While the guilt phase has concluded in the Jodi Arias murder trial, decisions over her fate are still pending as the aggravation phase is expected to begin on Wednesday, May 15 2013. The jury that delivered a guilty verdict on first degree murder will hear arguments from prosecutor Juan Martinez on the pain and suffering Travis Alexander likely endured while being repeatedly stabbed, slashed and shot by Jodi Arias on June 4, 2008.
Medical examiner Kevin Horn is expected to return to the stand to describe the nature of the wounds Alexander suffered from and their likely effect on him prior to his death. The defense has argued that Arias shot Travis Alexander prior to the stabbing and slashing of his throat. I don't see how they can effectively argue his death was not cruel, heinous and depraved. Having built their defense around the notion of self-defense, they furiously argued at trial that Jodi Arias shot Travis Alexander first and the gunshot did not incapacitate him, rather he continued to verbally and physically threaten Arias.
Having made that argument, how can argue now that he did not feel the effects of being stabbed repeatedly in the chest, torso and back before having his throat cut? It seems their all-or-nothing trial strategy has painted them into a corner. I think if Jodi Arias had been more honest about everything, she would have stood a better chance of arguing that she snapped and killed him in the heat of the moment.
Within minutes of the guilty verdict, Arias sat down with reporter Troy Hayden from Fox affiliate KSAZ and gave another television interview. Arias left Hayden the following message via voice mail on Sunday prior to the verdict:
"Hi Troy. Jodi Arias. Umm, it's Sunday. I just wanted to let you know...umm, a deal is a deal kind of thing, but I regret saying that. But I'm a person of my word, so I'll keep our deal. Umm, but I also wanted to let you know, if for some reason the jury comes back with first degree just come down to the jail.
Because I'm not sure how things are going to go...well, I have an idea but I don't want to wait. So, umm, we tend to get back from court around 6:00-6:30 so if the jail....your going to be down that way, and that's cool, we can go forward. Umm, if it's second degree or less, I will wait 'til after sentencing. But if it's first degree, for some reason, it'll come right away, but like I said if it's second degree or less, we'll wait 'til after. So, that's that....take care, bye.
The fact that Arias would only grant the interview if she was found guilty of first degree murder seems to point toward another attempt to manipulate the public. Earlier this year, Arias' friends (Donovan Bering and Ann Campbell) told reporters that while Arias understood the need to be punished for her actions, she did not feel she deserved the death penalty. In addition to those statements, Arias' attorneys went all the way to the Arizona Supreme Court in an attempt to have the death penalty option set aside. I suppose these things if taken at face value don't necessarily prove that Arias actually would prefer life in prison to the death penalty. The best possible sentence she can hope for is to receive life with the possibility for parole after serving 25 years. That would have Arias out in time to get her AARP card - much too generous of a sentence for this crime!
It's hard to tell what's going on in Jodi Arias' mind. That's the problem when a person tells so many lies. I personally question that she would prefer to get the death penalty to (natural) life. As we have learned throughout this trial, Jodi Arias has talked about killing herself more times than I can count. She's had the time and opportunity to commit suicide, prior to being arrested she even purchased her very own gun. Is this just another attempt to manipulate the public or to garner sympathy in light of a verdict she wasn't expecting?
While Arias remains on suicide watch in the psych ward, she may have managed to delay her trial but justice will not be denied. As Arias has time to grasp her new reality, will she ultimately plead for her life? Or will she be defiant to the end and continue to take no responsibility? Arias continues to give the state more ammunition to use against her, through her poor decisions to contact the media, Twitter activity and her moneymaking schemes from behind bars. I almost feel bad for her attorneys, but that feeling doesn't last for very long when I remember the allegations and arguments they made at trial. The defense continues to operate in poor taste in their latest bid to have the victim impact statements delivered via videotape! Are you kidding me?
What will happen on Wednesday during the aggravation phase? What can Kirk Nurmi and Jennifer Willmott possibly say about the manner of death that would sway this jury away from the death penalty? How much sympathy will the jury have for Arias after they hear what she's been up to during her own trial? This will be a very interesting week. Enjoy your weekend and Happy Mother's Day!
**UPDATE**
NancyB posted a link to the latest portion of Arias' interview w/Troy Hayden - Arias seems just fine, composed - but the broken-finger-pointing has begun!
http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/story/22222919/2013/05/11/arias-told-fox-10-she-has-no-mitigating-factors
The Fox affiliate is releasing this interview in portions, unfortunately. It would be nice to hear the entire 45 minutes in an uninterrupted manner! Yeah, the media is having a field day with Arias' antics. Thanks for posting the link NancyB!
If anybody is interested in the numerous petitions related to Travis Alexander and this case, Change.org still needs your signatures. There are literally pages of petitions started by the public in an effort to shut down some of the offensive websites out there and more importantly there is a petition for "Travis Alexander's Law" - which would prevent the prejudicial and malicious testimony against a murder victim when no evidence is offered and when not directly relating to a defense. We can collectively be a part of positive change!
MY CRIMETIME BY MY FORTE. A DISCUSSION OF MURDERS IN THE NEWS.
Will Son Of Sam Law Effect Jodi Arias?
Now that Jodi Arias has been convicted of murdering ex-boyfriend Travis Alexander, Arizona's "Son of Sam" law should prevent her from profiting from the notoriety of her crime. The law that was named after serial killer Sam Berkowitz prohibits convicted felons from cashing in on their dirty deeds. Will the law be enforceable and encompass Arias' immediate family members and friends? The Alexander has announced they will bring a wrongful death suit against Arias now that the criminal trial is concluding. I can't imagine they would have any problem winning any civil trial, which should put an end to any additional money making schemes Arias may have in the future.
Jodi Arias has been creative in the way she has utilized people on the outside to further her own agenda and spread her thoughts a la Twitter and on a website that features and sells her artwork. Will she find a way around this law as well? If there's a will, there's a way - as far as Jodi Arias is concerned, I wouldn't be surprised if she found a loophole to shimmy through. After viewing a good portion of her post-verdict interview with Fox affiliate KSAZ's Troy Hayden, a few things stood out. Number one, just minutes after the guilty verdict was read, Arias appeared to have makeup on, lip gloss and all. No evidence of tears or running mascara under her eyes. Number two, she continues to contend that Travis Alexander abused her, even after the jury rejected her claims.
Number three, she clearly despises Juan Martinez. She called him "shady" and "a hypocritical liar", and accused him of hiding evidence that could have helped her case. Is she referring to the letters from Travis Alexander that were found to be forgeries? I can't imagine Juan Martinez would risk a potential mistrial or having a conviction overturned by "hiding evidence". The state had so much evidence of Arias' involvement and guilt, they didn't need to resort to hiding evidence. Arias acknowledged the public's perception of her was mostly negative, but blamed that on the public's need to persecute people. She says persecute, we say prosecute.
Troy Hayden asked her if she looked at Travis Alexander's siblings during the trial. She told him that she avoided eye contact with them, but not for the reasons you might expect (like guilt or sorrow). Instead, she told him she avoided eye contact with them because of the family resemblance they have to one another, "looking at them was like looking at the man who abused me", she said. Wow. No remorse for killing him or lying about things he allegedly did to her.
When asked about her controversial use of Twitter, she admits it was her idea to begin the activity back in February. She though it was a good way to express her thoughts and ideas. That's funny, seems to me that half of her tweets were quoting somebody else's pearls of wisdom. The only time Arias seemed to have a genuine moment of regret or sorrow was when she was asked about her mother Sandy's attendance throughout her trial. She covered her face and began to cry and had a difficult time speaking. After composing herself, she said of her mother "I don't deserve her" and "I haven't treated her well". This is the only emotion I've seen in her that is appropriate and real, she said she feels bad for her entire family.
In an ironic moment, Arias adamantly denied Martinez's allegations about her desire to be in the media; as she sat before a camera crew - only minutes after becoming a convicted murderer. Now I've heard it all. I find myself trying to find some reason to cut Jodi Arias a break and try to empathize with what she must be going through right now. Her behavior doesn't allow me to feel anything for her. I'm glad that she will be held accountable for the life that she took. This is not a happy moment. It will always be a tragedy for both families, neither of which will ever be the same again. I wonder if Jodi Arias will ever tell the truth about what happened that night, and will she ever admit to the lies that she's told on the witness stand?
