This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/may/08/jodi-arias-found-guilty-murder
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Jodi Arias found guilty of murdering boyfriend | Jodi Arias found guilty of murdering boyfriend |
| (4 months later) | |
| A US woman has been convicted of first-degree murder in the killing of her one-time boyfriend after a four-month trial that captured headlines across the country. | A US woman has been convicted of first-degree murder in the killing of her one-time boyfriend after a four-month trial that captured headlines across the country. |
| Jodi Arias was charged with first-degree murder in the June 2008 death of Travis Alexander in his Arizona home. Authorities said she planned the attack in a jealous rage. Arias initially denied involvement, then blamed the killing on masked intruders. Two years after her arrest, she said it was self-defense. | Jodi Arias was charged with first-degree murder in the June 2008 death of Travis Alexander in his Arizona home. Authorities said she planned the attack in a jealous rage. Arias initially denied involvement, then blamed the killing on masked intruders. Two years after her arrest, she said it was self-defense. |
| Testimony began in early January, with Arias eventually spending 18 days on the witness stand. The trial garnered daily coverage from cable news networks and spawned numerous spots on talk shows, with legal experts keen to weigh in. | Testimony began in early January, with Arias eventually spending 18 days on the witness stand. The trial garnered daily coverage from cable news networks and spawned numerous spots on talk shows, with legal experts keen to weigh in. |
| Jurors got the case Friday afternoon. They deliberated for two full days this week before reaching a decision late Wednesday morning. | Jurors got the case Friday afternoon. They deliberated for two full days this week before reaching a decision late Wednesday morning. |
| The trial will move into a phase during which prosecutors will argue the killing was committed in an especially cruel, heinous and depraved manner, called the "aggravation" phase. Both sides may call witnesses and show evidence. The jurors are the same. | The trial will move into a phase during which prosecutors will argue the killing was committed in an especially cruel, heinous and depraved manner, called the "aggravation" phase. Both sides may call witnesses and show evidence. The jurors are the same. |
| Spectators gathered outside the courthouse to learn the verdict, while TV crews, media trucks and reporters lined nearby streets. Family and friends of Alexander wore blue ribbons and wristbands with the words "Justice For Travis." | Spectators gathered outside the courthouse to learn the verdict, while TV crews, media trucks and reporters lined nearby streets. Family and friends of Alexander wore blue ribbons and wristbands with the words "Justice For Travis." |
| Alexander suffered nearly 30 knife wounds, was shot in the forehead and had his throat slit before Arias dragged his body into his shower. He was found by friends about five days later. | Alexander suffered nearly 30 knife wounds, was shot in the forehead and had his throat slit before Arias dragged his body into his shower. He was found by friends about five days later. |
| Authorities said Alexander fought for his life as Arias attacked him, but he soon grew too weak to defend himself. | Authorities said Alexander fought for his life as Arias attacked him, but he soon grew too weak to defend himself. |
| Arias said she recalled Alexander attacking her in a fury after a day of sex. | Arias said she recalled Alexander attacking her in a fury after a day of sex. |
| She said Alexander came at her "like a linebacker," body-slamming her to the tile floor. She managed to wriggle free and ran into his closet to retrieve a gun he kept on a shelf. She said she fired in self-defense but had no memory of stabbing him. | She said Alexander came at her "like a linebacker," body-slamming her to the tile floor. She managed to wriggle free and ran into his closet to retrieve a gun he kept on a shelf. She said she fired in self-defense but had no memory of stabbing him. |
| She acknowledged trying to clean the scene of the killing, dumping the gun in the desert and working on an alibi to avoid suspicion. She said she was too scared and ashamed to tell the truth. However, Arias' allegations that Alexander had physically abused her in the months before his death, that he owned a gun and had sexual desires for young boys, were corroborated by witnesses or evidence during the trial. She acknowledged lying repeatedly before and after her arrest but insisted she was telling the truth in court. | She acknowledged trying to clean the scene of the killing, dumping the gun in the desert and working on an alibi to avoid suspicion. She said she was too scared and ashamed to tell the truth. However, Arias' allegations that Alexander had physically abused her in the months before his death, that he owned a gun and had sexual desires for young boys, were corroborated by witnesses or evidence during the trial. She acknowledged lying repeatedly before and after her arrest but insisted she was telling the truth in court. |
| Arias spent 18 days on the witness stand describing an abusive childhood, cheating boyfriends, dead-end jobs, a shocking sexual relationship with Alexander, and her contention that he had grown physically abusive. | Arias spent 18 days on the witness stand describing an abusive childhood, cheating boyfriends, dead-end jobs, a shocking sexual relationship with Alexander, and her contention that he had grown physically abusive. |
| Psychologist Richard Samuels testified for the defense that Arias suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and dissociative amnesia, which explained why she couldn't recall much from the day of the killing. Another defense witness, psychotherapist Alyce LaViolette, concluded that Arias was a battered woman. | Psychologist Richard Samuels testified for the defense that Arias suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and dissociative amnesia, which explained why she couldn't recall much from the day of the killing. Another defense witness, psychotherapist Alyce LaViolette, concluded that Arias was a battered woman. |
