Jodi Arias Wins Delay For Penalty Phase Of Retrial
Convicted killer Jodi Arias has been successful in getting the penalty phase of her trial delayed for three weeks.
Jodi Arias is representing herself in the retrial. She was previously granted her motion to represent herself after conflicts occurred with one of her lawyers regarding trial strategy. Her other lawyer quit the case, saying in a motion that “a completely fractured relationship between counsel (and client) now exists.” The judge denied the lawyer’s request, and both lawyers now serve as advisers to Jodi Arias as she defends herself.
Recently, Arias argued to the court that she needed extra time for the penalty phase of the retrial because she was having difficulties securing a key witness in time, according to WebProNews. Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Sherry Stephens granted Jodi’s request for the delay behind closed doors on Wednesday.
The trial is scheduled to begin on September 29 instead of September 8.
Jodi Arias could face the death penalty for murdering her ex-lover six years ago, according to Reuters. A state jury already convicted Arias of murdering Travis Alexander in his home near Phoenix.
The trial lasted five months and Jodi took the stand for 18 days. She claimed the killing of Alexander was in self-defense and that he was an abusive lover, but prosecutors claimed that Arias planned to kill Alexander and was overcome by a jealous rage once he ended their affair.
Travis Alexander was found dead in the shower of his home. He had been stabbed at least 27 times, shot in the face, and had his throat slit open. Alexander had defensive wounds on his hands, and he may have already been dead when he was shot.
The jury was exposed to graphic evidence, including pictures Arias took of Alexander in the shower just before he died, during the widely publicized trial. Even though Arias was found eligible for the death penalty by the jury, they could not conclude that execution was the right decision.
Another jury will decide if Jodi Arias deserves life in prison or death. If the new jury cannot decide her fate, a judge will give Jodi Arias natural life in prison or life with the possibility of parole after serving 25 years. At that point, the death penalty will no longer be on the table for Jodi Arias.