If Arias is sentenced to death, will she take these secrets to her grave? I've heard that prison tends to bring people closer to God. Many inmates have found religion as their only comfort when confronting a life behind bars, and it sometimes compels them to finally be honest about their crimes. Even the infamous Aileen Wuornos came clean and told the world that she hadn't killed in self defense as she claimed throughout her trials. In a statement to the court, Wuornos said she "wanted to get things right with God".
This story is far from over! Have a fantastic weekend.
Jodi Arias has been creative in the way she has utilized people on the outside to further her own agenda and spread her thoughts a la Twitter and on a website that features and sells her artwork. Will she find a way around this law as well? If there's a will, there's a way - as far as Jodi Arias is concerned, I wouldn't be surprised if she found a loophole to shimmy through. After viewing a good portion of her post-verdict interview with Fox affiliate KSAZ's Troy Hayden, a few things stood out. Number one, just minutes after the guilty verdict was read, Arias appeared to have makeup on, lip gloss and all. No evidence of tears or running mascara under her eyes. Number two, she continues to contend that Travis Alexander abused her, even after the jury rejected her claims.
Number three, she clearly despises Juan Martinez. She called him "shady" and "a hypocritical liar", and accused him of hiding evidence that could have helped her case. Is she referring to the letters from Travis Alexander that were found to be forgeries? I can't imagine Juan Martinez would risk a potential mistrial or having a conviction overturned by "hiding evidence". The state had so much evidence of Arias' involvement and guilt, they didn't need to resort to hiding evidence. Arias acknowledged the public's perception of her was mostly negative, but blamed that on the public's need to persecute people. She says persecute, we say prosecute.
Troy Hayden asked her if she looked at Travis Alexander's siblings during the trial. She told him that she avoided eye contact with them, but not for the reasons you might expect (like guilt or sorrow). Instead, she told him she avoided eye contact with them because of the family resemblance they have to one another, "looking at them was like looking at the man who abused me", she said. Wow. No remorse for killing him or lying about things he allegedly did to her.
When asked about her controversial use of Twitter, she admits it was her idea to begin the activity back in February. She though it was a good way to express her thoughts and ideas. That's funny, seems to me that half of her tweets were quoting somebody else's pearls of wisdom. The only time Arias seemed to have a genuine moment of regret or sorrow was when she was asked about her mother Sandy's attendance throughout her trial. She covered her face and began to cry and had a difficult time speaking. After composing herself, she said of her mother "I don't deserve her" and "I haven't treated her well". This is the only emotion I've seen in her that is appropriate and real, she said she feels bad for her entire family.
In an ironic moment, Arias adamantly denied Martinez's allegations about her desire to be in the media; as she sat before a camera crew - only minutes after becoming a convicted murderer. Now I've heard it all. I find myself trying to find some reason to cut Jodi Arias a break and try to empathize with what she must be going through right now. Her behavior doesn't allow me to feel anything for her. I'm glad that she will be held accountable for the life that she took. This is not a happy moment. It will always be a tragedy for both families, neither of which will ever be the same again. I wonder if Jodi Arias will ever tell the truth about what happened that night, and will she ever admit to the lies that she's told on the witness stand?
If Arias is sentenced to death, will she take these secrets to her grave? I've heard that prison tends to bring people closer to God. Many inmates have found religion as their only comfort when confronting a life behind bars, and it sometimes compels them to finally be honest about their crimes. Even the infamous Aileen Wuornos came clean and told the world that she hadn't killed in self defense as she claimed throughout her trials. In a statement to the court, Wuornos said she "wanted to get things right with God".
This story is far from over! Have a fantastic weekend.
Justice Delayed - The Jodi Arias Murder Trial
Following Wednesday's guilty verdict in the Jodi Arias murder trial, it seems fitting in proceedings full of drama and innuendo have more twists and turns as Thursday's aggravation phase was delayed for reasons unknown. It is believed that Arias' statements to Fox affiliate KSAZ about her preference of death to life in prison without the possibility for parole prompted jail officials to admit Arias to the prison's psychiatric ward for observation, "suicide watch". She has called the Estrella jail home since being extradited to Phoenix from Northern California back in September of 2008, before being moved Thursday to the Buckeye Rd. building that houses the psych ward.
Once again, Arias' shenanigans are causing delays in the judicial proceedings. She reportedly suffers from headaches and has been caught on camera taking her Immitrix throughout the trial. Her defiance and shock over the guilty verdict are not surprising after getting to know Jodi Arias through her jailhouse tweets and media interviews. This is a woman who shows no remorse for killing another human being. Near the end of her death penalty trial, she tweeted complaints about not receiving her commissary order, comparing it to awakening on Christmas day to no gifts! Does this seem like a woman who grasps the reality of the situation she faces? It's almost as if it's somebody else's reality, not hers. It's par for the course with Jodi Arias.
Due to scheduling conflicts with key prosecution witness Dr. Kevin Horn, the aggravation phase of the trial is expected to resume on Wednesday at 10:00AM PST, barring any further delays or bomb threats! Speaking of Thursday's bomb threat, a suspect has been detained for questioning by the Phoenix police department. I am not aware of the suspect's name, but a search of the suspect's hotel room revealed bullets - no gun, or explosives but bullets would seem to be an odd accessory to bring to a hotel room. It's not something that I pack in my travel bag. I'd be very curious to know where this person was when Dr. Janeen DeMarte's home was broken into and her laptop containing Arias' psychological reports was stolen.
When the verdict was read on Wednesday, the hundreds of people gathered outside of the courthouse erupted in cheers and tears. There were people who traveled from all over the country in order to support Travis Alexander and his family and who just wanted to be there when the verdict was read. Jodi Arias has her own group of supporters as well. As you all know, there are websites dedicated to selling Jodi Arias "original" (and I use that term loosely) artwork and that take donations to support Arias' jailhouse snack and vanity needs as well as her family's travel expenses. The site that proudly claims to be "The #1 Jodi Arias support site" has some sickening and very disturbing things posted there today. I've only visited this site three times - each time out of pure curiosity, but what I saw there today angered and sickened me to a whole new level. Freedom of speech would likely prohibit any of us from doing anything to get this garbage taken down or curb the distasteful content of the site. The website owner refuses to accept comments from "the haters" who don't agree with their agenda. He/she refers to supporters of Travis Alexander as "haters and pedo-huggers".
What I saw today was so disturbing. The author posted a rant that people like Travis (pedophiles) should not be able to reproduce. There is a photograph posted on that site that is guaranteed to infuriate you - I was hesitant to post it here, but since we started this journey together I feel I need to share it with this forum. To me, this is worse than the crime scene photos and takes distasteful to a level I've never seen - the caption to this photo says "Justice for Travis has long been served and here's the proof":
I don't even know what to say about the statements being posted on that website. It states "Let this be a warning to any other self-righteous bastards that think they can verbally and physically abuse women and get away with it". These are the kind of people who support and believe in Jodi Arias. Who would post such a photo, of a murder victim in a body bag? I can't vouch for the authenticity of this photo, could be a fraudulent or tampered with photograph, but I think we can all agree it takes disrespectful to levels unseen. I have nothing further to say about the incredulous articles posted on that website about the murder victim, the prosecutor, Detective Flores, HLN News and anybody else who dare to shine a negative light on Jodi Arias. Jodi Arias reportedly has no access to the internet. We do know that she regularly tweets through friend Donovan Bering, and there is somebody out there who posts messages on the website dedicated to selling her artwork. I've seen messages from Arias thanking someone she refers to as either SJ or RJ - I believe this is the person who maintains this main website.
