LaViolette Combative On The Stand

Prosecutor Juan Martinez wasted no time today in questioning defense expert Alyce LaViolette's methods of evaluating murder defendant Jodi Arias as a battered woman. LaViolette was frequently non-responsive to "yes" or "no" questions, and I'm not sure why the Judge hasn't reprimanded her to answer a question as asked but she quipped that Martinez was trying to trick or confuse her. Is she showing her bias in this case?

One of the best points Martinez made this morning was about her referring to Travis seeking out "vulnerable" women. He specifically brought up Chatanya Lei (spelling) and Regan Housley and either IM's or text messages between each woman and Travis Alexander. Martinez pointed out that LaViolette characterized both woman as "vulnerable" based only on written words and without speaking to either. He discussed how LaViolette testified that 90% of all communication is non-verbal, so how could she make such an assumption about these words?

In particular, Martinez talked in detail about an 18 page IM conversation between Housley and Alexander, in which Travis wrote that he was fearful of Jodi Arias's stalking behavior. Although we don't know exactly what he said, Martinez asked LaViolette why she chose to not believe what Travis Alexander told Regan Housely about Jodi Arias? "You chose to not believe him", Martinez said. LaViolette finally relented, but said her opinion was based on more than the 18 page communication. Juan Martinez did a good job of showing that LaViolette seems to have read a whole lot of texts, IM's and e-mails, and she then chose which parts of those she believed!

They broke for the noon recess, and given that they didn't start until 10:45AM or so another abbreviated court day! It's unclear what they were all doing in the Judge's chambers this morning, but Alyce LaViolette should behave more professionally while testifying on the stand. She is coming off as combative, non-responsive and biased. 

Travis Alexander's Law - Sign This Petition For Change

If you are interested in signing this petition for "Travis Alexander's Law", to prohibit the use of unsubstantiated and claims about murder victims in future trials, please go to this link and sign. They have 8,409 signatures and need 10,000.  Let's all help effect change in our judicial system so another family doesn't have to go through what the Alexander family has been through!

http://www.change.org/users/44631630

Today, Prosecutor Juan Martinez will continue his cross examination of domestic abuse expert Alyce LaViolette - this should be the last defense witness and her testimony has left many wondering why she chose to believe what Arias has told her about the alleged physical abuse suffered at the hands of Travis Alexander and her parents for that matter. Does LaViolette know that Arias lied to another expert who tried to help her? She lied to Dr. Richard Samuels, who administered tests to Arias under the "2 armed intruder" pretense. 

After listening to additional Arias testimony, I caught something interesting - Arias took karate lessons. She also was so upset after seeing Travis Alexander on the couch with another woman, she called home looking to talk to her sister. When she called her parents home, she ended up talking to her father about what she had witnessed. He told Detective Flores "she wanted to marry this guy". Do you really think if she told him about that incident, she wouldn't have reached out to them after being choked to the point of unconsciousness? These are little pieces to a bigger puzzle. Arias has had a lot of time to think through why she did certain things and failed to do other things.  Had this trial occurred sooner, who knows what her defense would have been.

If LaViolette is the last defense witness, it's the State's turn - the all-important rebuttal case. I cannot wait to see what Juan Martinez produces to disprove much of Arias's story. From there, closing arguments should begin and then it will be in the hands of the jury. Will they believe Arias was abused, and therefore in fear of her life? Or will they believe she stole a gun and planned the covert trip down to the smallest detail, telling no one she was heading to Mesa? A reasonable person would ask themselves "why hide that trip"? If you believe Jodi that Travis was in fact angry after she dropped the camera, would you be able to shoot him and then continue the assault by stabbing and slashing him in that manner? After the first injury, I think I would be so sorry and concerned about the other person I would have called for help. But that's just me.

Well it's 10:26AM, and still waiting for court to begin. Will this trial ever start on time? Is it any wonder the cost is now estimated at $1.4MM?