Retrial for Sentencing of Jodi Arias - Day 31

[oceanblueeyes]

Here's the beauty of the thing, at least IMO. Even if the jury does vote LWOP, JA will have lost. Completely. And she'll see it that way, no matter what she says.

If they vote LWOP it won't be because they believed a word she said. They won't believe she's a victim. Of DV or emotional violence. They won't believe Travis was an abuser, or a pedophile, or a bad person at all. They'll see him as the victim, not her.

If they vote LWOP it won't be because they feel the slightest sympathy for her, it will be because they either as a group believe she's too mentally ill to be given the DP, or because they can't sway one or two holdouts and don't want to hang.

No matter what the jury decides, imo, it will be a complete repudiation of her and what she's done to Travis. She's going to be "betrayed" by them.....

To me if she doesn't get the death penalty it will be for the same reason that most women who commit same like crimes or worse than males don't receive it. It will be because she happens to be a rather youngish white female.

 

[LinasK]

Jodi has to be seething right now. Her sister, her grandparents, her girlfriend, Darryl, Matt, Sky, Taylor...all of these people (I probably left out a few) spoke to DeMarte about HER.

And told the truth...Thank you Darryl & Matt, I knew you had it in you. :clap::clap::clap:Jodi can't kill you anymore.

 

[AZlawyer]

Glancing over the list of people on AZ death row, I think the vast majority of them were diagnosed with some personality disorder, mental illness, etc. during the penalty phase.

 

[garthmax]

bbm. An important point - will any of the jurors wonder if she lacked the ability to behave differently because of the disorder. They may be concerned about voting for the DP under those circumstances.

ETA: If I were a juror, I'd be asking Dr. D. to address that.

Speaking with someone who was in therapy for over ten years with BPD as one Dx, I and everyone in Tx know the difference between right and wrong.

 

[LinasK]

Last March 23, my little Jack Russel MonaLou was attacked by two pit bulls that jumped our fence in the orchard. I wanted them put down, the city asked the people to give the dogs up and they said no - their dogs had no rabies tags or city tags - the city fined them two thousand dollars for each violation - they totaled fourteen thousand dollars, it was reduced to three thousand total. I don't feel comfortable with them back in the neighborhood and wish they were dead.

BBM. I feel the same way about the Malamutes that ganged up to pull down my Lab.

 

[Amster]

Only 2 choices....life or death. If it's not death, Nurmi and Wilma will be ecstatic! They will have defeated the mighty Juan and Jodi will feel vindicated....after all, she couldn't help it. Not her fault.
Then we have the Alexander family. They will have to accept that Jodi and her enablers successfully convinced one or more people that Travis being slaughtered wasn't really THAT bad....and, besides, Jodi couldn't help it. Not her fault. BPD made her do it.....

 

[ICit]

Glancing over the list of people on AZ death row, I think the vast majority of them were diagnosed with some personality disorder, mental illness, etc. during the penalty phase.

Do you think that might be, at least in some cases, be because there is no diagnosis of "evil"?

 

[lewcch3]

I mean she had the aspirin "to thin her blood." That would have been a lot less painful than the razor. The suicide attempt is drama. She doesn't want to die, she wants others to think she wants to die.

BBM

Yes, just like telling Det Flores that she would beg for the DP if she hurt TA.

 

[garthmax]

After today I don't JM needs to bring up the *advertiser censored* computer issue anymore. The jury found out CMJA had TA passwords. That and along with all the lies exposed today the jury probably won't believe this *advertiser censored* issue.

 

[elementary]

I think THIS is what someone meant earlier about this "humanizing" JA. DeMarte has filled in the pieces of the puzzle as to how someone looking so meek is actually such a vicious killer. No one could ever figure out what to do with her, and she clearly needed professional help.

As I said in a separate post, if the defense had gone this route this would be over, she'd have LWP or LWOP and maybe getting the help she needs to become "normal".

The ultimate irony is that this is her one chance - and LKN is going to pull up H & J to say totdoc is an idiot.

Psychopaths can't be helped. She is, IMO, a psychopath, first and foremost.

 

[TexMex]

And told the truth...Thank you Darryl & Matt, I knew you had it in you. :clap::clap::clap:Jodi can't kill you anymore.

