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"It Was A Domestically Abusive Relationship", Says Alyce LaViolette

Defense expert witness Alyce LaViolette is back on the stand today to continue her direct examination in the Jodi Arias murder trial.  It's hard to listen to. LaViolette has bought Jodi Arias's schpeel, hook line and sinker. She has now gone on the record as calling the relationship between murder victim Travis Alexander and Jodi Arias "domestically abusive".  Following the recent dismissal of "Juror #5", who was thought to be a pro-prosecution juror, how powerful will LaViolette's opinions be to the remaining jurors?

Defense attorney Jennifer Willmott continues to walk LaViolette through Jodi Arias's journal entries and they are picking Travis Alexander apart.  LaViolette described some of the interactions between Arias and Alexander as "mild acts of aggression" that escalated over a period of time.  She talked about the alleged incident in which Arias claims Alexander kicked her, and calls it an escalation from mild aggression to more severe acts of aggression.  LaViolette testified that "fear makes people dangerous", and "fear of loss makes people especially dangerous". Willmott seems to be trying to elicit some specific testimony from LaViolette and I'm not sure why Juan Martinez isn't objecting more because she is totally leading this witness.  LaViolette also testified that based on some of the e-mail and text messages she reviewed, a pattern emerged in regards to Travis Alexander's behavior.  She didn't come out and call him controlling, but clearly she believes he was.

LaViolette also seems to believe that Jodi Arias was trying to pull away from Travis Alexander (and not vice versa, like many of us believe) and that he may have been fearful of her leaving him ("fear makes people dangerous")!  She also testified that Jodi Arias was beginning to "have a backbone" with Travis Alexander.  LaViolette discussed Arias's journal entries relating to Marie "Mimi" Hall - she testified that she did not see any signs of jealousy in her journal entries, her IM's or text messages relating to Travis Alexander's interest in having a relationship with Mimi Hall. They are trying hard to shoot down the prosecution's theory that Arias was jealous and this was part of the motive for murder. LaViolette believes Arias wanted Travis Alexander to be happy, even if it was another woman.  

They then went on to discuss what they are referring to as "the third violent incident" that allegedly occurred in Travis Alexander's car following an argument about Arias moving back to Yreka.  This is the incident where Arias says Travis slapped her in the face and she called her mother to ask for help moving home. Wow, LaViolette has really bought into every single thing Jodi Arias has told her and she is no longer speaking in general terms, this is specific to Arias and Alexander.  It will be very interesting to see how Juan Martinez handles the cross examination of this witness.  Has this witness given Arias stories more credibility? Will her status in the field of domestic violence sway this jury? It certainly hasn't hurt. 

But what has it changed? Will the jury believe that Travis Alexander owned a gun? Because if he didn't, that means Arias brought it. Regardless of where the gun came from - will the jury believe Arias HAD TO use it?  Regardless of which injury Travis received first, regardless of which weapon Arias used first - was it necessary for her to stab him 29 times, slit his throat from ear to ear and shoot him in the face for her own personal safety? Urrgh!!!!!  Well, the defense can try to keep this witness on the stand to reiterate Jodi Arias as the "victim", but sooner or later it will be the State's turn and I expect Juan Martinez to be ready.  I'm literally feeling sick after hearing this testimony.  Court is in a 5 minute recess now......

14 comments:

  1. Argh.....it is so frustrating. Yes, apparently ALV has not looked at all the evidence. I am really thinking that she is prejudicial. She has to have been able to see all the evidence, right? So how is it that she believes Jodi was trying to pull away from Travis? People that know Jodi have said she was lamenting about not being able to live without him. His family must be having such an awful time. I really can't even imagine. It must be hell.

    On a much brighter note, I am happy you are back, My Forte!

    Sue

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sue,
      Thank you for your comments! It was hard to be away from the computer for 5 days - I had to rely on TV news updates on the trial. I guess we are all a little invested in seeing justice served in this case, it's just such a tragic story. And it will be even more tragic if Arias gets something less than 1st degree murder. The video of her parents interviews w/Det. Flores were so telling! Even her own father calls her strange and both of them were suspicious enough to ask her if she was involved in the murder! I wonder if LaViolette realizes she's helping a sociopath?

