Penalty Phase - Verdict Watch #3

[prima.facie]

This is going to be a tough day. Lets hang on there.


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I started the Paleo diet almost a week ago and am 7 days 100% caffeine free (no sodas or sweet tea) - water only.

I admit. Im pissy and have no patience at all.

If I were a monkey, Id barely be hanging on by a tail :/

maybe I shouldn't even be here or waiting for anything.....lol

 

[marlap]

I hope it's OK to bring over Mormon Attorney's whole post, so that it isn't lost in a closed thread:


We need to be fair. I have posted this several times, but it applies more than ever now. All of us who believe in the death penalty would be death penalty qualified jurors. That is an ENTIRELY different thing than putting someone to death. The difficulty is that you and I (and probably everyone of those jurors) can sit behind our screens and ask for the death penalty, but it is VERY different being one of the twelve in a small room knowing that you are part of taking someone's life. I think we know enough about this jury by now to know they were truthful, that they have weighed the evidence, and that they are strong. They have faced many hard decisions and made the difficult choice presented to them.

I have been jury coordinator on several death penalty trials. I have had one jury deadlocked. It was as painful for the one holding out as the ones who were for the death penalty. There were many tears and heartache. A jury who goes through this type of trauma together is bonded. They likely trust one another. To be a 'hold out' is a difficult thing - it rests on personal conviction about the case.

Keep in mind two things:
1. Being death penalty qualified does NOT mean you have promised to give the death penalty. Please give these jurors credit. They have sacrificed much and have deliberated carefully on all matters. If one or two believe she is too young to be put to death, they have to live with themselves later. It is important to respect the process. As much as we all sit here begging for what we want, please keep in mind that these jurors are in a much different position. They know that their individual votes will cause life or death. It is a weighty matter for ANYONE with a conscience.

2. Just because they asked what will happen does not mean they are deadlocked. They may be asking what to do.

I trust this jury. I trust the process. I am grateful to know that we have 12 strong jurors on this case. This isn't a decision to be made lightly. I promise you that even if all 12 agreed on death, no one goes home rejoicing. It is one thing to say you want the death penalty and completely another to leave the jury room with the weight on your shoulders that you just put someone to death. Entirely different. I have witnessed it.

I have deep compassion for this jury. They have been through much. My prayers are with them. I pray for the Alexanders that this can end without further trial.

I totally agree!

Plus, I think LWOP (there is no way the judge will give her LWP) is justice for Travis. She will never see the light of day and the more I think about it, the more I think she is much more likely to be beaten up in prison than be the Queen Bee...she's far too arrogant.

My heart breaks for the Alexanders though if she doesn't get the DP. I know that's what they want.

 

[Garlandy]

Do I have this right....if the jury comes back with life it's up to JSS to decide if she gets life with or without parole?

Please let's have some justice for Travis and his family.

 

[my_tee_mouse]

They did not say that. The question was IF we can not agree, NOT that We can't agree.

Big difference.

This jury has done an amazing job so far. I can not say I won't be disappointed in a Life verdict but I will not be disappointed in them. They have hung in there this whole time. But if they vote for LIFE, And then get out and watch these crazy videos.. They will be sick.. I am pretty sure.

I heard the proceeding, and the judge said it was her understanding that they could not come to an agreement. I'm not the only one that heard it that way...no IF they could not agree but that they could not agree. Apparently at least some in the media heard it the way I did:

"After two hours of deliberations, the jury in the Jodi Arias trial informed Judge Sherry Stephens Wednesday that they were unable to reach a unanimous verdict on whether Jodi Arias should live or die -- but the convicted murderer could still get the death penalty."
http://www.hlntv.com/article/2013/05/22/what-happens-if-jodi-arias-jury-hung-0

The "what happens if" part is a media question, not what the jury asked.


I see people are still under the impression that this jury can decide the death penalty or life. Nope. They decide the death penalty, or they are hung. That is their only decision to make. If hung, another jury comes in, we go through this whole penalty dog and pony show again (even more so, as the new jury has to hear all the circumstances). Then that jury deliberates. THEN and only THEN if that second jury cannot agree on death does it go to the judge to decide life without parole or life with the possibility of parole.

 

[Turnadot]

On the flip side, I can't imagine sitting and waiting to see if my child, the little human I gave birth to, my baby (he will always be my baby) that I held and rocked to sleep etc, was going to be put to death.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Well that's interesting I always think most posters here are female. I like your idea, I'm going to turn off HLN and watch a few Betty Davis videos.

Good choice

 

[ScarlettScarpetta]

Scarlett that is not what the Judge said in Court. She said that they COULDN'T reach a verdict they agree on.

I know that is what she said but I am not sure that is what the jury sent out. I just am not sure.. I still believe it could have said what if we can not reach a verdict. I really believe that is the case. I think they took a vote and they are far apart and it seems tough and wanted to know what to do if they cannot reach a verdict together, before they start. To see how far they have to push.

