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H2O Man

(73,333 posts)
Wed May 8, 2013, 02:49 PM May 2013

Jodi Arias Verdict Reached

The jury has reached a verdict in the Jodi Arias trial. She is accused of first degree murder. Arias admitted killing her ex-boyfriend during the trial -- her third story -- but testified that it was done in "self-defense."

Frequently, high-profile legal cases are more of a distraction than not. They provide entertainment to the general viewing public. Obviously, they are neither distractions nor entertainment for victims (including family and friends).

I think this case, however, included numerous important issues. Perhaps the most important is the nature of domestic violence -- though Arias did not live with her victim, domestic abuse was central to both the prosecutor and defense attorneys.

Also, things such as trials being televised; the "star" quality of a murder suspect; "expert" witnesses who prostitute their professions; and even the difference in perception of "attractive" versus "unattractive" defendants all are worthy topics for consideration.

The verdict will be announced at 4:30 pm/est.

32 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Jodi Arias Verdict Reached (Original Post) H2O Man May 2013 OP
Thanks. I've be following this whole trial. sinkingfeeling May 2013 #1
I don't see how domestic violence is central to the case cali May 2013 #2
She wasn't abused. HappyMe May 2013 #3
Yep. RiffRandell May 2013 #10
I'm glad it's over too. HappyMe May 2013 #12
"Self-defense" was H2O Man May 2013 #5
Basically, the two defense witnesses based 100% of their 'domestic abuse' sinkingfeeling May 2013 #7
Everyone in AZ is waiting for the verdict. blueamy66 May 2013 #13
Have the forensics of the case been made public? Jake Izzy May 2013 #22
Thanks, H20 Man! Sissyk May 2013 #4
I never would have figured you for someone who followed something like this... ellisonz May 2013 #6
I hope so. HappyMe May 2013 #8
There are certain H2O Man May 2013 #14
Interesting. ellisonz May 2013 #17
There is an H2O Man May 2013 #21
Thanks for that. HappyMe May 2013 #25
I've been watching qanda May 2013 #9
she admitted to killing him... just up to the jury to now decide the charges IcyPeas May 2013 #11
soon we'll know RedstDem May 2013 #15
Post removed Post removed May 2013 #16
.... HappyMe May 2013 #18
That's just creepy. n/t ellisonz May 2013 #19
I've sat on 3 murder juries, and it is emotionally exhausting Siwsan May 2013 #20
A few weeks back I caught about 20 minutes of her live testimony Orrex May 2013 #23
It's worth noting H2O Man May 2013 #30
H20 Man, Sissyk May 2013 #24
Apparently this was her potential death penalty/murder case. I think she overcompensated the defense Siwsan May 2013 #27
I agree Sissyk May 2013 #28
Interesting question. H2O Man May 2013 #29
Thank You! Sissyk May 2013 #31
GUILTY alstephenson May 2013 #26
Another hung jury ChazII Mar 2015 #32
 

cali

(114,904 posts)
2. I don't see how domestic violence is central to the case
Wed May 8, 2013, 02:55 PM
May 2013

I see it as peripheral. The forensics of the case certainly ruled out self-defense. I'm not sure what other issues in the case can be seen as important either.

RiffRandell

(5,909 posts)
10. Yep.
Wed May 8, 2013, 03:17 PM
May 2013

It's a joke it lasted this long.....a few weeks ago it cost taxpayers 800 grand....probably over a million now.

I understand it's because she's facing the DP, but what a liar. She committed perjury, changed her story 3 times and received weird letters from her psychologist (I think).

I'm glad it's over. I was tired of seeing it on the morning news on a daily basis.

HappyMe

(20,277 posts)
12. I'm glad it's over too.
Wed May 8, 2013, 03:34 PM
May 2013

I was sick of looking at her every morning with my coffee.

The only good thing about the length of time this took, as it probably means that the prosecution crossed every T and dotted every I.