IF Jodi Arias is aware of the material that is being posted on this website, it shows how little respect she really has/had for Travis Alexander, his family and his friends. I believe her jealousy over the very people Travis loved and cared for has turned to bitterness and anger. This has only escalated as the jury rejected her self-defense and abuse claims. The depths to which these people have stooped to is incomprehensible. I did not post this photo for shock value or to inflame people. I am saddened and angry to see something like this out there on the internet. Killing somebody is not something to be proud of, yet this site seems to be thanking Arias for her sinful deeds.
I have only one more thing to say. Jodi Arias may have managed to delay the aggravation phase of her trial for a few days, but make no mistake - the trial will go on. She has been found guilty of first degree murder. Barring some unseen judicial snafu or blatant trial error she will be sentenced. It's too late for an insanity plea. It seems that Arias is still unwilling to accept any responsibility for her crime and is trying to delay her punishment for as long as she can. Even if she has no remorse for what she has done, you would think as a human being, she would still have some respect for the family and for the deceased. Her behavior doesn't correspond with the deeply religious person she wants us to believe she is.
The jury has spoken and the guilty verdict is a reflection that Arias' claims about abuse and sexual deviancy were rejected by these 12 jurors. Her post-verdict behavior in giving a media interview only furthers my belief that she is a true sociopath. I truly think she believed her testimony would minimize her punishment and set her free. As I've been saying since my initial posts back in November and December of 2012, Jodi Arias has underestimated the jurors who will hear her case while overestimating her own charm and intelligence.
That's all for now, enjoy your weekend!
Once again, Arias' shenanigans are causing delays in the judicial proceedings. She reportedly suffers from headaches and has been caught on camera taking her Immitrix throughout the trial. Her defiance and shock over the guilty verdict are not surprising after getting to know Jodi Arias through her jailhouse tweets and media interviews. This is a woman who shows no remorse for killing another human being. Near the end of her death penalty trial, she tweeted complaints about not receiving her commissary order, comparing it to awakening on Christmas day to no gifts! Does this seem like a woman who grasps the reality of the situation she faces? It's almost as if it's somebody else's reality, not hers. It's par for the course with Jodi Arias.
Due to scheduling conflicts with key prosecution witness Dr. Kevin Horn, the aggravation phase of the trial is expected to resume on Wednesday at 10:00AM PST, barring any further delays or bomb threats! Speaking of Thursday's bomb threat, a suspect has been detained for questioning by the Phoenix police department. I am not aware of the suspect's name, but a search of the suspect's hotel room revealed bullets - no gun, or explosives but bullets would seem to be an odd accessory to bring to a hotel room. It's not something that I pack in my travel bag. I'd be very curious to know where this person was when Dr. Janeen DeMarte's home was broken into and her laptop containing Arias' psychological reports was stolen.
When the verdict was read on Wednesday, the hundreds of people gathered outside of the courthouse erupted in cheers and tears. There were people who traveled from all over the country in order to support Travis Alexander and his family and who just wanted to be there when the verdict was read. Jodi Arias has her own group of supporters as well. As you all know, there are websites dedicated to selling Jodi Arias "original" (and I use that term loosely) artwork and that take donations to support Arias' jailhouse snack and vanity needs as well as her family's travel expenses. The site that proudly claims to be "The #1 Jodi Arias support site" has some sickening and very disturbing things posted there today. I've only visited this site three times - each time out of pure curiosity, but what I saw there today angered and sickened me to a whole new level. Freedom of speech would likely prohibit any of us from doing anything to get this garbage taken down or curb the distasteful content of the site. The website owner refuses to accept comments from "the haters" who don't agree with their agenda. He/she refers to supporters of Travis Alexander as "haters and pedo-huggers".
What I saw today was so disturbing. The author posted a rant that people like Travis (pedophiles) should not be able to reproduce. There is a photograph posted on that site that is guaranteed to infuriate you - I was hesitant to post it here, but since we started this journey together I feel I need to share it with this forum. To me, this is worse than the crime scene photos and takes distasteful to a level I've never seen - the caption to this photo says "Justice for Travis has long been served and here's the proof":
 |
| Photo From JodiAriasIsInnocent.com's website |
IF Jodi Arias is aware of the material that is being posted on this website, it shows how little respect she really has/had for Travis Alexander, his family and his friends. I believe her jealousy over the very people Travis loved and cared for has turned to bitterness and anger. This has only escalated as the jury rejected her self-defense and abuse claims. The depths to which these people have stooped to is incomprehensible. I did not post this photo for shock value or to inflame people. I am saddened and angry to see something like this out there on the internet. Killing somebody is not something to be proud of, yet this site seems to be thanking Arias for her sinful deeds.
I have only one more thing to say. Jodi Arias may have managed to delay the aggravation phase of her trial for a few days, but make no mistake - the trial will go on. She has been found guilty of first degree murder. Barring some unseen judicial snafu or blatant trial error she will be sentenced. It's too late for an insanity plea. It seems that Arias is still unwilling to accept any responsibility for her crime and is trying to delay her punishment for as long as she can. Even if she has no remorse for what she has done, you would think as a human being, she would still have some respect for the family and for the deceased. Her behavior doesn't correspond with the deeply religious person she wants us to believe she is.
The jury has spoken and the guilty verdict is a reflection that Arias' claims about abuse and sexual deviancy were rejected by these 12 jurors. Her post-verdict behavior in giving a media interview only furthers my belief that she is a true sociopath. I truly think she believed her testimony would minimize her punishment and set her free. As I've been saying since my initial posts back in November and December of 2012, Jodi Arias has underestimated the jurors who will hear her case while overestimating her own charm and intelligence.
That's all for now, enjoy your weekend!
Jodi Arias Trial - Aggravation Phase Delayed Until 5/18/13!
The aggravation phase of the Jodi Arias trial was set to begin today at 1:00PM - the families were there, the jurors were waiting, the attorneys were there and from what I understand they were ready to roll when it was announced that they were unable to proceed! No reason was given for the cancellation, but May 18th is the date cited for the aggravation phase to begin.
Hmmm. Could this have anything to do with the interview Jodi Arias gave yesterday following the guilty verdict, where she told a local reporter with KSAZ that she'd prefer death to spending life in prison? The 45 minute interview stunned everybody. "I believe death is the ultimate freedom", Arias told the reporter. This interview had to have been planned in advance. It's not easy to gain access to a murder defendant and it's virtually unheard of for somebody to give an interview just minutes after being convicted of first degree murder. Is this the final card Jodi Arias has left to play? It has been reported that due to what Arias said during her interview, she was put on the "protocol suicide watch". I also heard a report about a possible bomb threat at the Superior Courthouse this morning - the building is routinely checked for such threats, particularly during a high profile case such as this one. Seems strange that Dr. Janeen DeMarte's house was broken into and her laptop stolen before the trial began, and a bomb threat the day after a guilty verdict? Maybe Arias has more fans than we thought she did.
My question to Jodi Arias would be this: you have publicly stated more than a dozen times that you wanted to kill yourself, you wanted to be dead and gone. "If I hurt Travis, I'd beg for the death penalty" were your exact words. You were found guilty of first degree murder, yet as your death wish becomes more plausible, you are now unable to assist in your own defense? What gives Jodi? I hope my words don't sound overly callous, despite my personal feelings about what justice should look like in this case - I don't wish death upon anybody. She is a human being, just like the rest of us. She's made some monumental mistakes in life, mistakes that took a loved and valued member of society from this world. At trial, she has shown little if any remorse. She has fabricated rancid tales about the man that she claimed to love and admire.
It appears that Arias was so shocked at the verdict that she didn't know how to react. Appearing somewhat defiant following the verdict, Arias looked back at her family in the gallery - something she didn't do often during her trial. The family she has thrown under the bus, a la Casey Anthony - "my mom kept a wooden spoon in her purse and hit me with it", "my sister is stupid". In an interview between Det. Flores and Jodi Arias' father Bill, it was revealed that Arias lashed out at her mother frequently and furiously. You can tell a lot about a person's character by the way they treat their family. Lack of respect is a big red flag. Taking for granted the love of your parents is a red flag. There were all kinds of red flags going up around Jodi Arias as she grew into adulthood. Tragically, Travis Alexander didn't see those red flags in time to escape the danger that lurked just beneath the surface of ex girlfriend Jodi Arias.
