Jodi Arias to represent self in death penalty sentencing retrial

[spaminator]

Jodi Arias to represent self in death penalty sentencing retrial
David Schwartz, Reuters
First posted: Monday, August 04, 2014 10:08 PM EDT | Updated: Monday, August 04, 2014 10:15 PM EDT
PHOENIX - An Arizona judge agreed on Monday to allow convicted murder Jodi Arias to represent herself during a sentencing retrial to determine if she will face the death penalty for killing her ex-boyfriend in 2008, a court spokesman said.
Judge Sherry Stephens granted the request by Arias during a hearing in Maricopa County Superior Court, allowing her to act as her own lawyer when the retrial begins in September, said spokesman Vincent Funari.
Stephens issued the ruling from the bench after cautioning the former California waitress that she felt it would not be in her best interest to take over from her current attorneys, Funari said.
Arias was convicted last year of murdering Travis Alexander in his Phoenix-area home six years ago in what authorities said was a bloody crime scene. He was found slumped in his shower, stabbed multiple times, his throat slashed and shot in the head.
The same jury that convicted Arias in a high-profile trial that was live-streamed on the Internet to tens of thousands of viewers found her eligible for the death penalty, but deadlocked on whether she should actually be put to death.
The sentencing phase retrial will see a new jury impaneled next month to weigh her fate, but will not be broadcast live. If the new jury also deadlocks on capital punishment, a judge will sentence Arias to spend either her natural life in prison, or life with the possibility of parole after 25 years.
Monday's decision came during a rare open session in the case, which has mostly been argued in recent months behind closed doors. Funari said while Arias will represent herself, her current attorneys will act as advisory counsels.
A county attorney spokesman declined comment on the new development.
Arias has clashed with her legal defense team in the past and has previously tried to fire them. Her attorneys also have unsuccessfully asked to be removed from the case.
The original trial took five months to complete, with jurors given a heavy dose of graphic testimony, bloody photographs and sex-laced situations. Arias testified for 18 days, proclaiming that she acted in self-defense.
Jodi Arias to represent self in death penalty sentencing retrial | World | News

 

[Nuggler]

"his throat slashed and shot in the head."

Nothing wrong with doing a thorough job.

Obviously the lady was upset.8O

 

[EagleSmack]

Get ready for the needle Jodi.

 

[Highball]

When she couldn't convince her attorney's of her story she decided to try it herself and take a chance of not being convicted. She still has 50/50 chance of being acquitted.

 

[WLDB]

Not the move I'd make if I were in her position.

 

[IdRatherBeSkiing]

If a jury deadlocks on the dealth penalty, that should be it. Life in prison. Death penalty should require 12 votes yes. Anything less -- life in prison.

 

[SLM]

What is the expression? That woman has a fool for a client.

 

[coldstream]

The death penalty has been in decline in the U.S. for the last 2 decades. On average sentences are not carried out of 20 - 25 years or longer.

It's a waste of time and money.. and is being carried to this extent only because of Nancy Grace (CNN) deemed it worthy of national distinction, in part because it involved a telegenic young couple.... when it was really like dozens of others involving domestic violence that virtually never receive Capital Punishment.

They are seldom carried out for murders that do not involve multiple victims.. or rape.. or the killing of a child. I would say the liklihood that Jodi Arias will ever be executed is almost zero.

 

[WLDB]

The death penalty has been in decline in the U.S. for the last 2 decades. On average sentences are not carried out of 20 - 25 years or longer.

It's a waste of time and money.. and is being carried to this extent only because of Nancy Grace (CNN) deemed it worthy of national distinction, in part because it involved a telegenic young couple.... when it was really like dozens of others involving domestic violence that virtually never receive Capital Punishment.

They are seldom carried out for murders that do not involve multiple victims.. or rape.. or the killing of a child. I would say the liklihood that Jodi Arias will ever be executed is almost zero.

Not often that I agree with you but here I do. I don't really get why this case got so much attention when very similar cases happen fairly regularly if you look for them. Even if she is sentenced to death I doubt she will ever actually be executed. Maybe she will, but not for a very long time. Arizona is one of the same states which has been having quite a few problems with their lethal injection protocols and practices. They may also wind up having to rewrite all of that if not change the method of execution altogether which will no doubt take years as well.

 

[coldstream]

The jury in the retrial of the sentencing phase of the Jodi Arias trial, was unable to agree on a sentence, splitting 11 to 1 in favour Death. A mistrial was declared and Arias will now be sentenced to Life.. with or without parole at the discretion of the judge.

One of the jurors (#4) after the trial complained the holdout juror wasn't willing to deliberate.. but what he really meant was he and others were unable to persuade or outlast or bully her as they had with the other 6 jurors who originally opposed the Death Penalty. It was Juror #4 and others who were hell bent on Death and were not going to deliberate any other outcome (they could have imposed Life without Parole as a compromise}.

So i applaud this dissenting juror. It's lonely being the only holdout. It takes the courage of convictions to stand up against someone as manipulative and bent on vengeance as Juror #4 (and others) appeared to be. It'll be better for the family of the victim as well, who are spared 20 years of appeals and legal wranglings AND from the empty 'closure' that bloody vengeance provides.