It is just a feeling but this jury has been really pretty united. They all agreed to the aggravating factor. They all agreed to PRE M.

I think they need to talk through it all.. But I dont' think this soon, They would have been deadlocked. I just don't.

 

[lil_buddy]

Juror #18 is the foreperson?

unknown

 

[Miss Patti]

You're male or that's what I've been thinking all along!

Unless you guys have names like Laura, Patti, Michelle, Rose giggle I tend to assume you are all male!

I am going to accept that as a shout out! :floorlaugh: :loveyou:

 

[Just Sailing Thru]

Keep in mind HLN wants ratings..and will have all kinds of TH wasting time and airspace IMO

 

[rose222]

In Canada we don't have the option of a death penalty...
When I used to debate I always took the anti DP stance...
Always...
Then I was a victim of a horrible crime...and there was no remorse from the killers....
None...zero....

Like Jodi...

When I used to be anti DP I was not intimate with the gut wrenching pain/ the shattered lives and total loss of innocence and care freeness that those who have experienced a brutal awful theft of a cherished and innocent loved ones life feel....

The numbing reality of a sweet, dear one taken away forever by the selfish, evil acts of those that do not care...
Certain people cannot be rehabilitated- ever...
...certain people should not be shown any mercy.....ever....
Jodi is one of these...she is evil personified....
A small space and little interaction on death row is even too much...

I know I use humour often and I love and cherish all of you who understand...life does go on...I don't want the killers to win by making me forever bitter...
Our girl will be forever 20...Travis will be forever 30...they both died in 2008...

Jodi has already had 5 more years...
Jodi doesn't deserve another day....
She just doesn't....
And if she does have another day I pray that it will be a lonely, desolate cell on Death Row...
This is how and why I feel...
Come on Jury....

*Hugs*, basilcat.

You are such a kind, insightful and funny soul. So sorry for your pain but so glad you're here with us.

 

[DebinGA]

Juror 18 signed the question form, so ostensibly s/he's the foreperson. Anyone remember the nic? I think the jurors' prolonged exposure to JA convinced them that Dr. Demarte's BPD+ diagnosis was spot on. JA isn't crazy in the "doesn't know right from wrong" sense, but she's disturbed. I hoped the jury would realize the danger she poses to others and isolate her on death row, and they might still. But one or more may believe JA's pathologies motivated and enabled the brutal murder of TA and she should spend the rest of her troubled life confined in prison, but not be killed for something she nor anyone else could fix.

 

[Tiki]

geeze - HLN showing CM in the courtroom again. I wonder who she's staring down in the back of the room. One of the hater reporters? Wow - she is just plain nasty.

 

[Mrs G Norris]

No wonder you're bouncing around down there.

Well .. I'm only eating about 2 teaspoons worth .. yum tho!!

 

[TXProfessional]

I don't know what to think anymore.
I have decided not to read any sort of meaning into what happened in court today.

http://www.azcentral.com/community/mesa/free/20130522jodi-arias-jury-deadlocked.html

"The jury sent a handwritten note on an official question form to the judge. It said: “If the jury is unable to come to a unanimous decision @ this stage, do we notify the judge of this on the form (verdict) or do we just tell the judge her instruction on the bottom P. 10 on the final jury Instruction-Penalty phase?”

It was signed by juror No.18. "

Me too Lil_buddy, I am sooooo very

Do we know if this is true, and if so would someone send VinnieP a tweet telling him about this lease:

 

[LotusPawprint]

New food discovery .. cream cheese spread mixed with sugar .. tastes like the good part of the cheesecake. After this trial I swear I'm going to rediscover a healthy lifestyle, I know I left it around here somewhere ..

Hmmm... really? That sounds like something to make when you're craving a dessert but there's nothing sweet in the house so you just throw sugar on some random food item. I do it all the time. I've come up with some funky combos. I love me some cheesecake though, Godiva cheesecake especially!

 

[RadarLuv]

I feel like this is the theme song of my life right now;

http://youtu.be/1D5Sa2Yq-2g?t=9s

 

[seguek9]

Female here too! :seeya:

I am all woman!!! :rocker:

And I am not Mikee Daniels (I get a lot of pm 's asking me this:floorlaugh:

 

[ScarlettScarpetta]

On the flip side, I can't imagine sitting and waiting to see if my child, the little human I gave birth to, my baby (he will always be my baby) that I held and rocked to sleep etc, was going to be put to death.

Yes. That is a tough one. But she is not a baby anymore. She made this choice.
It is heart breaking how one soul, when gone bad impacts so much pain on so many people.

 

[SevenSeas]

I like cookies, and I am very very female. :seeya:

Me too...