      Delete
    2. Couldn't agree more, My Forte. I really wonder that about LaViolette, too. Does she know or doesn't she? My mind has actually gone to a book she could write....something along the lines of "I Aided and Abetted a Psychopath". I think she might have blinders on. Jodi seems to be pretty good at completely snowing some people......like her "doctors". If she does know, she is truly despicable.

      Sue

      Delete
  2. Just wanted to add it is making me sick, too. Speaking of sick, it looks like the defense has another convenient illness....no court until tomorrow afternoon. It really is infuriating how Alyce apparently believes everything Jodi says. It is actually unbelievable. It makes her look incompetent. Thanks for another excellent blog entry!

    Sue

    ReplyDelete
  3. Alyce in Jodiland

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous (4/3/13 at 7:56PM),
      Ha ha! Good one.....

      Delete
  4. I don't think ALV believes everything Jodi says. I believe ALV was the master at putting this whole story together. I don't think for a minute that ALV believes jodi is innocent - and neither do Wilmott and Nurmi. ALV is getting paid and these 2 defense attorneys don't want justice, they want to win at all costs. And to think this game of charades is being charged directly to the taxpayers is really the sickening thing...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous (4/4/13 at 7:56AM),
      Thank you for your comments. I know that everyone is entitled to a "fair" trial and therefore defense attorneys will always have to represent killers. What I don't like is the concept of "paid expert witnesses". I think that these experts should only receive nominal compensation for their work and opinions and that everyone should get the same compensation. It should be part of their "service" to the public, that would curb the appearance of testimony that has been bought and paid for....If Ms. LaViolette wanted to call attention to the cause of domestic violence, in my opinion she chose the wrong defendant to take the stand for! No amount of verbal/emotional/psychological abuse makes this self defense claim valid! Just my (very strong) opinion! Thx for your comments!

      Delete
    2. I agree, My Forte! Like the jury...so little compensation and they do it as a service. It should be the same for the experts. That way they can't be bought. The courts should do everything in their power to make a trial ethical and honest, IMO. Not just fair for the defense. It really is so hard to watch. I have turned it off until JM is up. (My opinion is getting stronger by the day ; ).

      Anon, it does say on ALV's web site (or somewhere) that that is a "specialty" of hers, right? Putting the strategy together for the defense? Grrrrrrrrrr.

      Sue

      Delete
  5. Read reviews on ALV book on Amazon, her 2nd.
    edition, third edition comes out April13, 2013,
    well it sounds like her career is taking a BIG hit.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous (4/4/13 at 9:12AM),
      Only time will tell what impact LaViolette's decision to take on this case will do to her career. I'm sure it was an unpopular decision! I hope these experts understand that their testimony can impact the outcome of a trial such as this one - I find it difficult to believe she thought the benefit to "abused women" outweighed justice for Travis Alexander. Thanks for your comments!

      Delete
    2. Yes, and to help try to get a sociopath back on the streets. Sadly, I am leaning toward the thought that she is a sell out and really doesn't care. : ( It looked like she had devoted her life to helping victims.....it doesn't look that way anymore.

      Sue

      Delete
  6. Another Major Lie.. In one of the journals released, Jodi testified that she first seen gun at
    Travis's house in 2007. But in journal entry dated
    Feb.1, 2008 says that Travis wanted to buy a gun.
    Sounds like Premeditated to me.. What do you
    think? Info from chrisstark@stark3923

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous (4/4/13 at 3:29PM),
      Sounds like Arias put her foot in her mouth again. I doubt anyone believes Travis owned a gun, and they can calculate what the odds are that Arias's grandfather's gun being "stolen" 1 week before this murder being a coincidence? They'll get that. If she lied about the gun, she lied about everything! Thanks for commenting.

      Delete

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