Juror Questions for Alyce LaViolette
Day One (Thursday, April 11)
Q: "Did you read any interviews with Travis' friends and family?"
Q: "Could Jodi have exaggerated to help her case?"
Q: "Is it possible friends and family may have embellished in an effort to help her?"
Q: "What did you discover about Travis from looking at emails, texts, and instant messages to other women?"
Q: "Is it common for women in abusive relationships to snap and commit violent acts against long standing perpetrators?"
Q: "We have heard multiple times from the defense, the term 'survivor' and 'victim' used together. Is it possible for the survivor to be the perpetrator?"
Q: "We have seen and heard that Jodi has kicked her mother, slapped her mother, has been angry with her mother and even called her sister stupid. Would this characterize Jodi as an abuser?"
Q: "Why would a perpetrator be abusive in one relationship but not another?"
Q: "Have you ever seen situations where victims kill their partners because they see no other way out?"
Q: "Have you seen relationships in which abuse has escalated on both sides, where the individuals are both victim and perpetrator?"
Q: "Is it possible that Travis and Jodi were in this type of relationship?"
Q: "If Jodi slapped and kicked her mother in the past, could she be seen as a perpetrator?"
Q: "Because of possible consequences, do you feel it is possible that Jodi could be exaggerating certain abuse events?"
Q: "How does it affect your assessment when you do not have the whole story from both individuals?"
Q: "In your opinion, is it possible that Jodi could have also been a perpetrator in her relationship with Travis?"
Q: "Is it possible that Jodi could be guilty of emotional abuse toward Travis, given that we are not privy to the majority of their conversations?"
Q: "Could any of Travis' actions be considered defensive rather than abusive?"
Q: "Can two children facing identical abuse situations end up handling those situations differently as they become adults? Can you explain why?"
Q: "You talked about great differences in the stories of victims versus perpetrators, does it concern you at all that you can't get a full and complete story from Travis?"
Q: "If a person starts out a relationship with low self esteem and does things that he or she does not necessarily like or want to do, is a partner abusive if those feelings are not verbalized or shared?"
Q: "How quickly can abuse escalate from the first time two people meet?"
Q: "Prior to Lisa Andrews and Jodi Arias, do you know who Travis Alexander's girlfriend was? Can you describe some details of that relationship to the best of your knowledge?"
Q: "A lot of your testimony has been based on what Jodi has told you. It has been proven that Jodi has lied multiple times since killing Travis. How are you able to know everything she is saying is truthful?"
Q: "Did you ever see any proof that Travis physically abused Jodi?"
Q: "Isn't it possible that Jodi did not write some of those incidents in her journal because they never happened?"
Q: "Have any of your patients ever killed their partner?"
Q: "Are you able to confirm whether or not Jodi abused Travis? Would you say it is a possibility?"
Q: "Would you classify Mr. Alexander's and Miss Arias' relationship as a love-hate relationship?"
Q: "The violence level of Jodi's response to neutralize what she perceived as a threat was extreme and way beyond the violence level necessary to neutralize the threat. In your experience is this typical of what a domestic violence victim would do?"
Q: "Other than Jodi's word, what evidence do you have that Jodi ever received Spider Man underwear or the pink T-shirt from Travis?"
Q: "Has Jodi continued to write in her journal after June 4th, 2008?"
Q: "Regarding the argument in the car between Jodi and Travis in March of 2008, you stated that Travis "slapped her across the face," is that exactly what Jodi told you?
Q: "Please state how confident you are that Jodi did not lie to you."
Q: "You described a vague connection between Mr. Alexander's childhood and his behavior. Can you explain this connection to us?"
Q: "In the April, 2008 incident you stated Jodi did not fight back because she did not want to hurt Travis. Are you saying she would rather lay there and die than hurt Travis?"
Q: "Just because a person may appear to be controlling, does that automatically mean they are physically abusive?"
Q: "Are you aware if any of Travis' ex girlfriends, besides Jodi, have said Travis was physically abusive toward them?"
Q: "Is it possible that the IM between Jodi and Travis regarding his temper, was a running joke between them?
Q: "In the May 2008 text messages between Travis and Jodi, if she was that upset by what he was saying to her, why didn't she stop talking to him then?"
Q: "Other than Jodi, did you interview anyone else face to face?"
