Trial break: The State vs Jodi Arias; trial resumes 4 February 2013

[Madeleine74]

There was a fairly recent DP case in my area in which a young man broke into a home where coincidentally a beloved member of the school board of that city was recuperating at that home (a friend's house, with the friend out of town) after having had a facelift and some breast implants done that morning, and she was asleep in bed and on medication, her head bandaged. Her alcoholic sister was in the home taking care of her, sleeping on the couch.

The guy creeps in and rapes and beats the woman who just had surgery. She is found the next morning all bloody by her sister and she dies 3 days later in the hospital. The guy is a local neighbor, a really demented do-nothing loser, who from a very young age was seriously twisted. He of course left his DNA on/in the victim and was caught.

Went on trial and was facing the DP. Defense said he of course did it, but he was too drunk/stoned/mentally ill to have formed the necessary intent. Jury convicted him of 1st degree murder, but sentenced him to LWOP.

Getting a death sentence is not a cakewalk UNLESS the crime is against a child and mental illness is not a factor.

 

[JusticeJunkie]

I don't sense any particular anger or great dislike vibe between Willmott and Martinez.

I don't think there's any love lost between Nurmi and Martinez (i.e. not sharing a beer).

But I've said this before--it's like watching the old cartoon "Sam Sheepdog and Ralph Wolf" where they are friendly enough and pleasant as they punch their timecards and then once they take their positions, they are arch enemies until quitting time at 5pm, where they wish each other a pleasant evening until the next work day.

I imagine it's a lot like this for the attorneys across the aisle who come in regular contact.

I only believe this to be true when the disagreements are related to the law.
The case in FL made for very fractured relations, even long after the trial conclusion. The disagreements in this trial between Nurmi and Juan have gone beyond the legalities and into the personal realm. Though both are simply "doing their job", Juan's passion and disgust at the dirty tricks of the DT, I can see the only beer they shared being thrown in Nurmi's face.

ETA: Sorry Polly, I was typing while you where hitting the submit button. lol

 

[polleypockets]

Purchased with him. They were both on the mortgage.

they also lost it to foreclousure

 

[panthera]

Purchased with him. They were both on the mortgage.

It would seem that it was his credit and finances which qualified for the mortgage., as I can't see her having enough income to even come close to the amount needed. What a risky move though as he would obviously be making the payments.

I do believe though that this type of arrangement is what she envisioned with Travis.......only as his legal wife.

MOO

 

[minor4th]

I heard an interesting commentary by Dan Abrams, I believe. He said if this weren't a death penalty case, absolutely she should take the stand for the Hail Mary because the defense case has completely fallen apart, and there's nothing to lose.

However, because it's a death penalty case, there's a risk of her taking the stand and the jury thinking she's lying. Then, when she is convicted, the jury won't believe anything she says in the penalty phase -- they won't have any compassion or give any weight to any mitigating testimony she could provide.

 

[kscornfed]

I heard an interesting commentary by Dan Abrams, I believe. He said if this weren't a death penalty case, absolutely she should take the stand for the Hail Mary because the defense case has completely fallen apart, and there's nothing to lose.

However, because it's a death penalty case, there's a risk of her taking the stand and the jury thinking she's lying. Then, when she is convicted, the jury won't believe anything she says in the penalty phase -- they won't have any compassion or give any weight to any mitigating testimony she could provide.

i love me some dan abrams. :blushing:

 

[StephanieHartPI]

Lots of these home purchases go up in smoke, nobody pays the mortgage and they get foreclosed on.. So what appears the all american lifestyle was living beyond our means. Just sometimes.. Addendum: LOL I probably sound so suspect of everything. Not totally true, when I piece together what may have happened and the character of each person and how responsible people are (or are not) I do tend to go check everyone out. (all available via public records) The couple that seemed to be the up and coming, home purchasers of nearly $500,000.00 home seems so responsible on the outside. So did this get purchased during the mortgage bleed out where everyone got approved for a Mortgage despite their credit and ability to pay and no job. And if that was the case, the likely outcome would be foreclosure especially if the house value plummeted (not the buyers fault, but it is the lenders fault for signing of a mortgage to people that have no ability to pay). So looking back, neither party would really be responsible. My antenna does tend to go up a lot. I do love to discover a young couple that really was responsible and held a job and made a house payment.

 

[Jax49]

idk - but imo i think it is real - i think martinez is very passionate in getting justice for his victim and is appalled by nurmis tricks and constant delays that have caused the family so much grief - and i think nurmi feels animosity towards martinez because he is a better atty, he is completley out gunned - imo

Agree Juan is passionate and with good reason. So passionate he probably rubs some people wrong. Not me. I'm in awe of his knowledge of the case, his presentation, etc.

I've seen interactions which make me go...HUH? Smirks, grins, etc. But, I also swear I saw a quick look of admiration from Nurmi at one point when Juan mailed something. (Please don't anyone ask for a link. No way would I ever find it.)

MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

 

[JusticeJunkie]

I heard an interesting commentary by Dan Abrams, I believe. He said if this weren't a death penalty case, absolutely she should take the stand for the Hail Mary because the defense case has completely fallen apart, and there's nothing to lose.

However, because it's a death penalty case, there's a risk of her taking the stand and the jury thinking she's lying. Then, when she is convicted, the jury won't believe anything she says in the penalty phase -- they won't have any compassion or give any weight to any mitigating testimony she could provide.

I believe the DT has figured this out too. In reading the court minutes, so many of the motions pertained to the sentencing or mitigation phase of the trial. We have to keep in mind, that although Beth had a scheduled interview with JA, her attorneys called it off, and Jodi complied by refusing the interview. She may be listening to them a little closer now that the trial is falling apart for her. I believe she will follow her attorneys advice, no matter what that is.

ETA: the jury thinking she's lying. ------------She WILL be lying. lol But will her lies be any more believable than the DT's lies? Which is worse for the jury to hear?

 

[Tulessa]

I had a horrible sleep. Kept dreaming and waking up. I dont remember any of them :waitasec: Anyhoo I know we have Court Monday. Do we know beyond that? I tried to look it up but all i see is Monday.

When this happened to me , I made a prompt visit to my Dr. HBP. I'm not a dreamer so when nightmares set in, I knew it was something medical.

 

[JusticeJunkie]

Agree. Her self-defense needs an explanation, however, that can only come from her. Is the Jury to believe that when she allegedly dropped Travis' camera he lunged at her, she feared for her life, the gun and knife were within reach and within less than two minutes she HAD to kill him in order to save her own life? There has been a feeble attempt to place the knife in the bathroom, however, where did the gun come from? What exactly did Travis do that made her so fearful when there wasn't a mark on her from him assaulting her?

:waitasec:

MOO

My thinking on this is that the jury is better off (for the DT) trying to believe what the DT is selling, rather than whatever Jodi can dream up.
Sometimes knowing is worse than guessing.

 

[BritsKate]

Nurmi gives me a case of the vapors. I respect him insomuch as I realize he has an extremely difficult job to do - one he even admittedly didn't want. I just don't particularly respect the way he's done that job.

While our blood boiled at Caylee being referred to as 'that' or 'the' child...never tmk was the defense ever quite so bold as to procure a motion requesting she not be referred to as a victim in trial.

 

[Tulessa]

I heard an interesting commentary by Dan Abrams, I believe. He said if this weren't a death penalty case, absolutely she should take the stand for the Hail Mary because the defense case has completely fallen apart, and there's nothing to lose.

However, because it's a death penalty case, there's a risk of her taking the stand and the jury thinking she's lying. Then, when she is convicted, the jury won't believe anything she says in the penalty phase -- they won't have any compassion or give any weight to any mitigating testimony she could provide.

minor, thank you for the legal help. With it being a self defense claim by her, doesn't she have to take the stand? Or can she let the experts testify for her. TIA.

 

[polleypockets]

When this happened to me , I made a prompt visit to my Dr. HBP. I'm not a dreamer so when nightmares set in, I knew it was something medical.

i have been having problems sleeping so i have been taking melatonin - and that does cause crazy dreams and nightmares

 

[TigerBalm]

I heard an interesting commentary by Dan Abrams, I believe. He said if this weren't a death penalty case, absolutely she should take the stand for the Hail Mary because the defense case has completely fallen apart, and there's nothing to lose.

However, because it's a death penalty case, there's a risk of her taking the stand and the jury thinking she's lying. Then, when she is convicted, the jury won't believe anything she says in the penalty phase -- they won't have any compassion or give any weight to any mitigating testimony she could provide.

Yes, it was Dan Abrams.
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/jodi-arias-murder-trial-defense-witnesses-18364109

 

[Tulessa]

i love me some dan abrams. :blushing:

Right there with ya! I have the utmost respect for him!

 

[bobloblaw]

I think the evidence of the aggravating death penalty factor has to be proved in the case in chief, not in the penalty phase. This is why there was a motion to dismiss the death penalty as a possible sentence. Judge ruled there was sufficient evidence to both charges and the death penalty aggravating factor (extreme cruelty)

Thats what I thought as well.

 

[Tulessa]

i have been having problems sleeping so i have been taking melatonin - and that does cause crazy dreams and nightmares

Does it work? I seen this on Dr. Oz.....

 

[Tulessa]

BEE-BEE in da house!! :blowkiss:

 

[human]

If Jodi recorded it in CA without his knowledge and ok'ing, it is not admissible in court. I don't know where defense is going with the tape. Also, even if Travis said something about a twelve year old doesnt mean he's attracted to that. He's not here to discuss the meaning.
I honestly can't see one single thing that adds up to self defense. I see a spoiled brat narcissistic monster who wasn't getting her way. She decided his penalty was death. Now, she and her legal team have decided to keep killing him in the publics eyes. I'll tell you what! If that were my son (who btw looks very much like Travis) and they were nationally parading around an attempted assassination on his good name and character, I think I would be going to prison for a very long time. Gladly.

That is why I would like to see this trial over, although obviously I continue to be a voyeur