I don't know why the delay has me stumped and surprised. This trial has been full of these sort of oddities. The problem is, Arias has manipulated the system and cried wolf so many times that we are becoming numb to the suicide threats. Today was supposed to be an abbreviated court session, described as a "mini-trial", where evidence is presented by the prosecutor relating to the manner in which Travis Alexander was killed - Martinez will argue that he was murdered in an especially cruel and depraved manner.
That's stating the obvious and it would be outrageous to describe it in any other fashion. The jury needs to unanimous on their decision. If they are unable to reach an unanimous decision, a new jury would be empaneled to decide on the aggravation phase.
If the jury finds the murder was cruel and depraved, they would then move on to the sentencing phase. The jury would be charged with deciding if Arias receives a death sentence. If the jury decides in favor of the death penalty, the judge is bound by their decision. If the jury decides against the death penalty - sentencing would then be in the hands of Judge Stephens who would have two options:
The best Arias can hope for is the potential for parole after serving 25 years behind bars. It's difficult to believe this came as a such a surprise to her. During yesterday's interview, she said she was overwhelmed that the jury found premeditation - yet she said she understood the felony murder decision but blamed that on how the law is written. After the countless number of delays in getting this case to trial and Arias' migraines that accounted for several cancelled court sessions this has to be the final insult to the murder victim who is finally receiving justice after nearly 5 years.
Were Kirk Nurmi and Jennifer Willmott aware of the scheduled interview yesterday? Why are they having such a difficult time keeping their client quiet during these crucial junctures in this trial? Or is this just another ploy for sympathy, or is Arias falling back on a potential mental health defense now since the self-defense and heat of the moment arguments failed? The timing of it all is curious, and that's a generous statement. Some may say its just more manipulation from a desperate woman who is running out of options. If all else fails, play the crazy card. It's only a matter of time before Arias starts pointing the finger at her attorneys and plays the blame game.
She already began her Twitter campaign against the prosecutor and the State of Arizona, who turned down her offer to plead guilty to second degree murder. Juan was right, it's never Jodi's fault. Once again we are waiting on Jodi Arias. The trial WILL go on, delays or no delays. Justice is patient and it's willing to wait. The public may not be as forgiving. Delay, deflect and deny. Anybody seeing a clear pattern with the defense? Jodi Arias was competent yesterday while she sat down and spoke to a reporter for 45 minutes. What happened? What do you think?
What's going on behind the scenes out there in Phoenix? If you have the inside scoop, please feel free to post a comment and share it with the rest of us. I will post more information if it becomes available! By the way, a few people asked about sources for alerts when the verdict was in - I posted one, and I checked it out myself as well and it does work. It isn't specifically for the verdict, it was for any breaking news relating to the Jodi Arias trial. I used a similar service during the Casey Anthony trial and it was effective. I'm re posting the information here, in case anybody would like to receive text alerts via your cellphone if there is breaking Jodi Arias news.
Text the word BREAKING to 23765. The news source has been great. I received a text message right after I saw the announcement on television. The text message you receive will tell you how to cancel or stop receiving breaking news alerts. OK, that's all I have time for now. UUUGGRRR! Frustration and disappointment are good descriptors of how I feel about the delay. Have a great day!
Hmmm. Could this have anything to do with the interview Jodi Arias gave yesterday following the guilty verdict, where she told a local reporter with KSAZ that she'd prefer death to spending life in prison? The 45 minute interview stunned everybody. "I believe death is the ultimate freedom", Arias told the reporter. This interview had to have been planned in advance. It's not easy to gain access to a murder defendant and it's virtually unheard of for somebody to give an interview just minutes after being convicted of first degree murder. Is this the final card Jodi Arias has left to play? It has been reported that due to what Arias said during her interview, she was put on the "protocol suicide watch". I also heard a report about a possible bomb threat at the Superior Courthouse this morning - the building is routinely checked for such threats, particularly during a high profile case such as this one. Seems strange that Dr. Janeen DeMarte's house was broken into and her laptop stolen before the trial began, and a bomb threat the day after a guilty verdict? Maybe Arias has more fans than we thought she did.
My question to Jodi Arias would be this: you have publicly stated more than a dozen times that you wanted to kill yourself, you wanted to be dead and gone. "If I hurt Travis, I'd beg for the death penalty" were your exact words. You were found guilty of first degree murder, yet as your death wish becomes more plausible, you are now unable to assist in your own defense? What gives Jodi? I hope my words don't sound overly callous, despite my personal feelings about what justice should look like in this case - I don't wish death upon anybody. She is a human being, just like the rest of us. She's made some monumental mistakes in life, mistakes that took a loved and valued member of society from this world. At trial, she has shown little if any remorse. She has fabricated rancid tales about the man that she claimed to love and admire.
It appears that Arias was so shocked at the verdict that she didn't know how to react. Appearing somewhat defiant following the verdict, Arias looked back at her family in the gallery - something she didn't do often during her trial. The family she has thrown under the bus, a la Casey Anthony - "my mom kept a wooden spoon in her purse and hit me with it", "my sister is stupid". In an interview between Det. Flores and Jodi Arias' father Bill, it was revealed that Arias lashed out at her mother frequently and furiously. You can tell a lot about a person's character by the way they treat their family. Lack of respect is a big red flag. Taking for granted the love of your parents is a red flag. There were all kinds of red flags going up around Jodi Arias as she grew into adulthood. Tragically, Travis Alexander didn't see those red flags in time to escape the danger that lurked just beneath the surface of ex girlfriend Jodi Arias.
I don't know why the delay has me stumped and surprised. This trial has been full of these sort of oddities. The problem is, Arias has manipulated the system and cried wolf so many times that we are becoming numb to the suicide threats. Today was supposed to be an abbreviated court session, described as a "mini-trial", where evidence is presented by the prosecutor relating to the manner in which Travis Alexander was killed - Martinez will argue that he was murdered in an especially cruel and depraved manner.
That's stating the obvious and it would be outrageous to describe it in any other fashion. The jury needs to unanimous on their decision. If they are unable to reach an unanimous decision, a new jury would be empaneled to decide on the aggravation phase.
If the jury finds the murder was cruel and depraved, they would then move on to the sentencing phase. The jury would be charged with deciding if Arias receives a death sentence. If the jury decides in favor of the death penalty, the judge is bound by their decision. If the jury decides against the death penalty - sentencing would then be in the hands of Judge Stephens who would have two options:
- Life in prison without the possibility of parole
- Life in prison with the possibility of parole after serving 25 years
The best Arias can hope for is the potential for parole after serving 25 years behind bars. It's difficult to believe this came as a such a surprise to her. During yesterday's interview, she said she was overwhelmed that the jury found premeditation - yet she said she understood the felony murder decision but blamed that on how the law is written. After the countless number of delays in getting this case to trial and Arias' migraines that accounted for several cancelled court sessions this has to be the final insult to the murder victim who is finally receiving justice after nearly 5 years.
Were Kirk Nurmi and Jennifer Willmott aware of the scheduled interview yesterday? Why are they having such a difficult time keeping their client quiet during these crucial junctures in this trial? Or is this just another ploy for sympathy, or is Arias falling back on a potential mental health defense now since the self-defense and heat of the moment arguments failed? The timing of it all is curious, and that's a generous statement. Some may say its just more manipulation from a desperate woman who is running out of options. If all else fails, play the crazy card. It's only a matter of time before Arias starts pointing the finger at her attorneys and plays the blame game.
She already began her Twitter campaign against the prosecutor and the State of Arizona, who turned down her offer to plead guilty to second degree murder. Juan was right, it's never Jodi's fault. Once again we are waiting on Jodi Arias. The trial WILL go on, delays or no delays. Justice is patient and it's willing to wait. The public may not be as forgiving. Delay, deflect and deny. Anybody seeing a clear pattern with the defense? Jodi Arias was competent yesterday while she sat down and spoke to a reporter for 45 minutes. What happened? What do you think?
