Wondering why Jodi decided to represent herself, especially after she admitted she was “over her head” when she tried to do it before in 2011, I went back and looked at her handwritten motion to fire Nurmi that she filed in October 2013. It does have a hint or two about her thinking.
At first she complains that she hasn’t seen Nurmi in 5 months, he won’t take her phone calls, and he has said she is “not entitled to an attorney who will advocate for her.” She makes it clear she is PO’d about him telling the jury he doesn’t like her (she brings this up several times). Later in the motion, she admits that Nurmi DID visit her but she refused to see him because she “doesn’t trust his advice.” And apparently it’s supposed to bother the judge (or somebody) that she “is left feeling like crap about myself and my future every time I interact with him.”
She claims that Nurmi has a very poor memory (LOL) and that he has forgotten more about the case than he remembers. Here are her examples:
She claims that Nurmi said he did not remember any mention in any of the text messages that Travis had had sex with other people, although there was a communication between Travis and Chaitanya Lay about a rendezvous at his house for sex. Afterward he suggests that Ms. Lay must have been surprised at his skill in bed, to which she concedes.
She also writes that Nurmi “also ‘forgot’ to impeach three State’s witnesses at trial (I do not refer to the one who perjured himself, Esteban Flores, nor the one who changed his testimony from his real findings to fit the theory the State wished to get before the jury, Kevin Horn). Most prominently is Deanna Reid, who, in previous recorded statements, denied she ever had sex with Travis and claimed she believed he was a virgin at the time he died. Then under oath, she testified that she and Travis did have sexual relations (because for the State’s case, it was now important that she admit it, whereas before it was important that she deny it). Mr. Nurmi failed to impeach her credibility for lying on record. Whether this was in fact due to his poor memory or simply a poor strategical decision, I am left to guess because he refused to communicate with me as to why there was no impeachment.”
I think it’s interesting that she refers to things Deanna said “in previous recorded statements” and that Deanna lied “on record.” What are those statements? When and where were they made? What record is she referring to? Were they under oath? And those emails or texts between Travis and Chaitanya Lay – were these communications from accounts that Jodi supposedly hacked into? Assuming they exist at all.
The other interesting thing is her obvious paranoia about Juan Martinez. I’m sure the other inmates in jail encouraged her to believe the State routinely perjures itself and manufactures (or destroys) evidence. Unfortunately, I also believe her attorneys encouraged her belief, perhaps unintentionally, that JM is a diabolical trickster who will do anything to prevent her from getting a fair trial.