Q: "Are you aware that Jodi's grandparent's house was broken into in 2008, on May 28th, only two days after the fight they had in instant messages and text messages?"
Q: "We have heard of different females that Travis talked to between May of 2007 and May of 2008, wasn't it a known fact that he was trying to find someone to marry?"
Q: "You stated that one person has more power than the other person. Can that be because the one person gives it rather than because the other person commands it?"
Q: "Have any of the women with whom Travis had a relationship, other than Jodi, stated that Travis abused them psychologically, verbally, or physically?"
Q: "Amid all of the interviews with family and friends of Travis or Jodi, did anyone mention any concerns regarding suspicions of abuse by either Travis or Jodi?"
Q: "You have used the term survivor several times during your testimony. Could you please define this term?"
Q: "Could a survivor also be a perpetrator?"
Q: "You stated that there was nothing in Jodi's journals, emails, etc. indicating that Jodi was jealous. Wouldn't that be something consistent with Jodi's beliefs regarding the Laws of Attraction?"
Q: "Could a female abuse, batter, or terrorize a man to the point of killing him?"
Q: "We keep hearing him and perpetrator in conjunction with one another but couldn't a perpetrator be a she?"
Q: "How many times did you meet with Jodi and on what dates?"
Q: "During your testimony, you concurred that many things actually happened, such as that Travis was actually caught with photos of young boys. Aren't you basing this on what Jodi told you?"
Q: "You claimed that Jodi not getting medical attention for her finger is consistent with battered women....(missed middle part), what would prevent a battered woman from getting medical care and lying about the cause?"
Q: "You testified that in March, when Jodi's telephone voice mail box was full, Travis ordered her to empty it. How do you know he ordered her to empty it instead of just asking that she empty it?"
Q: "Considering Travis and Jodi communicated frequently, wouldn't you say it is reasonable that Travis could get a little irritated at not being able to leave a message because her voice mail box is full?"
Q: "Since you were hired for this case to look into Travis and Jodi's relationship, to determine whether or not this was an abusive relationship, why did you not look into Travis' text regarding being afraid of Jodi? Wouldn't you think that would be important?"
Q: "You have many years of experience dealing with abusive men, is that correct? If so, wouldn't, by far, the majority of men you have known throughout your career were known to be abusive?"
Q: "Is it possible your view of men in general is skewed or biased toward being abusive?"
Q: "Did you read all of Jodi's and Travis' journals during the time they were in a relationship, or just the portions provided to you?"
Q: "Do you believe it is possible that Travis said some of the negative things he said to Jodi because he was afraid of her stalking him and he wanted to distance himself from her?"
Q: "In your opinion, did Travis ever sound angry in his journals?"
Q: "Did Travis speak negatively of any of the women he was seeing (in his journals)?"
Q: "In the magazine subscriptions you had sent to Jodi in jail, she wrote hidden messages in them intended for someone, were those messages for you?"
Q: "If the defendant feels she has a high IQ, is it possible she would try to outsmart psychological tests?"
Q: "Jodi's old friend stated she was manipulative and liked to play the victim. Even though it was high school, is it possible that those traits stayed with Jodi even when she was older?"
Q: "Have you seen any proof that Jodi was physically abused by Travis, other than her finger, that she claims Travis broke?"
Q: "Is there any reason we should believe that Jodi has not manipulated you, as she has others?"
Q: "Why have you looked at Miss Arias multiple times during the cross examination with the prosecutor, during breaks and side bars, to meet eyes with Jodi and give her a small, warm smile?"
Q: "Do you have personal feelings for Jodi or feel sorry for her?"
Q: "On April 9th, at approximately 11:33 AM, when discussing Jodi waitressing at the Purple Plum, (missed middle part) you looked at Jodi, shrugged your shoulders and gave a half smile. Why do you continue doing this?"
Q: "Considering the lies Jodi told after killing Travis, why would you believe the things she told you about what happened before the killing?
Q: "Hypothetically, if you were to discover that Jodi had actually exaggerated, rather than understated, the physical abuse events that she told you about, do you think it would be necessary for you to revise your opinion regarding the degree or type of abuse in the relationship?"
Q: "In a verbal discussion, often facial expressions and body language can be seen and tone or inflection can be heard, additionally, in an interview, clarifying statements can be made and clarifying questions can be asked, do you agree?"
