The Jodi Arias Trial--Fatal Attraction – The Murder of Travis Alexander

[Duchess]

some of them believed that she was verbally abused by Travis

Did I miss proof of that? Were there recordings of Travis verbally abusing her or did the jury simply take her word for it?

[HairOfTheDog]

some of them believed that she was verbally abused by Travis

Did I miss proof of that? Were there recordings of Travis verbally abusing her or did the jury simply take her word for it?

There were texts and emails of Travis calling her a three-hole wonder, a sociopath, someone who only cries for herself, the worst thing that ever happened to him...

The fact that she was sneaking into his home, slashing his tires, sending him fake emails from another guy to try to make him jealous, falsely claiming that people were approaching her in public and telling her things about what he was doing with another woman... make the comments that he made understandable in context. IMO.

Dramatic unhealthy relationship, yep. Arias abused, nope. To me, anyway.

[Duchess]

Thanks!

It's really kind of incredible that the jury would take all of that out of context. Ah-mazing.

So many lies she told, an awesome amount of proof of what a fucked up individual she is and they still couldn't come to an agreement. She does deserve to die for her crime.

[Carsman]

Seems "slashing of the throat", in the addition to the stabbing's & gun shot, could have been a little over the top for verbal abuse! IMO: Off with her head!

[HairOfTheDog]

. . . instead of them going on record and AT THE LEAST unanimously agree on the same sentence, they took the cowardly way out and left it up to the judge. "Let someone else be responsible for her destiny . . . we're done!"

They took an oath without the caveat of serial killer or cult leader to adminster the ultimate sentence.

I've seen Juror Dianne Schwartz interviewed a couple of times now.

If all jurors were as clear about their roles and sensible as she, it wouldn't be so nerve-wracking every time jury deliberations begin.

Here's an interview with her from yesterday.
http://www.hlntv.com/article/2013/05/31/...ot-showing

[username]

What? HLN (Nancy Grace) is reporting that some of the male jurors asked about Jodi's boob job?

[Duchess]

Jesus Christ.

[HairOfTheDog]

HLN is confirming that Martinez is not planning to offer Arias a plea deal and he's prepared to move forward with the penalty phase re-trial in 5 weeks.

Meanwhile, yet another defense strategy introduced in new court filings.

After fighting tooth and nail against the prosecution's expert diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder, the defense now claims that Arias is in fact mentally ill and it would be cruel to put her to death.

Arias's death-wish sure didn't last long once it became a very real possibility.

I think if she's allowed to introduce mental illness as a mitigating factor in the retrial, chances of Arias actually getting the death penalty are slim.

[HairOfTheDog]

What? HLN (Nancy Grace) is reporting that some of the male jurors asked about Jodi's boob job?

Sometimes Nancy Grace likes to troll her own guests.

I saw the re-run last night; she couldn't get any of them to bite.

I think she assumed the question was asked by a male. In any case, the question was a jab at Arias for lying and/or having messed up priorities, imo. Arias claimed that she and Daryl were struggling financially and lost their house. The juror wanted to know how she could afford a boob job at the time if money was so tight. It wasn't a salacious question and the panel mostly agreed that it was a valid question.

Some of the side bar and non-testimony records that are being released now are kinda amusing. Heard a couple of sidebars between Wilmott and Martinez; pretty personal. Martinez is a full-on mocker to her and Wilmott then whines to the judge about it; the judge basically says, "meh". Ha.

[username]

Thanks HotD. That's what I get for skimming HLN.

It's a shame Jodi is going to get yet more air time but I imagine this is what the Alexander family wants so I wish them luck. I agree that the odds are slim if they convince the jury of mental illness.

[HairOfTheDog]

Arias was in court today.

Her defense team is requesting that the re-trial of her sentencing phase be pushed back from July 18^th until January, to give them more time to prepare.

I hope the judge denies the request. Arias and her team had 5 years to come up with their defense strategy, more than enough time. Put it to bed already.

Some of the jurors from her trial attended the hearing today.

[username]

I just saw a clip from the made for TV movie. Creepy. I imagine the Alexander family will hate having that out there. I wonder if the network compensates them at all? I wouldn't think so and I'm not sure a family with integrity would want it. Yuk.

