Jodi Arias: Hell Hath No Fury — ( WildAboutTrial)

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WildAboutTrial

01/03/2013

Travis Alexander’s roommates found him dead in their apartment. He was not just dead but the victim of a horrific attack. He had been shot in the face. 27 stab wounds decorated his body. A deep knife wound slit his throat. He lay lifeless in the shower.On that day in June, 2008, a perpetrator was not instantly clear. No one had a motive. Everyone had an alibi — including his ex-girlfriend, Jodi Arias, who told police she was on a road trip.

It wasn’t until the authorities found a bloody handprint at the scene that matched Arias’ fingerprints that she became their only suspect. Arias tried to explain her presence at the scene of Alexander’s murder by telling police that they were the victims of masked intruders. She told them she couldn’t identify the intruders in a lineup and that she was too scared to call the police right away after the attack.

Arias later changed her story. She told the police that she and Alexander fought, that he became violent and abusive with her and that she acted in self-defense.

The changing stories and the handprint sealed her guilt in the minds of the authorities, and she was charged with murder in the first degree for the death of Travis Alexander.

Alexander and Arias’ relationship leading up to the killing was both passionate and fraught with difficulty. Within two months of meeting, Alexander had baptised Arias into the Mormon faith, refusing to date her unless she shared his beliefs.

The couple dated for a few months until Arias found text messages from another girl on Alexander’s phone in June 2007. They fought, split up, but continued a sexual relationship up until just before Alexander died. In fact, a camera found at the scene of the crime shows both Alexander and Arias in sexy poses, taken just a few days before. The last picture is of Alexander’s bloodied body in the shower.

In July of 2007, after the two had officially split, Arias relocated from California to Arizona where Alexander lived. He was dating another woman. His tires were slashed twice that December, and his girlfriend received a threatening email.

Arias returned to California in March of 2008. She and Alexander kept in touch, and he promised to visit her in May. In June, Arias planned a road trip to Los Angeles and then to Utah to visit a friend.

On June 9, Alexander’s body was found. On June 26, investigators found Arias’ bloody handprint at the scene, and on July 15 Arias was arrested for her ex-boyfriend’s murder. She has been in custody ever since.

Jodi’s sensational trial lasted for more than four months, becoming a social media spectacle and capturing national headlines as millions watched the trial live online.

Arias herself testified for an unbelievable 18 days during which she described the lurid details of their sexual relationship, which included nude photos and even a phone sex recording. She attempted to explain why her story changed several times throughout the investigation and told jurors that she acted in self-defense, but as a result of the trauma, her memory of the events of June 4, 2008 — the day she admitted killing Travis Alexander — was clouded by a “fog”.

A jury of eight men and four women convicted Jodi Arias, 32, of first-degree murder on May 8, 2013. However, the same jury was not able to reach a unanimous decision on whether the scorned lover turner killer should be put to death or receive life in prison.

Prosecutors have stated they will continue to seek the death penalty. A second sentencing hearing, in front of a new jury, is likely to take place in late 2013 or early 2014.

The second sentencing trial for Arias was initially scheduled to begin March 17, 2014. Judge Stephens ruled February 12 that the start date for that trial will postponed due to a scheduling conflict with Prosecutor Juan Martinez, who is engaged in a separate capital murder trial. A new trial date has not been set.

If Arias receives the death penalty, it would earn her the dubious distinction as the third woman on Arizona’s death row.

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Jodi Arias Sick or Stalling?

CNN.com – Transcripts

ANE VELEZ-MITCHELL

Aired March 27, 2013 – 19:00 ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL, HOST: Breaking news. We’ve got brand-new information just in on Jodi Arias and why court was suddenly called off. And it`s not just because Jodi has a migraine. There are more complaints, in fact.

Plus, controversy tonight over prosecutor Juan Martinez signing autographs and stopping for photo-ops. He’s turned into a local superstar with his very own fan base. But is he celebrating too soon? Is this appropriate, or not?

VELEZ-MITCHELL (voice-over): Tonight, why does the Jodi Arias trial come to a screeching halt, with today’s session mysteriously and suddenly canceled this afternoon? Is Jodi sick, or is she faking it to push back judgment day? We’ve seen her popping pills in court. Is that a clue? Or could Jodi be freaking out knowing she’s on her last witness? We’ll debate it with my expert panel.

Plus, new controversy over prosecutor Juan Martinez. He`s swarmed by fans, posing for pictures and signing autographs. But should he just say “no” until the verdict’s in? I’m taking your calls.

JEAN CASAREZ, CORRESPONDENT, TRUTV`S “IN SESSION”: I heard Jennifer Willmott, after she poured a glass of water for Jodi, handed it to Jodi and said to the sheriff’s deputy, “Be sure she takes her medication.”

DR. RICHARD SAMUELS, PSYCHOLOGIST: At various times she was on a tranquilizer, was on an antidepressant.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Is Ms. Arias taking medication?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She takes her medication.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VELEZ-MITCHELL: All right. And tonight, we’re learning new information about what she`s taking medicine for, for migraines. And the Arias friend complains Jodi is being forced to wake up at 1 a.m., to shower and dress and leave the jail at 2:30 a.m. She remains in a holding cell at the courthouse until she is brought into the courtroom.

The obvious implication is, it`s a complaint that she`s too tired. She`s forced to wake up too early. She`s too stressed to assist in her own defense. And she’s getting a migraine.

But we’ve also learned brand-new information to the contrary. The sheriff`s office says no way, it`s not 1 a.m. She`s woken up as early as 3 a.m. Still, is that too early or is this one of Jodi`s many ploys?