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Juan Martinez Gets Another Crack At Dr. Samuels

Dr. Richard Samuels is expected to return to the witness stand today. His testimony last week seemed to leave jurors with more questions than answers. His diagnosis of Arias with PTSD and dissociative amnesia have left many people scratching their heads. He has some serious credibility issues, not only around his diagnosis of Arias but of his methods of testing and his sloppy reporting. Juan Martinez will have another shot at pointing out the shoddy and questionable reporting from this defense expert today. These two have provided some great courtroom drama, with Martinez asking Samuels "do you have problems with your memory"?, and Samuels snapping back "No, do you?". Great stuff!

For $250.00 an hour, Arias seems to have bought the diagnosis she hopes will explain her lapses in memory and her outrageous behavior in the days following the savage murder of ex boyfriend Travis Alexander. I think too much is being made of this "expert" witnesses testimony. Does the defense team believe they can create sympathy for a woman who's own brutal actions caused her to have the PTSD to begin with? Samuels testified that 30% of people convicted of a homicide reported having some type of amnesia following the crime. Seems awfully convenient. I'm not saying that there aren't people that truly do suffer from these syndromes following traumatic events. I just don't believe Jodi Arias is one of them.

Let's look at the circumstances Arias has created around her defense. The evidence that could prove or disprove many of the events she has described in court are gone - disposed of, deleted, or just missing. There are no eyewitnesses to any of the alleged abuse of Jodi at the hands of Travis. There are no family members, friends, counselors, doctors, law enforcement officials, pastors, bishops or clergymen that Arias confided in. Her own personal and private journals do not contain any entries about alleged abuse.

The weapons used in the crime have never been recovered. Had the gun NOT been Arias' grandfather's stolen 22 caliber, why would she take it with her and throw it in the desert, where it would never be recovered? I don't believe there are any records that show Travis Alexander owned a registered handgun or firearm, but that doesn't mean he couldn't have had one. The point is, as long as it wasn't the stolen .22 caliber, that would show that she did not go to Mesa packing a gun. The knife has never been identified or recovered. Arias has a vague recollection of putting a knife in the dishwasher, but police were not able to link one to the crime. If the knife was in fact from Travis's home, and it was used to cut this rope used to tie Arias up, why take the knife? Why not wipe it off and leave it? The knife isn't quite as telling as the gun, but still, you have to wonder if there was a knife in that room prior to him getting into that shower.

I think it's almost poetic justice that Arias, who prides herself as a professional-grade photographer may be undone by a camera, her tools of the trade. She thought she knew how to get rid of the damaging photos that memorialized her presence at the Alexander home on June 4, 2008. She carefully went through the photos on his new digital camera, decided which ones she needed to delete and which ones could remain. She thought she had erased herself from the crime scene by deleting the nude photos, clearly time and date stamped June 4, 2008. She knew enough about evidence and crime scene cleanup to remove the bedding with her DNA on it, and put it in the washing machine. Whether she put the camera in the washing machine on purpose or if it was accidental, that memory card would be the beginning of the end for Jodi Arias. Arias must be kicking herself for leaving that camera behind! She likely would still be on trial for murder, because of the bloody palm print she left behind, but jurors may have had a more difficult time believing a woman of her small stature could be strong enough to bring down a much heavier Travis Alexander.

So what more can Dr. Richard Samuels add to this whole story? He only saw Arias 12 times, and spent maybe 30 hours with her - how can he form an opinion of her state of mind based on this little time? The jury may decide to ignore Samuels testimony altogether. This expert was so sloppy in his work, that he failed to re administer the diagnostic tests after discovering his patient was lying to him about what really happened on June 4, 2008. There is no excuse for that failure, although Samuels believes the outcome of the testing would be no different - basically saying "trauma is trauma". He is not paid to draw those type of conclusions. Why didn't Samuels do more testing on Arias, given the lies she told law enforcement and lies she told him? Wouldn't it have been prudent to do more thorough testing for other possible diagnosis? I don't know what type of testing there is to determine if somebody is a sociopath or a psychopath, but it would have been interesting to know what other personality disorders she may suffer from.

Whatever you believe about Dr. Samuels and his diagnosis, this only really goes to try to explain why Arias cannot remember the crucial points in the murder of Travis Alexander. She remembers everything and anything that is beneficial to her case, but doesn't recall those things that prove she is a cold blooded killer. The facts of the case remain the same, with or without the testimony of Dr. Richard Samuels. The sooner he gets off the stand, the better. He adds nothing either way, in my opinion he was a complete waste of $250.00 an hour!

