Travis Alexander and Jodi Arias - What do you believe?

[Chanler]

http://www.courtminutes.maricopa.gov/docs/Criminal/112010/m4480206.pdf

In the first item, the defense is exposed as a little sloppy in their paperwork. The intriguing argument over the forged letters continues. (Perhaps Jodi added or altered dates to early Travis Alexander correspondence to make it appear that their relationship was still brimming with goodness.)

http://www.courtminutes.maricopa.gov/docs/Criminal/112010/m4487536.pdf

http://www.courtminutes.maricopa.gov/docs/Criminal/122010/m4495231.pdf

http://www.courtminutes.maricopa.gov/docs/Criminal/122010/m4500060.pdf

The last three court documents simply denote passing of paperwork and legalistic updates. Their only jolting note is the mention that this is capital case, reminding us that Jodi could face the death penalty.

 

[SheStartedIt]

Video:
http://www.azfamily.com/video/?sec=528732&id=112284984

Inmates Sing For Their Christmas Suppers
Jodi Ann Arias Tops 9 Other Contenders In 'Inmate Idol'
PHOENIX -- Sheriff Joe Arpaio is more Simon Cowell than Ryan Seacrest, but the man known as the toughest sheriff in America was no Grinch when it came to his version of "American Idol" for the Christmas holidays.

Ten inmates in Arpaio's Maricopa County Jail in Phoenix sang Christmas carols for their suppers Tuesday afternoon.

Jodi Ann Arias claimed the top prize of a full traditional Christmas dinner on Dec. 24 with her rendition of "Oh, Holy Night."

The 10 finalists were selected from about 50 pretrial inmates who signed up for the competition, judged by Arpaio, Santa Claus and a Vegas-glittered "Elfis," a singing detention officer who wowed the crowd with "I'll Have A Blue Christmas Without You," according to the sheriff's office.

Arias and her cellmate will dine on real full off-the-bone turkey, real mashed potatoes, all the trimmings and Christmas cookies, according to a sheriff's spokesman.

The 8,000 other inmates receive something that "resembles" an average Christmas meal, but is made from donated food and costs about 14 cents per meal, the spokesman said.

Sheriff’s officials said the inmates who participated are being held on charges ranging from burglary and DUI to murder.

Arias and two runners-up also won Christmas stocking full of canteen goodies they donated to a charity of their choice.

"I appreciate your vote. I'm glad to have this opportunity to donate to charity because I don't have a lot to give right now and it means a lot to me," Arias told the judges.

 

[Chanler]

If successful, this defense motion to exclude Jodi's multiple conflicting pretrial media interviews and her slightly bizarre "O Holy Night" rendition holds her last remaining chance to convince a jury that she's not the culprit. Once the jury sees the freely-given interviews, they will be forced to conclude that she reshaped her story to fit the newly released evidence against her. Thus, this will probably be the most important court hearing yet.

http://www.courtminutes.maricopa.gov/docs/Criminal/012011/m4541737.pdf

IT IS ORDERED setting oral argument on defendant’s written Motions in Limine re:​

Singing Competition and Pretrial Media Interviews, on 01/20/2011 at 8:30 a.m. in this Division.

 

[nobodyzgirl]

If successful, this defense motion to exclude Jodi's multiple conflicting pretrial media interviews and her slightly bizarre "O Holy Night" rendition holds her last remaining chance to convince a jury that she's not the culprit. Once the jury sees the freely-given interviews, they will be forced to conclude that she reshaped her story to fit the newly released evidence against her. Thus, this will probably be the most important court hearing yet.

http://www.courtminutes.maricopa.gov/docs/Criminal/012011/m4541737.pdf

IT IS ORDERED setting oral argument on defendant’s written Motions in Limine re:​

Singing Competition and Pretrial Media Interviews, on 01/20/2011 at 8:30 a.m. in this Division.