[heartbreaker6713]

User I saw that clip I got creeped out watching it but already have it saved to watch on my DVD. I also watch an interview with the actors and while I expect it to affect them... They were acting odd to me. Their answers were drawn out they kept looking at each other depending on each other to finish the sentences and I almost felt like they had a dirty little secret. I don't know if that was the point or not but It also didnt feel right or real or either that they were trying to cover it up and it didn't work.

I'm tired of hearing the defense cry... They lost... I think putting a fund together to silence Jodi would be a therapeutic idea for the world . Put it on someone's acct in jail and let them handle her... Oops she never made it to her next court date. Darn she got the death penalty after all. Is that wishful thinking?!

[Duchess]

I'm going to need a walker before this stuff is resolved.

[HairOfTheDog]

^ I keep hoping that the penalty phase retrial isn't delayed and Arias is backing in court on July 18^th.

Please let her fate be decided this summer.

Arias has been working the legal system, the media, and the Alexander family for so long now. It's time to end it.

Heartbreaker: Did you watch the movie? If so, what did you think?

[BlueTiki]

Arias attorneys seek to vacate death eligibility

Jodi Arias' attorneys have asked a judge to vacate the jury's decision in her murder trial that the 2008 killing of her boyfriend was "especially cruel," a finding that allowed the panel to consider the death penalty.

They argue, among other things, that the legal definition of "especially cruel" is too vague for jurors with no legal experience to determine what makes one killing more cruel than another. The filing also appears to challenge a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that found juries, not judges, should decide a defendant's death penalty eligibility.

Arias was convicted May 8 in the death of Travis Alexander at his suburban Phoenix home. The same jury later failed to reach a unanimous decision on whether to sentence Arias to life in prison or death.

The next hearing in the case is set for July 18.

Source

[HairOfTheDog]

Oh, geez. What's next?

Since her trial ended, Aria's lawyers have claimed:

1. She's mentally ill; not responsible for her own actions (despite fighting a mental illness diagnosis tooth and nail previously).
2. They need a six month delay to prepare for a new penalty trial; after having 5 years to prepare her defense.
3. And, now, the jury wasn't capable or correct in determining that 29 stab wounds, a slashed throat, and a shot to the face constitutes extreme cruelty.

What a farce. Hoping all of these motions are denied.

[Carsman]

Oh, geez. What's next?

Since her trial ended, Aria's lawyers have claimed:

1. She's mentally ill; not responsible for her own actions (despite fighting a mental illness diagnosis tooth and nail previously).
2. They need a six month delay to prepare for a new penalty trial; after having 5 years to prepare her defense.
3. And, now, the jury wasn't capable or correct in determining that 29 stab wounds, a slashed throat, and a shot to the face constitutes extreme cruelty.

What a farce. Hoping all of these motions are denied.

Can't sleep.

Seems Jodi's lawyers may be as mentally ill as her!

[heartbreaker6713]

I did watch it and i found myself glad that this movie didn't come out before the trial. I found myself wondering how many of the details were close to what happened prior to the murder. There was a part of the movie that i think hit that part on the head and had this come out before the trial and any of the jury saw the movie i dont think they would have separate the two because i think many people have experienced this part. The part was when jody was showing people how she supposedly had decorated travis house during a party that was at travis house. Then when this party was over travis was saying good bye to the people and held jodi at the hallway with a hand held up. She confronted him saying why can't i say good bye too and he said because then they will know you are staying over. She then brings up the dirty little secret part. It was never brought up in trial that she had decorated his house or at least that i had heard of.

There were also scenes that his bedroom was done in flowery things like her decor, etc. This would lend me to believe it was more than just a little dirty secret and a booty call. I do not and will not defend jodi or think what she did was right. They also portrayed that while travis was in the shower he got one last minute text and that sent jodi into a rage and that is when she killed him. it was an interesting movie overall.

It also made me think about whether or not she showered over his body or in the shower when she was done because she would have had blood all over her. while the police did say there was a drop of blood in the other bathroom i dont know that would be the room she would have cleaned up everything. And even though she says she drove with blood all over her, i think that would be a bit suspect and i highly doubt going through a checkpoint with any amount of blood on you anywhere would be something someone would wave through.

[heartbreaker6713]

i didn't explain myself very well... jodi was wanting to know where she stood with travis and he wasn't being clear, and clear to his friends. The movie also gave the impression that the conversation that travis had with his friend about jodi not being marriage material or long term was within ear shot of her and that travis then had that conversation with her because she overheard it. It is obviously going to have differences because it was a movie but it left you wondering things. They went for it on the nudity, they had to blur things out.