H2O Man

(73,333 posts)
5. "Self-defense" was
Wed May 8, 2013, 03:01 PM
May 2013

even semi-abandoned by the head defense attorney in his closing arguments, when he focused onthe 2nd-degree, heat of passion bit.

Still, the two top defense witnesses testified at length that Jodi was the victim of domestic abuse.

More importantly, the prosecutor showed that Jodi stalked her victim; hinted at the three instances of her slashing tires (he couldn't address it directly); and, most importantly, she stabbed her victim 29 times, slit his throat, and shot him -- the most extreme type of domestic violence.

sinkingfeeling

(51,281 posts)
7. Basically, the two defense witnesses based 100% of their 'domestic abuse'
Wed May 8, 2013, 03:07 PM
May 2013

findings on what Jodi told them. There was absolutely zero collaborative evidence of abuse.

 

blueamy66

(6,795 posts)
13. Everyone in AZ is waiting for the verdict.
Wed May 8, 2013, 03:34 PM
May 2013

She brought the gun from CA.

She will NOT be acquitted.

 

Jake Izzy

(130 posts)
22. Have the forensics of the case been made public?
Wed May 8, 2013, 03:57 PM
May 2013

I would like to see the site of the forensic arguments by the defense and prosecution. I will then reach a conclusion as to which side is right.

Sissyk

(12,665 posts)
4. Thanks, H20 Man!
Wed May 8, 2013, 03:00 PM
May 2013

I've been following every step of the way.

Will wait to discuss when verdict is read but I agree with everything you said.

ellisonz

(27,709 posts)
6. I never would have figured you for someone who followed something like this...
Wed May 8, 2013, 03:05 PM
May 2013

...I haven't paid much mind to it, but looking at it now, her story is not convincing given the evidence and I'm thinking the jury will convict.

H2O Man

(73,333 posts)
14. There are certain
Wed May 8, 2013, 03:36 PM
May 2013

types of trials that interest me. So, while I didn't care about ones involving Michael Jackson or Robert Blake -- circus types -- this one is different.

I'll try not to provide "way too much information" -- though I do talk a lot -- but: my first 2.5 years of college were spent studying law, and much of my later work history was in the human services area of domestic abuse. Much of it involved cases of child neglect and abuse. Also, at the mental health clinic, I ran forensic groups for batterers, including male and female, both at the clinic and at the county jail. Overall, I testified in probably 25 to 30 cases.

Jodi Arias will soon be the stuff of forensic psychology text books. Her case is extreme, but worthy of study. (I thought the prosecutor's psychologist was extremely impressive.) I talk to a couple of my former co-workers about this case, as they find it equally interesting.

ellisonz

(27,709 posts)
17. Interesting.
Wed May 8, 2013, 03:43 PM
May 2013

I'm not sure I buy that this case involved domestic abuse though, she strikes me as a classic sociopath. I suppose in that regard it's interesting they went for 1st Degree Murder and not 2nd Degree Murder.

I guess none of them will ever be as interesting as OJ for me.

H2O Man

(73,333 posts)
21. There is an
Wed May 8, 2013, 03:57 PM
May 2013

incorrect assumption that if there was domestic abuse, Jodi would by definition be the victim. But it is the exact opposite: she is the one who engaged in abusive behaviors, including the murder. But, leading up to that day, she had engaged in numerous behaviors that show she was the abusive person in that relationship.

HappyMe

(20,277 posts)
25. Thanks for that.
Wed May 8, 2013, 04:54 PM
May 2013

I'm ashamed to admit that upthread, when someone mentioned abuse, I assumed that they were talking about Arias.

From the bits and pieces of the trial, she was clearly the abuser.

qanda

(10,422 posts)
9. I've been watching
Wed May 8, 2013, 03:16 PM
May 2013

Hopefully the jury did the right thing and will convict this woman of 1st degree murder.

