouth. I sincerly hope you are not allowed to multiply!!!!! You scare me.
Sociopaths tend to be charming. Charming people tend to be lightly treated by juries, most of whom are dumb as smart people figure out how NOT to have their lives disrupted by jury duty.
Charming young, attractive female sociopaths, especially. And O.J.
If the prosecutor doesn't hit hard on the fact that they shell casing landed in a pool of blood, some idiot jurors just might give her a pass (read some of the posts above). She claims she shot him first and she can't remember the rest.
Lies from the start. Still lying.
Yes I agree. She attacked him with a knife more than likely the heart first, then kept stabbing him,slit his throat, then shot him
She may well have been able to make a case for herself. Life's a bitch.
It's sad that she is in the headlines and Travis Alexander is the forgotten one. This woman is a cold blooded murderder. I did not understand why this was televised. It has got to be heartbreaking for his family to hear this woman day after day spew her lies.
Yes if only the dead could talk. This defense made the trial all about sex, nothing about Travis except what Jodi was saying about him.She taught him everything including the KY. She wanted sex after her baptism in the A@@ knowing the Mormons looked down in vaginal sex
in #ON
I'm trying to watch the live trial feed but it's SO frustrating. Court doesn't start many times until 10:30am or later, then they usually break for lunch before noon. They have a 90 minute lunch, not to mention all the audio delays, when they finally do start again, Nurmi will object on practically every question Martinez brings up. Then it's a long afternoon recess then back to the trial, then the judge will stop usually before 4pm. I've never in my life, seen a Court with such short hours. I feel aggravated just watching it, I can only imagine how that jury must be feeling. And does anyone know why, they never have Court on Fridays? It's just so bizarre, I wish that judge would step up and start insisting on longer hours.
What's the matter buddy not enough soaps on TV! STFU
Troll, go back under your bridge!