I'd still be interested to know what those documents and folders that Arias was captured by courtroom cameras sneaking off the defense table last week contained. I'd also be interested to know if a murder defendant is allowed to be passing papers to people in the gallery. The court video cameras have captured an awful lot of interesting and suspicious activity going on with Jodi Arias. Is she passing her doodles or artwork to somebody in the gallery to sell for her on EBay? What was the pill she was seen taking? Is she trying to get another coded note to Matt McCartney? Is she passing along suggestions on who she wants to play her in the Lifetime movie "Dirty Little Secret - The Jodi Arias Story"? 

This trial is truly getting more bizarre by the day. Last week, court had to be adjourned for the day after a spectator vomited in the courtroom. I'm surprised that didn't happen more when Jodi Arias was on the stand. Should be another interesting week. What new theories will emerge about this crime? What does Juan Martinez have up his sleeve for his rebuttal case? Stay tuned!






8 comments:

  1. It was a .25 caliber gun; very unusual nowadays. Obviously the grandfathers. Also, the Judge simply lost control of the trial. Too many sidebars, too many objections. Not all trials are like this. Not all murder trials are like this.

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous (3/25/13 at 12:41PM),
      Did I write 22 caliber? Sorry, typo. I don't know much about guns so don't know how rare they are - but it's no coincidence that the same caliber that was "stolen" was used to shoot Travis. I agree that this trial is out of hand. Too many sidebars, too many late starts and short trial weeks - with a jury that is not sequestered, and all of the media coverage out there I can't believe they haven't tried to keep this from derailing. Judge Stephens seems to be getting irritated too!

      Delete
  2. Some people have speculated that she's making sketches that are now selling on Ebay under the name Tambra. On this link you can also see a painting that she signed and is attempting to sell.

    http://www.ebay.com/sch/sis.html;jsessionid=5C9E4E7FFBACB92F9A5955183615FA99?_nkw=Jodi%20Arias%20Jail%20ID%20Actual%20ID%20Bracelet%20worn%20by%20Jodi&_itemId=321094959719

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. NancyB,
      That is so wrong. I hope the IRS is watching! Those sketches may be covered under the Son of Sam law (I'm not sure where AZ stands) and if they are she cannot profit from her notoriety. The proceeds should be going to the family of her victim. This turns my stomach, that she is making one red cent from her crime.

      Delete
  3. Agree Anon - This is her very first death penalty trial and boy does it show. Previously she had only worked with custody cases according to her CV that I saw on The State vs Jodi Arias ~ Travis Alexander murder trial Facebook Page.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. NancyB,
      If you compare the circus around Casey Anthony's trial, even that moved along faster than this one! I was very surprised when I heard that this was Judge Stephens first death penalty trial too. Thought with the national exposure they would use a seasoned judge. She seems to have lost control of this one. I think it's so dangerous to have a trial go on like this with daily disruptions, few full trial days and a jury that is not sequestered. Keep it moving along! Thanks for your comments

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  4. I agree, My Forte, Arias remembers it all. And she makes up what she think will make her look justified in killing Travis. Grrr.

    Sue

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  5. I think the cross of Dr. DeMarte by Wilmott revealed something very telling. On Dr. Samuels' report for diagnosis, he listed PD-NOS (Personality Disorder- Not Otherwise Specified). What this means, according to the DSM-IV & DSM-IVTR is that a person has clinical criteria for MORE THAN ONE Personality Disorder, but doesn't match exact clinical criteria for just one (w/in A, B or C) specifically. The DSM-V lists it as its own category of personality disorder. Like I've commented long before DeMarte took the stand), she displays full spectrum of Cluster B (emotional/erratic/impulsive) personality disorder, some of them w/ high likelihood or propensity for aggression. When there's co-morbidity (overlapping of criteria) in an individual, this diagnosis is applied. Interestingly, over 90% of those incarcerated for violent crimes have been diagnosed w/ co-morbidity of Cluster B & other personality disorders (Cluster A, odd/eccentric; Cluster C, anxious/fearful). Cluster B includes antisocial, borderline, histrionic & narcissistic. While most people having Borderline or Histrionic PDs direct their emotions/actions inward (suicide, self-mutilation), Narcissistic & Antisocial PDs lash out. Cluster B PDs share a common, underlying pathology of deceitfulness, manipulation & poor impulse control, & lack of remorse (unless caught, then feel sorry for themselves). In other words, they're the users, abusers & relationship busters. Dr. Fog (Samuels) may have recognized this in Jodi & skipped the MMPI; straight away administering the MCMI, which is administered AFTER diagnosis from MMPI is determined, so there'd be no record of Arias' true pathology, supporting Cluster B. Again, the MCMI is not given, unless a person has already been diagnosed/undergoing treatment for, using MMPI.

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