Q: "When assessing this case, to which did you give more weight, written or verbal communication?"
Q: "Do you feel that being unable to interview Travis Alexander gives Jodi Arias an unfair advantage in telling their shared story of abuse?"
Q: "Are you aware of phone conversations that were made either before, during or after various series of text, instant messages, emails, that were made after they were viewed?"
Q: "Did you ask Jodi if phone calls were ever part of those exchanges?" (IMs, emails, texts)
Q: "Of the 18 forensic cases, how many were cases where a male was the victim of abuse and not a perpetrator?"
Q: "You testified that when conducting a couples assessment, family of origin of both parties is pursued. You pursued family of origin for Travis in assessing him as a perpetrator. Why did you not pursue family of origin for Jodi, in assessing her as a victim?"
Day Two (Friday, April 12)
Q: Please explain why you feel Jodi is not manipulative either before or after the killing based on the review of statements and interviews?
Q: On the one side we have demeaning slurs, a slap, a shove, a chokehold, and a lunge perpetrated on Jodi. On the other, we have a gunshot to the head, a 4 inch deep throat slit and close to 30 stab wounds delivered by Jodi to Travis. Is not the perpetrator of the greatest domestic violence Jodi?
Q: In the hypothetical given by Mr. Martinez about it being possible Travis was the one who told Jodi he wanted her to leave, if that is true, then isn’t it likely that Travis never hit her that day?
Q: When Jodi went to confront Bianca about being with Matt McCartney, can’t that be seen as she did it because she was jealous?
Q: Jodi went through Travis’ emails, text messages and the inbox of his My Space page. Did you take any of that into consideration when making your assessment?
Q: You bought Ms. Arias books, apologized upon meeting her, and ordered her a magazine subscription. Did you do anything else to establish a relationship with Jodi? Have you given her anything else?
Q: Have you ever had any physical contact with her: hugs, friendly touching, etc.?
Q: How do you know Jodi received Spiderman underwear from Travis on Valentine’s Day? Did you see them, pictures or anything else?
Q: How many men have you testified for in criminal court?
Q: If you had been given access to everything except interviews with Jodi, how would your opinion have varied, if at all?
Q: Would you have adjusted your belief in the level of abuse, if you had been given access to everything except interviews with Jodi?
Q: Other than what Jodi has told you, in what other sources did you see evidence of physical violence by Travis?
Q: Would your analysis of this relationship change if, hypothetically speaking, you found out that the stories about physical violence and Travis masturbating to pictures of children were made up?
Q: Regarding non-verbal conversation, do you think that you can read through a string of emails, text messages, instant messages between two people and know exactly what the non-verbal communication is?
Q: How do you know tone, meaning, inside jokes and/or the meaning if you cannot get both sides of the story?
Q: When interviewing Jodi, you claim you did not ask leading questions. If someone asks a specific question that elicits a yes or no response, would you consider that a leading question?
Q: You say Travis gives no indication of being stalked, displays no fearful behavior and continues contact with Jodi on his own accord. How do you reconcile Jodi's claim of domestic violence if she continues her contact with Travis of her own accord? Where was her fearful behavior?
Q: Do you consider someone who says “no jury will convict me” to be a person with low self-esteem?
Q: How can you say that Jodi and Travis’ relationship was domestic abuse when there’s no proof other than name-calling on paper and Jodi’s word?
Q: Do you handle cases where the female is the abuser?
Q: Did Travis discuss abuse of Jodi or any other women in his journals?
Q: In all the evidence you reviewed, was there any indication anywhere of Travis claiming stalking by anyone else other than Jodi?
Q: Of the times you have testified in other cases, how many of these were in defense of men?
Q: What is the manifesto you referred to during your testimony?
Q: Is there a type of stalking or what could be considered stalking that a person is comfortable around someone in person or when they are speaking with them but are afraid of what they will do or are capable of when they are not around?
Q: Would speaking of blackmail and being threatened, are you aware that Jodi threatened Travis by saying that she would let out that he was a pedophile? Does that mean anything to you?
Q: You stated that it would be beneficial for Jodi to write things she was lying about in her journal to buck up her story. How would she write about these things in her journal if her story didn’t change until well after the killing, hypothetically speaking?