What's going on behind the scenes out there in Phoenix? If you have the inside scoop, please feel free to post a comment and share it with the rest of us. I will post more information if it becomes available! By the way, a few people asked about sources for alerts when the verdict was in - I posted one, and I checked it out myself as well and it does work. It isn't specifically for the verdict, it was for any breaking news relating to the Jodi Arias trial. I used a similar service during the Casey Anthony trial and it was effective. I'm re posting the information here, in case anybody would like to receive text alerts via your cellphone if there is breaking Jodi Arias news.
Text the word BREAKING to 23765. The news source has been great. I received a text message right after I saw the announcement on television. The text message you receive will tell you how to cancel or stop receiving breaking news alerts. OK, that's all I have time for now. UUUGGRRR! Frustration and disappointment are good descriptors of how I feel about the delay. Have a great day!
Who Is Maria De La Rosa - Mitigation Specialist For Jodi Arias?
Now that Jodi Arias has been found guilty of first degree murder for the June 4, 2008 killing of 30 year old Travis Alexander, we should be seeing and hearing more from the woman who has been seated directly behind Jodi Arias and the defense team throughout the 5 month long trial. Maria De La Rosa is Arias' mitigation specialist, and I wanted to take a look at her profile explore her experience and how she hopes to help Jodi Arias avoid Arizona's Death Row.
According to information obtained from LinkedIn, De La Rosa has been a "Capital Mitigation Specialist" for seven years, beginning in May of 2006. From June of 1999 to May of 2006, De La Rosa worked as a probation officer with the Maricopa County Adult Probation Office. From November of 2004 through May of 2005, she worked as a "Victim's Advocate" for the Maricopa Office of the Prosecutor's office.
Her educational background on LinkedIn indicates that she attended Northern Arizona University from 2004-2006 and holds a "Master of Education" (M.Ed).
In an ironic twist, the website I got this photo from, knoxnews.com posted a "Dense Fog Advisory" almost directly above this photo. I had to chuckle! I've spent several hours pouring over the "minute entries" for the Jodi Arias trial on the Maricopa Superior Court's website. There is a 4/30/13 court document that discusses how many hours Mitigation Specialist Maria De La Rosa has billed the county for - in case you are curious, the court has ordered De La Rosa to be paid for 100 hours for work done during the guilt phase of the trial alone. Some of the minute entries are mundane, but some of these minute entries are very interesting. If you would like to check out the numerous viewable court minute entry documents, just go to the Maricopa County Superior Court website, type in Jodi Ann Arias' name and there will be pages of dated court minute entries that you can view, download or just read.
I'll post the link at the end of this blog entry. The 4/30/13 entry states:
"IT IS ORDERED the Office of Public Defense shall pay the mitigation specialist, Maria De La Rosa, compensation for 100 hours of services rendered during the guilt phase of the trial".
http://www.courtminutes.maricopa.gov/docs/Criminal/052013/m5750389.pdf
We now know that Kirk Nurmi's pay rate more than doubled when he went into private practice but was ordered to remain on the Arias case. I believe Nurmi is making more than twice the hourly rate of counterpart Jennifer Willmott. Is it any wonder the defense team insisted on keeping the specifics of the trial costs under lock and key? Scott Peterson's high profile death penalty murder trial was conservatively estimated to cost more than $3,200,000. The trial of Richard Allen Davis was estimated to be $2,300,000, and the trial of serial killer Charles Ng cost a minimum of $10,900,000, of which more than $6,000,000 was paid to his defense team. This information was obtained from another interesting document I stumbled across this morning. If you have an interest in seeing the detailed accounting of these high profile trials, here's the link to the document:
https://www.aclunc.org/docs/criminal_justice/death_penalty/costs/trial_cost_case_studies.pdf
What exactly is a Capital Mitigation Specialist's job?
According to the American Bar Association guidelines for the appointment and performance of defense council in a Death Penalty Cases, a Mitigation Specialist is a mandatory part of the defense in any capital case, per ABA Guideline 10.4(C)(2)(a). ABA Guidelines require that any criminal defense team facing a capital punishment sentence have at minimum 2 defense attorneys , a private investigator and a mitigation specialist.
A mitigation specialist's role in a death penalty case is vital and they are considered an indispensable member of the defense team, although it is important to remember they are not a defense attorney. Mitigation specialists possess clinical and information gathering skills and training that most lawyers do not have. They have the time and ability to elicit information the defendant may have never disclosed. They are supposed to have the clinical skills to recognize congenital, mental, or neurological conditions and to understand how these conditions may have effected the defendant's development and behavior.
Most importantly, having a qualified capital mitigation specialist assigned to every death penalty case insures that the presentation to be made at the penalty phase is is integral to the overall preparation of the case. The mitigation specialist should prepare a well documented and comprehensive psycho-social history of the defendant. The results of which are analyzed, including what impact the findings have on personality and behavior. The mitigation specialist looks for mitigating themes in the defendant's life history, identifies the need for expert assistance and in locating appropriate experts, provides social history to experts to assist them in conducting competent and reliable evaluations, and works with the defense team and experts to develop a comprehensive and cohesive case in mitigation.
Mitigation specialists usually have advanced educational degrees in a form of social work or psychology as well as a background in criminal justice , particularly capital defense matters. The mitigation specialist must identify, locate and retrieve all records ever generated relating to the defendant, including records of their immediate family members. The following are examples of required records they must retrieve: birth certificates, hospital birth records, all medical records, school records, social services records, records from agencies and foster homes, juvenile records, adult criminal records, probation and parole records, employment records, psychological and psychiatric records and military records.
The mitigation specialist conducts interviews with family members, friends, neighbors, teachers, counselors, church members, co-workers, employers, spouses or ex's, boyfriends/girlfriends or ex-boyfriends/ex girlfriends, physicians, nurses, mental health providers, social services personnel, military peers, probation officers, parole officers, attorneys, guards and police officers. The mitigation specialist compiles this enormous amount of information and reports back to the defense attorneys and discuss areas that may need additional exploration by outside experts.
The mitigation specialist on the Arias case must have her hands full. Her job is one of monumental importance. We have seen her sitting quietly behind the defense table throughout the trial, often taking a seat next to Arias when one of her attorneys was questioning or cross examining a witness. She is there to support Jodi Arias and by the general job description of a Capital Mitigation Specialist, we know she has not been simply observing the trial - she has been very involved throughout. It will be interesting to see how the defense will take on the challenge of arguing Travis Alexander's death was not especially cruel and/or depraved. It's the equivalent to saying the sun doesn't always rise. They would be wise to back off of the theory that Travis somehow provoked Jodi Arias - or that she had to kill him or be killed. Clearly the jury does not believe that theory.
Jodi Arias will need to be humble, honest and sincere in the phases of this trial that follow. If she appears to be defiant, self righteous or wrongfully convicted, the jury may be so inflamed over the distasteful accusations she has made against Travis Alexander - and insulted that she lied to them under oath, they may find her to have no redeeming qualities. Those jurors have spoken. They did not believe her, plain and simple. To continue to argue that she was abused or attacked would be detrimental to her cause, if she wants to live. She told the press that she would rather die than spend her life in prison - I'm not sure if she really means that, or if it was just another ploy to garner sympathy from the public following her guilty verdict.
She's had a day to reflect on the outcome of her trial. She's likely an emotional wreck. The finality and reality is beginning to set in, and it may have never crossed her mind that she could actually be put to death for her crime. Having had five years to get past the immediate shock and trauma of killing another human being, she now is facing the fact that she will likely never walk out of prison a free woman in this lifetime. That has to be a sobering thought, I truly believe that Arias did not think she would be found guilty of first degree murder. She may have believed she would receive a compromise verdict of second degree murder.
I'd expect to be seeing and hearing more from Maria De La Rosa in the days and weeks to come. I've never heard her speak, and have only seen her whispering to Arias and trying to comfort her during emotional portions of the testimony during her trial. Is there anything she or anybody else can do to save Jodi Arias from the death penalty? Does Jodi Arias want to live, or would she really rather die than spend her life in prison? She should carefully choose her words from here on out. As well all know, she boldly predicted that no jury would ever convict her, because she was innocent - not because she planned on committing suicide as she told the jury. She also told Detective Flores that if she had hurt Travis, "she would BEG for the death penalty". Be careful what you wish for.