Response to H2O Man (Original post)

Siwsan

(26,178 posts)
20. I've sat on 3 murder juries, and it is emotionally exhausting
Wed May 8, 2013, 03:44 PM
May 2013

And, it's not so much the decision making - 2 out of the 3 were pretty much clear cut cases. The energy is drained by jurors who just are not prepared for the responsibility - or worse, don't take it as serious as it is.

Orrex

(63,086 posts)
23. A few weeks back I caught about 20 minutes of her live testimony
Wed May 8, 2013, 04:08 PM
May 2013

I was getting my oil changed (Which is not, I hasten to add, a euphemism), and the place had a TV in the waiting area. It was tuned to Headline News, and the channel ran a live feed from the courtroom without commentary or context. Nothing but a you-are-there voyeuristic romp through Ms. Arias' graphic sexual storytelling.

Apparently she's accused of a very thorough killing with significant violence commited against the corpse post mortem. Beyond that, I know nothing of the case.

But here were some of the under-oath questions asked of Ms. Arias (not verbatim, but close):

"Did you have an orgasm during that encounter?"
"Was it your first orgasm?"
"Can you describe what you mean by 'schoolgirl outfit?'"
"Were you wearing underwear?"
"Were they the Batman or Spiderman ones?"
"Why do you think that he grabbed your ass at that time?"
"Was that the only time that he grabbed your backside?"
"Is that when you climbed into the bathtub?"

And on and on...

As I said, I know nothing of the case at large. It's clear that she killed him, from what I can gather, but beyond that it's up to the court to decide.

However, regardless of what kind of phone sex went on between her & him, and however salacious their bedroom activities might have been, they were nowhere nearly as disgusting as the salivating & uninterrupted coverage of it on "Headline News.

H2O Man

(73,333 posts)
30. It's worth noting
Wed May 8, 2013, 08:24 PM
May 2013

that usually, these trials are covered on HLN's "sister network," TruTV, from 9 am to 3 pm/est. In some cases, HLN would then pick up later court proceedings. But in this case, the trial began on TruTV mornings, and went to HLN after 3; but then went to live coverage exclusively on HLN. (TruTV re-played clips from 9 to 11 am/est the following day.)

I assume that decision was rooted in ratings, which supports the point you made here. Thank you.

Siwsan

(26,178 posts)
27. Apparently this was her potential death penalty/murder case. I think she overcompensated the defense
Wed May 8, 2013, 04:59 PM
May 2013

I understand why - trying to avoid appeal issues. But it was beyond obvious what the defense was up to - requesting side bars EVERY time the prosecutor really got rolling.

I can't wait for Juan Martinez's press conference, that's for sure. He is, well, WOW.

Sissyk

(12,665 posts)
28. I agree
Wed May 8, 2013, 05:59 PM
May 2013

I think she had to be safe and give the defense most everything.

And, whew! I can breath now. 1st degree.

I would write more but iPad keyboard went out.

H2O Man

(73,333 posts)
29. Interesting question.
Wed May 8, 2013, 08:19 PM
May 2013

There were quite a few people on television being critical of her. That included numerous lawyers on HLN. I was not surprised, because that's what they do -- argue.

But it was a high profile, death penalty trial. Surely, the prosecutor might have wanted more opportunity to get information on Jodi's serial tire slashing, for that places a knife in her hands during the commission of crimes. And the defense had hoped the judge would warn the prosecutor for being so aggressive -- verbally -- on cross-examination. And likely everyone wished that the judge had "moved things along" a bit faster with some witnesses.

However, I thought that overall, she did well. The defense will appeal, of course, but I do not see any realistic issues that would cause the verdict to be overturned. Another important factor, though more in a social context than legal, unlike so many other judges in such trials, she didn't attempt to make it all about her. With the only exception being that she is definitely a patient person, we could only speculate on what her personality is like.

Sissyk

(12,665 posts)
31. Thank You!
Wed May 8, 2013, 08:41 PM
May 2013

I feel pretty much as you do.

I would love to give you a more thought out answer but this iPad is killing me. Keyboard went out.

Tomorrow, I will return.

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