It think it is important that the defense counsel attempts to have the interview excluded (for their client's sake). Hopefully there is enough evidence against her, even if they are excluded to convict her. I found it interesting when I was watching the clip from SheStartedIt showing the "Sing-off" that most of the people were wearing shirts that said "unsentenced", yet Jodi's didn't say that (or at least I missed it).

 

[Chanler]

It think it is important that the defense counsel attempts to have the interview excluded (for their client's sake). Hopefully there is enough evidence against her, even if they are excluded to convict her. I found it interesting when I was watching the clip from SheStartedIt showing the "Sing-off" that most of the people were wearing shirts that said "unsentenced", yet Jodi's didn't say that (or at least I missed it).

Hi Nobodyzgirl, that's a great catch; definitely something that I had not noticed. Strangely, the sing-off might have a greater chance of exclusion than the interviews. I believe that Arias signed individual releases for the interviews and that she voiced her intention on speak on the videos themselves. I'm not certain, but I think that regardless of the decision, it might be possible for the prosecution to make motions based on the content of the tapes if Jodi herself testifies at the trial. As of now, I think that the odds are on the judge ruling in the prosecution's favor.

I agree with you that there is enough evidence to convict her regardless of that decision.

Two brief new court documents. The controversy over Travis' purported letters is obviously major:
http://www.courtminutes.maricopa.gov/docs/Criminal/012011/m4552368.pdf

http://www.courtminutes.maricopa.gov/docs/Criminal/012011/m4552369.pdf

 

[Chanler]

http://www.courtminutes.maricopa.gov/docs/Criminal/012011/m4565390.pdf

Lacking the motions themselves, it's difficult to untangle the exact meaning of the latest court rulings. I haven't had time to wrestle with the material myself. I welcome the insights of other people who have been following this case.

 

[Chanler]

http://www.courtminutes.maricopa.gov/docs/Criminal/012011/m4565390.pdf

Lacking the motions themselves, it's difficult to untangle the exact meaning of the latest court rulings. I haven't had time to wrestle with the material myself. I welcome the insights of other people who have been following this case.

Rereading the court minutes, I came to a few conclusions, all of which are open to discussion or dispute:

1. The judge seems to have ruled that, for the time being at least, the video of the singing competition is off-limits. (Not a major issue in the scope of things.)

2. The defense obviously is looking for holes, however small, in the forensic evidence.

3. The pretrail media interviews were the biggest issue on the table. From what I can gather, the defense was only able to exclude parts of the interviews that show coldness (wanting to apply makeup for her mug shot) or arrogance (insisting that she will not spend any time in jail.) To me, these are relatively minor exclusions. The significance of the interviews is that Jodi stonewalled then, as new evidence was released, came up with a simplistic improvised defense.

 

[nobodyzgirl]

I see they have set the trial date as August 2, 2011.

 

[Chanler]

I see they have set the trial date as August 2, 2011.

As you mention, nobodyzgirl, the trial is a while away. That might partly explain something I just noticed: The January 6th court papers mention "media interviews" (plural) while this just released documents address only one interview. It's possible that the contestants are addressing each of Jodi's media interviews separately, which make some sense because some of them are long, even in their edited forms.

 

[iluvmua]

I would LOVE for this to be shown on In Sessions. Jodi is 100% Guilty.

Poor Travis didn't stand a chance.

 

[RIP~Travis]

To me, the dynamic of the homicide was that Travis loved having sex with Jodi and that to Jodi, that undeniable attraction was proof that they had a deeper connection; that they were destined to be together. In two of her last blog postings before the crime, Jodi wrote about the undeniable power of the Law of Attraction and urged her readers to follow out their most compelling passion.

Where did you read Jodi's blog?

 

[RIP~Travis]

Nevermind Chanler, I found it! Heres a link if anyone else is interested in reading it

http://jodiarias.blogspot.com/

 

[Chanler]

Nevermind Chanler, I found it! Heres a link if anyone else is interested in reading it

http://jodiarias.blogspot.com/

Thanks, RIP~Travis, for reinserting this link. The link there to Jodi's profile is, I think, revealing about her curious blend of new age and can-do life philosophies:

http://www.blogger.com/profile/15384313164495552103

Your moniker reminds me that Travis' survivors must be thinking of him and his loss every day.