What will happen when court resumes at 1:00PM today? Will the courtroom be standing room only as it was yesterday for the reading of the verdict? I think it will be. Seeing Travis' siblings crying and hugging one another yesterday brought tears to my eyes as well. It's difficult to explain those tears, because you know that even with the guilty verdict, they are not happy. Their beloved brother is gone. Nothing will bring him back. The tears were probably of relief, raw emotion that they have had to keep inside during the duration of the trial - finally they were able to let it out. I wouldn't call them tears of joy. There is nothing remotely joyous about this case. At least Travis' killer received a just verdict of guilty of first degree murder and nothing less. It is a just verdict.
Much has been said about Sandy Arias, and how she appears to be assisting her daughter in trying to sell the forged letters from Travis to the National Enquirer - and there is speculation that she has been writing a book. While I find assisting Arias in selling those forged documents, she is still a mother. Regardless of how bad your child may turn out, a mother's love is like no other love and she has to be hurting. Her grandmother has to be hurting and wondering how things got to this point. This is a situation nobody would like to be in. I think of the position Cindy Anthony was placed in during daughter Casey's trial. She was caught between her absolute love and adoration of her grand daughter Caylee, and the love she still had for Casey, despite her suspicions about her involvement in the disappearance and subsequent death of Caylee. Cindy Anthony fell on the sword for Casey on that witness stand, perjuring herself by saying she was the one who did the Internet searches for Chloroform, despite her employment records showing she was at work during the time of those searches. There is nothing that equals a mother's love.
While it's not the time to celebrate for either family because of the enormity of their losses, at least Travis' loved ones can rest assured that his killer was brought to justice and Travis may finally rest in peace. He will not be remembered for the nasty allegations made against him during this trial, rather he will be remembered for the funny, kind-hearted and generous human being that friends described him as. He continues to motivate and inspire people, in death - as he did in life. His legacy will live on long after Jodi Arias is forgotten.
RIP Travis Victor Alexander.
According to information obtained from LinkedIn, De La Rosa has been a "Capital Mitigation Specialist" for seven years, beginning in May of 2006. From June of 1999 to May of 2006, De La Rosa worked as a probation officer with the Maricopa County Adult Probation Office. From November of 2004 through May of 2005, she worked as a "Victim's Advocate" for the Maricopa Office of the Prosecutor's office.
Her educational background on LinkedIn indicates that she attended Northern Arizona University from 2004-2006 and holds a "Master of Education" (M.Ed).
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| Jodi Arias & Maria DeLaRosa (Knoxnews.com) |
In an ironic twist, the website I got this photo from, knoxnews.com posted a "Dense Fog Advisory" almost directly above this photo. I had to chuckle! I've spent several hours pouring over the "minute entries" for the Jodi Arias trial on the Maricopa Superior Court's website. There is a 4/30/13 court document that discusses how many hours Mitigation Specialist Maria De La Rosa has billed the county for - in case you are curious, the court has ordered De La Rosa to be paid for 100 hours for work done during the guilt phase of the trial alone. Some of the minute entries are mundane, but some of these minute entries are very interesting. If you would like to check out the numerous viewable court minute entry documents, just go to the Maricopa County Superior Court website, type in Jodi Ann Arias' name and there will be pages of dated court minute entries that you can view, download or just read.
I'll post the link at the end of this blog entry. The 4/30/13 entry states:
"IT IS ORDERED the Office of Public Defense shall pay the mitigation specialist, Maria De La Rosa, compensation for 100 hours of services rendered during the guilt phase of the trial".
http://www.courtminutes.maricopa.gov/docs/Criminal/052013/m5750389.pdf
We now know that Kirk Nurmi's pay rate more than doubled when he went into private practice but was ordered to remain on the Arias case. I believe Nurmi is making more than twice the hourly rate of counterpart Jennifer Willmott. Is it any wonder the defense team insisted on keeping the specifics of the trial costs under lock and key? Scott Peterson's high profile death penalty murder trial was conservatively estimated to cost more than $3,200,000. The trial of Richard Allen Davis was estimated to be $2,300,000, and the trial of serial killer Charles Ng cost a minimum of $10,900,000, of which more than $6,000,000 was paid to his defense team. This information was obtained from another interesting document I stumbled across this morning. If you have an interest in seeing the detailed accounting of these high profile trials, here's the link to the document:
https://www.aclunc.org/docs/criminal_justice/death_penalty/costs/trial_cost_case_studies.pdf
What exactly is a Capital Mitigation Specialist's job?
According to the American Bar Association guidelines for the appointment and performance of defense council in a Death Penalty Cases, a Mitigation Specialist is a mandatory part of the defense in any capital case, per ABA Guideline 10.4(C)(2)(a). ABA Guidelines require that any criminal defense team facing a capital punishment sentence have at minimum 2 defense attorneys , a private investigator and a mitigation specialist.
A mitigation specialist's role in a death penalty case is vital and they are considered an indispensable member of the defense team, although it is important to remember they are not a defense attorney. Mitigation specialists possess clinical and information gathering skills and training that most lawyers do not have. They have the time and ability to elicit information the defendant may have never disclosed. They are supposed to have the clinical skills to recognize congenital, mental, or neurological conditions and to understand how these conditions may have effected the defendant's development and behavior.
Most importantly, having a qualified capital mitigation specialist assigned to every death penalty case insures that the presentation to be made at the penalty phase is is integral to the overall preparation of the case. The mitigation specialist should prepare a well documented and comprehensive psycho-social history of the defendant. The results of which are analyzed, including what impact the findings have on personality and behavior. The mitigation specialist looks for mitigating themes in the defendant's life history, identifies the need for expert assistance and in locating appropriate experts, provides social history to experts to assist them in conducting competent and reliable evaluations, and works with the defense team and experts to develop a comprehensive and cohesive case in mitigation.
Mitigation specialists usually have advanced educational degrees in a form of social work or psychology as well as a background in criminal justice , particularly capital defense matters. The mitigation specialist must identify, locate and retrieve all records ever generated relating to the defendant, including records of their immediate family members. The following are examples of required records they must retrieve: birth certificates, hospital birth records, all medical records, school records, social services records, records from agencies and foster homes, juvenile records, adult criminal records, probation and parole records, employment records, psychological and psychiatric records and military records.
The mitigation specialist conducts interviews with family members, friends, neighbors, teachers, counselors, church members, co-workers, employers, spouses or ex's, boyfriends/girlfriends or ex-boyfriends/ex girlfriends, physicians, nurses, mental health providers, social services personnel, military peers, probation officers, parole officers, attorneys, guards and police officers. The mitigation specialist compiles this enormous amount of information and reports back to the defense attorneys and discuss areas that may need additional exploration by outside experts.
The mitigation specialist on the Arias case must have her hands full. Her job is one of monumental importance. We have seen her sitting quietly behind the defense table throughout the trial, often taking a seat next to Arias when one of her attorneys was questioning or cross examining a witness. She is there to support Jodi Arias and by the general job description of a Capital Mitigation Specialist, we know she has not been simply observing the trial - she has been very involved throughout. It will be interesting to see how the defense will take on the challenge of arguing Travis Alexander's death was not especially cruel and/or depraved. It's the equivalent to saying the sun doesn't always rise. They would be wise to back off of the theory that Travis somehow provoked Jodi Arias - or that she had to kill him or be killed. Clearly the jury does not believe that theory.
Jodi Arias will need to be humble, honest and sincere in the phases of this trial that follow. If she appears to be defiant, self righteous or wrongfully convicted, the jury may be so inflamed over the distasteful accusations she has made against Travis Alexander - and insulted that she lied to them under oath, they may find her to have no redeeming qualities. Those jurors have spoken. They did not believe her, plain and simple. To continue to argue that she was abused or attacked would be detrimental to her cause, if she wants to live. She told the press that she would rather die than spend her life in prison - I'm not sure if she really means that, or if it was just another ploy to garner sympathy from the public following her guilty verdict.