Q: Regarding the text message from Travis to Jodi where he was upset about her BS story from Michelle K or Elena, what exactly was the BS story that Jodi told Travis? Where did you get this information?
Q: You stated that Travis was the one lying in this message. How do you know this for sure?
Q: How can you know that Jodi’s BS story was not a lie, not the subject but the actual story that was told?
Q: You seem to believe that when arguments began between Jodi and Travis prior to the Havasupai trip, when he followed her upstairs, that he wanted to pursue the argument. How do you know he did not want to get the issue resolved and calm her and maybe was embarrassed at her behavior in front of the Freemans?
Q: Can you explain how Ms. Arias can remember physical abuse incidents so vividly but doesn’t write anything, not even a reference to her feelings, in her journal?
Q: You testified writing could have supported her statement, however, is it possible the incidents of abuse reported by Jodi were reported after the fact as a secondary gain to benefit her?
Q: Do you have any evidence other than Jodi’s word that Travis made her tear out pages and write only positive thoughts?
Q: Who from Jodi’s past did you interview that you were able to rule out Jodi’s manipulative behavior being a pattern?
Q: You told us at the beginning of your testimony that you liked to meet with each individual before analyzing their relationship. We have heard Jodi’s side of the story. Can you tell us Travis’ side of the story?
Q: You mentioned that stalking could fall under the abuse and battering columns of your continuum. If that’s true, why is stalking excluded from those columns?
Q: If your continuum is incomplete, why not list all the appropriate bullet points for the appropriate column?
Q: You stated that you have chosen not to take cases in the past because you did not believe an individual. Did you take this case in part because you believed Jodi? If you did not believe her, would you have chosen to turn it down?
Q: If you started out believing in an individual, doesn’t that by default set up prejudices toward their partner?
Q: You stated that regarding anger, it is more common for someone to have a burst of anger then calm down. Is it possible that Travis’ rant seemed longer because they are being viewed in text form?
Q: Can you explain what you mean by a burst of anger? Could a 10 or 20 minute rant be described as a burst?
Q: If a couple has an argument that takes all day to end, can they still be in a healthy relationship? Would that type of argument indicate abuse?
Q: Is it possible for two people to be abusive to each other?
Q: Don’t you believe that Travis making comments about a 12-year-old girl while having a phone sex conversation with Jodi is different than Travis allegedly masturbating to photos of young boys?
Q: Would you characterize your knowledge of June 4, 2008, as light or incomplete?
Q: Are you confused on any of the details of that afternoon?
Q: Do you think it is deceptive for someone to not share the most private and intimate details of their lives like their sexual activity with their friends and family, or would you consider it normal to keep those things private?
Q: If normal, why do you think Travis’ attempt to keep things private is deceptive?
Q: Did you ever see evidence that Jodi was openly sharing all of her most private sexual details with her friends and family? Would you consider that deceptive?
Q: You state Jodi’s lies started after she killed Travis. How could you possibly know this?
Q: Do you believe that Jodi was subjected to sexual degradation at the hands of Travis?
Q: You stated that you saw no sign of Travis feeling or experiencing sexual degradation at the hands of Jodi, noting his desire to see Jodi in California, his actions on the sex calls and his comments in texts, IM’s, etc. Couldn’t that same argument be made about Jodi’s alleged sexual degradation given her desire to see Travis, her actions on the sex call, her comments on texts, IM’s, etc.?
Q: If you were to only consider the written conversations and journals, excluding your interviews with Jodi, did you see abuse? Please explain.
Q: What level or degree would you place that abuse?
Q: Considering only the written conversations and journals, can you say you saw it escalate?
Q: You mentioned Travis was in a 7 year relationship with Deanna. Are you aware of anyone interviewing her to determine if she was a victim or survivor? Did you interview her?
(Additional jury questions)
Q: You keep saying that Jodi doesn’t match you definition of manipulative. Is it possible that your definition of manipulative differs from others? Is it possible that your definition is wrong?
Q: Yesterday, you were asked about Jodi being an abuser toward her mother and you stated it was normal teen-age behavior. Do you honestly believe that hitting and kicking your parents are normal behaviors at any age?
Please note: The questions enclosed in quotation marks were transcribed by Schuby (Day One questions). The rest were transcribed by me. Thanks to Fifteen89 for catching a question I missed. If you think there are any other missing questions, please let me know.