 

[hellinor]

August 2011 cannot come soon enough.

 

[nobodyzgirl]

August 2011 cannot come soon enough.

I couldn't agree more, and hopefully when she is found guilty, it will be a life sentence without parole and not DP. I recall her mentioning in one of those interviews that she would much prefer death over being incarcerated for life - so hopefully that doesn't happen for her.

 

[Chanler]

The sparing continues without major knockdowns, but the results of this hearing don't add anything to the defendant's arsenal. Jodi's public defenders weren't able to convince the judge that the prosecution had improperly held evidence from them. To me, the most interesting passages are about the state's attempt to exclude letters supposedly written to Arias by the victim. It seems possible that the state is contending that Jodi somehow altered or perhaps even fabricated some of this correspondence.

Perhaps, the most damaging blow to the defense is the news that Jodi's lead lawyer is leaving public defense. Given the span of time until the late summer trial, it seems unlikely that he would be able to stay on Arias' team thru the proceedings. As it is, Jodi is fighting a very, very steep uphill battle to get off and the loss of a key member of her team is almost certain to deprive her of one of the few people truly knowledgeable about the facets of her case.

Forgive my rambles. I'd be interested in other people's sense of this three-page document.

http://www.courtminutes.maricopa.gov/docs/Criminal/032011/m4614209.pdf

Furthermore, pending before this Court is the State’s Motion to Preclude Letters
Purportedly Written by Travis Alexander to Defendant.
LET THE RECORD REFLECT the State’s is waiting for a report on the inspection of the letters and hands analysis.

LET THE RECORD REFLECT the Court spoke with the expert on the phone and the report shall be completed by 03/18/2011.

LET THE RECORD REFLECT that Mr. Nurmi announced that he is leaving the Public Defender’s Office. The Court questioned Mr. Nurmi about whether his departure from the office relieves him of his obligation to continue to serve as first chair in this case.

 

[iluvmua]

Jodi's trial has been pushed back to December 2011 per Travis's sister on Facebook.

 

[hellinor]

Jodi's trial has been pushed back to December 2011 per Travis's sister on Facebook.

GOOD LORD!! If I am this anxious to see Jodi's trial, imagine everyone from Travis' relatives to Jodi herself........ Will it ever happen? :maddening:

 

[Chanler]

http://www.courtminutes.maricopa.gov/docs/Criminal/032011/m4632571.pdf


Correction to title: number one chair has not yet been replaced:
http://www.courtminutes.maricopa.gov/docs/Criminal/032011/m4631558.pdf

As of the court papers released so far, the August trial date remains in place, but the departure of lawyer Nurmi would probably necessitate another postponement. Jodi, who was present, "strenuously objects" to Nurmi leaving, probably partly because the trial would be further delayed. At this point, the judge too seems resistant, but the addition of two other lawyers does seem to indicate that Nurmi is gone.

In other court minutes, the defense lost on several routine motions.

 

[Chanler]

http://www.courtminutes.maricopa.gov/docs/Criminal/032011/m4632571.pdf


Correction to title: number one chair has not yet been replaced:
http://www.courtminutes.maricopa.gov/docs/Criminal/032011/m4631558.pdf

As of the court papers released so far, the August trial date remains in place, but the departure of lawyer Nurmi would probably necessitate another postponement. Jodi, who was present, "strenuously objects" to Nurmi leaving, probably partly because the trial would be further delayed. At this point, the judge too seems resistant, but the addition of two other lawyers does seem to indicate that Nurmi is gone.

In other court minutes, the defense lost on several routine motions.

Point of clarification: Jodi's two new lawyers have been appointed to represent her in her effort to oblige her lead lawyer to stay on the case. They have not been permanently added to her defense team.

I would imagine that, though her chances of acquittal are slim, Jodi is eager to get the trial on, especially because she's incarcerated already.