| Their testimony would be crucial to convince jurors that, one, Arias wasn't lying about her memory gaps from the day of the killing, and two, that she did suffer physical abuse by Alexander. Defense attorneys had to get jurors to believe that despite no evidence of Alexander ever having been violent in the past, he had attacked Arias on several occasions, and did so again on the day of his death. | Their testimony would be crucial to convince jurors that, one, Arias wasn't lying about her memory gaps from the day of the killing, and two, that she did suffer physical abuse by Alexander. Defense attorneys had to get jurors to believe that despite no evidence of Alexander ever having been violent in the past, he had attacked Arias on several occasions, and did so again on the day of his death. |
| There was no dispute that Arias killed Alexander. | There was no dispute that Arias killed Alexander. |
| It was the first thing defense attorney Jennifer Willmott acknowledged as the trial began. | It was the first thing defense attorney Jennifer Willmott acknowledged as the trial began. |
| Prosecutor Juan Martinez worked to attack the credibility of the defense experts, accusing them of having sympathy for Arias and offering biased opinions. | Prosecutor Juan Martinez worked to attack the credibility of the defense experts, accusing them of having sympathy for Arias and offering biased opinions. |
| He later called his own expert, clinical psychologist Janeen DeMarte, who told jurors Arias didn't suffer from PTSD or amnesia, and that she found no evidence that the defendant was a battered woman. Instead, DeMarte said Arias suffered from borderline personality disorder, showing signs of immaturity and an "unstable sense of identity." | He later called his own expert, clinical psychologist Janeen DeMarte, who told jurors Arias didn't suffer from PTSD or amnesia, and that she found no evidence that the defendant was a battered woman. Instead, DeMarte said Arias suffered from borderline personality disorder, showing signs of immaturity and an "unstable sense of identity." |
| People who suffer from such a disorder "have a terrified feeling of being abandoned by others," DeMarte told jurors. | People who suffer from such a disorder "have a terrified feeling of being abandoned by others," DeMarte told jurors. |
| Arias had another formidable obstacle to overcome. | Arias had another formidable obstacle to overcome. |
| Her grandparents had reported a .25-caliber handgun stolen from their northern California home about a week before Alexander's death the same caliber used to shoot him but Arias insisted she didn't take it. Authorities believe she brought it with her to kill him. The coincidence of the same caliber gun stolen from the home also being used to shoot Alexander was never resolved. It would be left up to the jury to decide if it made sense. | Her grandparents had reported a .25-caliber handgun stolen from their northern California home about a week before Alexander's death the same caliber used to shoot him but Arias insisted she didn't take it. Authorities believe she brought it with her to kill him. The coincidence of the same caliber gun stolen from the home also being used to shoot Alexander was never resolved. It would be left up to the jury to decide if it made sense. |
| There was also Arias' account of Alexander's killing. She said she shot him first, but he kept coming, forcing her to grab a knife and defend herself. | There was also Arias' account of Alexander's killing. She said she shot him first, but he kept coming, forcing her to grab a knife and defend herself. |
| However, Kevin Horn, a Maricopa County medical examiner, testified it would have been highly unlikely that Alexander could have sustained so many defensive wounds from the knife attack had he been shot in the head first. Horn said the gunshot would have rendered the victim incapable of fighting back. | However, Kevin Horn, a Maricopa County medical examiner, testified it would have been highly unlikely that Alexander could have sustained so many defensive wounds from the knife attack had he been shot in the head first. Horn said the gunshot would have rendered the victim incapable of fighting back. |
| Meanwhile, the entire case devolved into a circus-like spectacle attracting dozens of enthusiast each day to the courthouse as they lined up for a chance to score just a few open public seats in the gallery. One trial regular sold her spot in line to another person for $200. Both got reprimands from the court, and the money was returned. | Meanwhile, the entire case devolved into a circus-like spectacle attracting dozens of enthusiast each day to the courthouse as they lined up for a chance to score just a few open public seats in the gallery. One trial regular sold her spot in line to another person for $200. Both got reprimands from the court, and the money was returned. |
| Thousands followed the trial via a live, unedited web feed. Twitter filled with comments as spectators expressed their opinions on everything from Arias' wardrobe to Martinez's demeanor. | Thousands followed the trial via a live, unedited web feed. Twitter filled with comments as spectators expressed their opinions on everything from Arias' wardrobe to Martinez's demeanor. |
| Arias sold drawings from jail throughout the trial on a website operated by a third party, said her mother, Sandra Arias. According to the site, some pieces were fetching more than a $1,000, and Sandra Arias said the money was being used to help pay for family expenses. Nothing prevented Arias from profiting from her notoriety given she hadn't been convicted of a crime. | Arias sold drawings from jail throughout the trial on a website operated by a third party, said her mother, Sandra Arias. According to the site, some pieces were fetching more than a $1,000, and Sandra Arias said the money was being used to help pay for family expenses. Nothing prevented Arias from profiting from her notoriety given she hadn't been convicted of a crime. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. | Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. |