The best part is she was made to sit there quietly and listen to The Truth. In front of her mother, Travis's family, Sky...while two people she hates, Juan and Janeen exposed her manipulations and empty life

 

[AZlawyer]

Do you think that might be, at least in some cases, be because there is no diagnosis of "evil"?

Well, there are just so many diagnoses in the DSM that I think every "evil" person can be diagnosed with one or more of them. I mean, people don't cruelly murder others with premeditation if they are 100% mentally healthy.

 

[Lochlynsmom]

And she can control her actions IF SHE WANTS TO. She just didn't want to. JMHO

^^^ This cannot be said enough. Thank you!

 

[RickshawFan]

It seems Jodi has been sick since birth. Every boyfriend liked her and then couldn't wait to get far away from her. I wish her parents would have had her committed to a mental hospital before Travis had to die. In most States I don't think an adult can be forced into a hospital by family but everyone who knew her knew she was mentally ill. This is all so sad. Travis didn't have a chance. Unfortunately, there are people like Jodi walking our streets. Very very scary.

I believe you can in fact be committed, but not for very long. But a responsible adult would know there is something wrong or they're having a bad spell and would go for help. There are suicide hotlines, BPD forums, specialized therapists. You can go to the emergency room and they can coordinate with your mental health team. You can be given medication that will work quickly. But JA did none of this. I don't think her parents did either, even though Matt told them to. If her parents had called a hotline, they would have been helped with a plan of action.

People can't help it if they're born with a wonky brain or their brain chemistry goes on the fritz, but they can be taught to recognize when it's an issue and how to address it. The exceptions to this, I suppose, would be in the category of non compos mentis (e.g. with dementia), or physically ill (e.g. from cancer in the brain), developmentally impaired, or generally not able to distinguish right from wrong because of an organic issue (e.g. schizophrenia).

Jodi was responsible for getting help. She didn't. She actively resisted it.

 

[Hope4More]

To me if she doesn't get the death penalty it will be for the same reason that most women who commit same like crimes or worse than males don't receive it. It will be because she happens to be a rather youngish white female.

That's the usual bias for sure. But I doubt it's going to factor in much this time around. Two very vivid stories of her are on the table. Sweet, vulnerable victim vs. mentally unbalanced stalker -murderer.

Young and white favor believing her a vulnerable victim. The truth doesn't. Minus the victim fiction the jury is left with unbalanced lying stalker murderer. Don't think young and white is going to trump that.

 

[Ranchgirl]

Amster, you nailed it. Thanks

 

[Smarty Jones]

Better and better. A manipulative, secretive, snide, rude, overbearing, spoiled brat who didn't like being told what to do and played victim.

^^^ Post of the day so far in my catching up :takeabow:

 

[TexMex]

After today I don't JM needs to bring up the *advertiser censored* computer issue anymore. The jury found out CMJA had TA passwords. That and along with all the lies exposed today the jury probably won't believe this *advertiser censored* issue.

I tend to agree but I think Juan is committed to cleaning up the parts of Travis's reputation that this hateful girl has smeared. He can prove the *advertiser censored* was not put on the computer by Travis so he intends to do just that. One more lie of Jodi's exposed

 

[Ranchgirl]

"Thanks, Amster. This sums it up for me. You nailed it!

I know....trial by tweet....but, nobody said Dr. D testified that Jodi couldn't help what she did. She was powerless to stop herself. Jodi was unable to control what she did or what she said or how she acted. None of that!
Yet....here we are. After a day many of us have waited for....prayed for....Jodi exposed for what she truly is. And, Bless his heart, Travis shown for who he was. Not an abusing, sex fiend, cruel man. But a caring, gentle soul who was slaughtered by a jealous, stalking, evil monster.
Poor Jodi? Really? Had no choice? Powerless not to lie? Unable to help the trashing of the man she killed? Because of a personality disorder???
I'm stunned. I bet Dr. D and Juan would be too. And the dear Alexander family and loved ones....
Seems pretty strange to me why anyone would be "enlightened" by the testimony today. Dr. D diagnosed Jodi with BPD during the trial. It's not new.

 

[Hope4More]

Glancing over the list of people on AZ death row, I think the vast majority of them were diagnosed with some personality disorder, mental illness, etc. during the penalty phase.

Bummer for JA.