Jodi Arias Appeal To Court: Cancel Death Penalty


Jodi Arias will be in court today, Tuesday, to challenge the jury’s decision that meant she could face the death penalty.

Her lawyers will ask the judge to reject the conclusions of the jury, especially since their decision was not unanimous.

On May 8 this year, she was found guilty of the first-degree murder of her lover,Travis Alexander, in his home in Phoenix, Arizona. The charge was that she had stabbed and shot the victim, and killed him.

Prosecutors are now grappling with a dilemma. They have to decide whether to try to get another jury to agree that she should face the death penalty, or, give it up, and settle for a life sentence. In this case, Arias would be eligible for parole after 25 years.

Now a judge has to decide.

The determining factor is the way in which the killing was carried out. The prosecution says that it was in an “especially cruel” manner.

The defense argument is that the legal definition of “especially cruel” is too complex for a lay jury, with no legal training, to understand.

Bill Montgomery, County Attorney, says that the state is considering its position, but, in any event, he will not let money influence his decision.

The state is also paying for the defense lawyers, whose cost for the five month trial, reached almost $1.7 million. He declined to specify the prosecution costs.

If a new trial is called, the costs will be massive, and, of course, will all be funded by the taxpayer.

His other gamble is, that if a second jury cannot reach a unanimous decision, the death penalty will be automatically off the table.

Jodi Arias, 33, admits that she killed Travis Alexander but claimed self-defense after he attacked her.

The prosecution says she planned it after discovering that her lover wanted to end the relationship and leave her for another woman.

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