She's had a day to reflect on the outcome of her trial. She's likely an emotional wreck. The finality and reality is beginning to set in, and it may have never crossed her mind that she could actually be put to death for her crime. Having had five years to get past the immediate shock and trauma of killing another human being, she now is facing the fact that she will likely never walk out of prison a free woman in this lifetime. That has to be a sobering thought, I truly believe that Arias did not think she would be found guilty of first degree murder. She may have believed she would receive a compromise verdict of second degree murder.
I'd expect to be seeing and hearing more from Maria De La Rosa in the days and weeks to come. I've never heard her speak, and have only seen her whispering to Arias and trying to comfort her during emotional portions of the testimony during her trial. Is there anything she or anybody else can do to save Jodi Arias from the death penalty? Does Jodi Arias want to live, or would she really rather die than spend her life in prison? She should carefully choose her words from here on out. As well all know, she boldly predicted that no jury would ever convict her, because she was innocent - not because she planned on committing suicide as she told the jury. She also told Detective Flores that if she had hurt Travis, "she would BEG for the death penalty". Be careful what you wish for.
What will happen when court resumes at 1:00PM today? Will the courtroom be standing room only as it was yesterday for the reading of the verdict? I think it will be. Seeing Travis' siblings crying and hugging one another yesterday brought tears to my eyes as well. It's difficult to explain those tears, because you know that even with the guilty verdict, they are not happy. Their beloved brother is gone. Nothing will bring him back. The tears were probably of relief, raw emotion that they have had to keep inside during the duration of the trial - finally they were able to let it out. I wouldn't call them tears of joy. There is nothing remotely joyous about this case. At least Travis' killer received a just verdict of guilty of first degree murder and nothing less. It is a just verdict.
Much has been said about Sandy Arias, and how she appears to be assisting her daughter in trying to sell the forged letters from Travis to the National Enquirer - and there is speculation that she has been writing a book. While I find assisting Arias in selling those forged documents, she is still a mother. Regardless of how bad your child may turn out, a mother's love is like no other love and she has to be hurting. Her grandmother has to be hurting and wondering how things got to this point. This is a situation nobody would like to be in. I think of the position Cindy Anthony was placed in during daughter Casey's trial. She was caught between her absolute love and adoration of her grand daughter Caylee, and the love she still had for Casey, despite her suspicions about her involvement in the disappearance and subsequent death of Caylee. Cindy Anthony fell on the sword for Casey on that witness stand, perjuring herself by saying she was the one who did the Internet searches for Chloroform, despite her employment records showing she was at work during the time of those searches. There is nothing that equals a mother's love.
While it's not the time to celebrate for either family because of the enormity of their losses, at least Travis' loved ones can rest assured that his killer was brought to justice and Travis may finally rest in peace. He will not be remembered for the nasty allegations made against him during this trial, rather he will be remembered for the funny, kind-hearted and generous human being that friends described him as. He continues to motivate and inspire people, in death - as he did in life. His legacy will live on long after Jodi Arias is forgotten.
RIP Travis Victor Alexander.
Jodi Arias GUILTY Of 1st Degree Murder
Jodi Arias has been found guilty of first degree murder for the June 4, 2008 killing of Travis Alexander. Arias sat with her attorneys, dressed in black as the jurors entered the courtroom. She tries to make eye contact with each one of them, even taking a step behind Jennifer Willmott to look directly at them as they are taking their seats. It was a packed courtroom, they were filled to capacity and then some while hundreds of people assembled outside the Superior Court building to be a part of the resolution of this tragic 5 year case.
Jodi Arias appeared genuinely surprised when the guilty verdict was read, her mouth dropped slightly - as she looked to attorney Jennifer Willmott and then looked at the jurors. The Judge announced that 5 jurors found Arias guilty of premeditated 1st degree murder and 7 jurors found Arias guilty of both premeditated AND felony murder. I can't say enough about the job prosecutor Juan Martinez did with this case, granted he had a lot of evidence in his favor going into this case, but the way he presented the idea of premeditated and felony murder to this jury left little doubt that she was quite possibly guilty of both. Jodi Arias' downfall was not only her lack of honesty, but the unbelievable and distasteful allegations she made about the man that she murdered. She not only blamed the victim, she portrayed Travis as a perverted sex fiend, who used her for sex much like a prostitute. Yet in her journal entries and in her own testimony she talked about how much she admired and loved this man. Her emotions were not genuine, her stories were not believable and she absolutely dragged his name through the mud. All the while, knowing there really was no way for the prosecutor to disprove the things she was saying. Who does that? A manipulator and sociopath does that.
As the jurors were excused, again Arias took a step back behind Jennifer Willmott in an attempt to make eye contact with the jurors. She reportedly gave a brief interview after the guilty verdict to Fox affiliate KSAZ and said she was overwhelmed and surprised by the verdict because she doesn't believe she committed first degree murder. She reportedly would prefer death over life in prison. She was also quoted as saying "death is the ultimate freedom".
"No jury will ever convict me, mark my words". I wonder if those words are as bitter to swallow as she told the jury they would be? We didn't get to see much of Arias after the verdict was announced and the jurors were individually polled and then excused for the day. It has been reported that Arias was seen lashing out at her attorney(s) after the jurors left the room. Is she really going to blame her attorneys now? I doubt self defense was their first choice when they were assigned to this case. Arias wanted to get off completely, as in a justifiable homicide - a big gamble that she lost. Thanks to NancyB, we know that Jodi Arias personally appealed to the judge in a 5 page handwritten letter in which she was insistent that Kirk Nurmi remain on as her counsel. She said that he was a person she trusted and who knew her case inside and out, and she felt if he were to be replaced it would be highly detrimental to her case. She wanted Nurmi on the case, and that was in her own words.
The Alexander family cried and hugged one another. Their journey isn't over, but it just took a mighty step in the right direction with Arias' conviction on the highest charge. The jurors were polled one by one by Judge Sherry Stephens, as Arias looked each and every one of them in the eyes as if she were pleading for mercy as they confirmed their guilty verdicts. They were instructed to be back in the court room tomorrow at 1:00PM to begin hearing arguments on the next phase of this trial. Aggravating factors will be argued as the jury decides if the State has proven at least one of these factors has been met. The aggravating factor in this case is the cruel and depraved manner of death inflicted on Travis Alexander. How in the world does the defense argue against this, the most obvious of all facts in this case? Whether or not Travis was shot or stabbed first, we do know by the evidence and crime scene photos that he was still alive after the initial wound, as he bled over the sink and staggered down the hallway in an attempt to escape his killer. The blood evidence suggests she chased him down and executed him by slicing his throat while he was on the ground, already dying from the stab wound to the chest. What could the defense possibly say? This was the definition of cruel and depraved.
After hearing arguments over the aggravating factors, the jury will then decide whether Arias should be eligible for the death penalty. They will then deliberate again and they must be unanimous in their decision. If they are unable to reach an unanimous decision, a new jury could be empaneled for this phase of the trial!
Next would be the mitigation phase - the mitigation specialist and attorneys would argue the reasons that Jodi Arias' life should be spared, what her positive attributes are and how she could contribute to society. The jury would likely hear from family and friends and Jodi Arias herself during the mitigation phase of the trial.
The same jury that found Arias guilty of first degree murder could sentence her to death in the coming weeks. The guilt phase is over, but this story is far from over. I'm satisfied and relieved that this jury saw through the "field of lies" that indeed sprouted around Arias on that witness stand. But it was the nature of the lies about Travis Alexander were especially cruel and heinous. She went for the most vile accusations you could make about a person, she went for the hot-button topic of pedophilia - something people do not tolerate in others. The Maricopa County jury pool was right on the money, they found the truth through the fog of lies. Juan Martinez got more than half of the jurors to agree that Arias was guilty of both felony and premeditated murder, and that bodes very well for the State.
Tomorrow will be a riveting day in the Superior Courtroom we have become so familiar with. A collective sigh of relief can now be breathed as the Alexander family can now rest assured that Jodi Arias did not and will not get away with murder. My faith in the justice system has been fully restored. I can't wait to discuss this and hear all of your reactions to the verdict and look forward to continuing our forum all the way through sentencing! Have a fabulous day and thank you for stopping by to take part in this blog. I really appreciate each and every comment.
