"As to the
cruel, depraved and heinous: Read through the state Supreme Court's legal interpretation of the phrase. We think you'll agree Arias' crime fits in several ways. The jury will see this language in their final instructions. Here are some highlights:
* "Mental anguish includes a victim's contemplation of his or her ultimate fate." -- Yes. Alexander had more than two dozen knife wounds.
* "As to physical pain, the victim does not need to be conscious for "each and every wound" inflicted for cruelty to apply." -- Check.
* "The plan must be 'such that suffering before death must be inherently and reasonably certain to occur, not just an untoward event.'" -- As with the "anguish" Alexander undoubtedly felt, the sheer number of stab wounds seems to meet this requirement.
* "A defendant relishes the murder when he or she takes pride in, or derives enjoyment from the killing as demonstrated by the defendant's words or actions." -- In addition to stabbing and shooting Alexander, Arias slit her boyfriend's throat from ear-to-ear. Only she knows if she enjoyed doing that -- but it's plain freaky that 24 hours later she was necking with a guy in Utah.
* " The fact finder must consider the killer's intentional actions to determine whether he acted with the necessary vile state of mind. The state must make two showings. The state must first show that the defendant did, in fact, use violence beyond that necessary to kill. The state must also show that the defendant continued to inflict violence after he knew or should have known that a fatal action had occurred." -- Check and check.
* "Needless mutilation occurs when the defendant mutilates the victim's body subsequent to death, reflecting 'a mental state that is `marked by debasement.'" -- Perhaps slashing Alexander's throat wasn't mutilation, but Arias' way of ending the suffering from his knife-gashes and bullet lodged in his brain. We'll give Arias this one."
http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/va...a_police_deleted_porn_trial_death_penalty.php