Congratulations to Juan Martinez and Esteban Flores for putting together an air tight case. Great police work from the lead detective, who has one of the best interview styles I've seen in a long while. And say what you will about Juan Martinez, and his pit-bull style - but the man gets the job done!! Seeing Juan Martinez standing next to Kirk Nurmi during a sidebar gave you the feeling of David vs. Goliath. Our justice system worked today. We didn't have to sit through the agony of another OJ Simpson or Casey Anthony moment and the truth finally shined through.
Looking forward to seeing this trial out to the very end! Goodnight one and all.
Jodi Arias appeared genuinely surprised when the guilty verdict was read, her mouth dropped slightly - as she looked to attorney Jennifer Willmott and then looked at the jurors. The Judge announced that 5 jurors found Arias guilty of premeditated 1st degree murder and 7 jurors found Arias guilty of both premeditated AND felony murder. I can't say enough about the job prosecutor Juan Martinez did with this case, granted he had a lot of evidence in his favor going into this case, but the way he presented the idea of premeditated and felony murder to this jury left little doubt that she was quite possibly guilty of both. Jodi Arias' downfall was not only her lack of honesty, but the unbelievable and distasteful allegations she made about the man that she murdered. She not only blamed the victim, she portrayed Travis as a perverted sex fiend, who used her for sex much like a prostitute. Yet in her journal entries and in her own testimony she talked about how much she admired and loved this man. Her emotions were not genuine, her stories were not believable and she absolutely dragged his name through the mud. All the while, knowing there really was no way for the prosecutor to disprove the things she was saying. Who does that? A manipulator and sociopath does that.
As the jurors were excused, again Arias took a step back behind Jennifer Willmott in an attempt to make eye contact with the jurors. She reportedly gave a brief interview after the guilty verdict to Fox affiliate KSAZ and said she was overwhelmed and surprised by the verdict because she doesn't believe she committed first degree murder. She reportedly would prefer death over life in prison. She was also quoted as saying "death is the ultimate freedom".
"No jury will ever convict me, mark my words". I wonder if those words are as bitter to swallow as she told the jury they would be? We didn't get to see much of Arias after the verdict was announced and the jurors were individually polled and then excused for the day. It has been reported that Arias was seen lashing out at her attorney(s) after the jurors left the room. Is she really going to blame her attorneys now? I doubt self defense was their first choice when they were assigned to this case. Arias wanted to get off completely, as in a justifiable homicide - a big gamble that she lost. Thanks to NancyB, we know that Jodi Arias personally appealed to the judge in a 5 page handwritten letter in which she was insistent that Kirk Nurmi remain on as her counsel. She said that he was a person she trusted and who knew her case inside and out, and she felt if he were to be replaced it would be highly detrimental to her case. She wanted Nurmi on the case, and that was in her own words.
The Alexander family cried and hugged one another. Their journey isn't over, but it just took a mighty step in the right direction with Arias' conviction on the highest charge. The jurors were polled one by one by Judge Sherry Stephens, as Arias looked each and every one of them in the eyes as if she were pleading for mercy as they confirmed their guilty verdicts. They were instructed to be back in the court room tomorrow at 1:00PM to begin hearing arguments on the next phase of this trial. Aggravating factors will be argued as the jury decides if the State has proven at least one of these factors has been met. The aggravating factor in this case is the cruel and depraved manner of death inflicted on Travis Alexander. How in the world does the defense argue against this, the most obvious of all facts in this case? Whether or not Travis was shot or stabbed first, we do know by the evidence and crime scene photos that he was still alive after the initial wound, as he bled over the sink and staggered down the hallway in an attempt to escape his killer. The blood evidence suggests she chased him down and executed him by slicing his throat while he was on the ground, already dying from the stab wound to the chest. What could the defense possibly say? This was the definition of cruel and depraved.
After hearing arguments over the aggravating factors, the jury will then decide whether Arias should be eligible for the death penalty. They will then deliberate again and they must be unanimous in their decision. If they are unable to reach an unanimous decision, a new jury could be empaneled for this phase of the trial!
Next would be the mitigation phase - the mitigation specialist and attorneys would argue the reasons that Jodi Arias' life should be spared, what her positive attributes are and how she could contribute to society. The jury would likely hear from family and friends and Jodi Arias herself during the mitigation phase of the trial.
The same jury that found Arias guilty of first degree murder could sentence her to death in the coming weeks. The guilt phase is over, but this story is far from over. I'm satisfied and relieved that this jury saw through the "field of lies" that indeed sprouted around Arias on that witness stand. But it was the nature of the lies about Travis Alexander were especially cruel and heinous. She went for the most vile accusations you could make about a person, she went for the hot-button topic of pedophilia - something people do not tolerate in others. The Maricopa County jury pool was right on the money, they found the truth through the fog of lies. Juan Martinez got more than half of the jurors to agree that Arias was guilty of both felony and premeditated murder, and that bodes very well for the State.
Tomorrow will be a riveting day in the Superior Courtroom we have become so familiar with. A collective sigh of relief can now be breathed as the Alexander family can now rest assured that Jodi Arias did not and will not get away with murder. My faith in the justice system has been fully restored. I can't wait to discuss this and hear all of your reactions to the verdict and look forward to continuing our forum all the way through sentencing! Have a fabulous day and thank you for stopping by to take part in this blog. I really appreciate each and every comment.
Congratulations to Juan Martinez and Esteban Flores for putting together an air tight case. Great police work from the lead detective, who has one of the best interview styles I've seen in a long while. And say what you will about Juan Martinez, and his pit-bull style - but the man gets the job done!! Seeing Juan Martinez standing next to Kirk Nurmi during a sidebar gave you the feeling of David vs. Goliath. Our justice system worked today. We didn't have to sit through the agony of another OJ Simpson or Casey Anthony moment and the truth finally shined through.
Looking forward to seeing this trial out to the very end! Goodnight one and all.
Wendi Andriano Jury Speaks To The Arizona Republic
This is off topic, but since the Wendi Andriano murder trial has been compared to the Jodi Arias trial because of the similarities (outrageous self-defense and abuse claims) between the cases - including having the same prosecutor, I wanted to post a link to an Arizona Republic article where the jurors discussed the great emotional toll the case had on them.
It's such an interesting read that I thought it would be worth posting it here, especially in light of the fact that Jodi Arias is facing similar charges, and was prosecuted by the same man who put Andriano on Death Row. The article outlines all of the things that happen after the guilt or innocence phase of the trial is over. This may be a template for Jodi Arias' immediate future. Somebody had posted a comment here yesterday asking where I got the jury deliberation time for the Andriano case (15 minutes), this is one of the sources I used when I was researching Andriano's trial.
I've also heard the 15 minute time frame discussed recently on HLN during the Arias deliberations. The Andriano jury took much longer to decide other issues following the guilt phase. If you have an interest, here is the link to the Arizona Republic article from Jan 24, 2005 called "Deciding life, death takes toll on jurors". Have a great day!
http://www.nlada.org/DMS/Documents/1106668066.47/0124deathjurors24.html
It's such an interesting read that I thought it would be worth posting it here, especially in light of the fact that Jodi Arias is facing similar charges, and was prosecuted by the same man who put Andriano on Death Row. The article outlines all of the things that happen after the guilt or innocence phase of the trial is over. This may be a template for Jodi Arias' immediate future. Somebody had posted a comment here yesterday asking where I got the jury deliberation time for the Andriano case (15 minutes), this is one of the sources I used when I was researching Andriano's trial.
I've also heard the 15 minute time frame discussed recently on HLN during the Arias deliberations. The Andriano jury took much longer to decide other issues following the guilt phase. If you have an interest, here is the link to the Arizona Republic article from Jan 24, 2005 called "Deciding life, death takes toll on jurors". Have a great day!
http://www.nlada.org/DMS/Documents/1106668066.47/0124deathjurors24.html
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