Prosecutor Juan Martinez will continue his cross-examination of Dr. Samuels today. Samuels is the defense “expert” on the stand to try to mitigate the actions of Jodi Arias who has admitted to the brutal murder of Travis Alexander. Arias who has claimed previously on 48 hours that, “No jury will convict her” is facing the death penalty. Yesterday, Martinez pointed out to the jury that Samuels is not a licensed psychiatrist and in his career as a psychologist both in NJ and AZ he has faced disciplinary action for inappropriately crossing professional boundaries with clients. Also, yesterday Samuels admitted to purchasing a book for Arias while in jail and to the potential for major inaccuracies in his diagnosis of Arias based on his reliance of her self-reported information that we later discovered to be lies. It is believed that the defense has at least one more witness after cross-examination of Samuels is completed.
As usual we will be commenting and recapping testimony live throughout the day in comments.
He also admitted to sending her cards in jail telling her “not to worry” and to cheer up.
If I were a juror, that act in itself would be enough to totally discredit his testimony. A greeting card between a man and a woman is an intimate gesture in my opinion. Totally inappropriate.
Yeah, I am still waiting for that greeting card from my gynecologist “thanking me” for letting him violate me annually and paying him for it! Ridiculous!!! This witness has been affirmed as having no credibility in my eyes.
Yup, and the box of chocolates from the radiologist who mangles and adjusts my breasts during my mammography!
LOL!
I’m hoping they finish with this guy today. If they do, they can most likely wrap up the defense case this week – that’s if Kurt does not examine the domestic violence expert. If he examines her, expect the defense case to last an additional 10 damn days due to his s l o w t a l k i n g n a t u r e.
Completely inappropriate! And what a total moron to do such things and risk damaging his rep ….whatever rep he has left. For a professional, he sure is inadequate at spotting liars and sociopaths! I took one look at her and could see the crazy.
Well Juan is on fire and has already brought up anal intercouse lie in first question lol.
Right!
on to the trial……
Now talking about how she tried to make it seem like Travis was a deviant b/c he wanted anal sex. And, how Jodi at first told the doctor that Travis was the only one she ever did that with. But, he later discovered that Jodi had actually had anal sex with others. And, Juan is now asking him why he didn’t file a follow-up report.
There is some cross talk. He’s trying to explain it seems and Juan just keeps talking. Now, we discover the guy did a follow-up but he ignored the info.
WOW!
Juan is asking why he didn’t consider the new info. He accused him again of liking her.
Juan just accused him again of not answering his question.
Now they are talking about how the shower pics.
Now they are in a side bar.
Ed. We can all agree this guy’s career is O.V.E.R.
walked away and came back and they are still in a side bar…….
how right you are – Dr. Dufus career is D.E.A.D. and it’s becoming more obvious that Dufus maybe has a little fixation on Jodi the vamp/skank…Dr. Dufus’s expert opinion on Jodi’s mental state is about as reliable in clinical sense as a monkey in the zoo…..
Now, see, I was wondering if I was the only one thinking that. At first, he sounded at least competent. Although one could tell he was in a bit over his head, he at least sounded competent enough to justify all his years of education. After watching this, he career is dead. Non-professional, incompetent, etc. are just the tip of the ice-berg with this one….
His first day of testimony, he was so giddy thinking of potential book deals and tv appearances. Now you can tell he would like to shove his notes down Juan’s throat… Perhaps if he sent him a nice card and a lovely book…
I just told my co-worker about the “monkey in a zoo” comment and she fell out laughing. Good one. Also, I fully agree with you Susan. It seems like he had a crush on her and over looked a lot. Or tried to twist his report in her favor.
BTW – they are still arguing out of the presence of the jury….all over the pics in the shower. Jodi had told him the pics were Travis’ idea which contradicts some of her previous statements. So, they sent the jury out….
Juan has just called the doc out on a previous statement. He is using a tape to help him remember what he said!!
Juan has already made Saunders admit that he bought a book for Jodi…a gift Juan called it. The title of the book? Your Erogenous Zones. Go figure! You can’t make this stuff up!
The book was Your Erroneous Zones…It’s about how to stop making the same mistakes over and over (more or less) It’s a legit (sort of a classic) self-help book.
In between commercials, HLN actually has about one minute and 30 seconds of testimony before once again hitting the “pause button.”
I fucking HATE “TruTV” for cutting down In Session.
yeah HLN sucks….thought I’d go nuts last night trying to watch trial/Juan but JVM kept jumping in with “we’ll take short break but you won’t miss anything” – 15 min of testimony took 1 1/2 hrs to watch with stupid commercials/HLN guest panel of no name experts
Go to Huffpost. I’m at work listening to it in the background. I’d get fired if I sat in the lounge all day watching this, lol…. No have it streaming from Huffpost… No commercials and no breaks.
damn! I can get on Huffpost at work but can’t access live stream (work for big financial corp – must be security reason…)but can read live court updates at least…re: Dr. credibility with his clinical assessment of skank…what kind of Dr sends a jailbird a book AND a card that says “Don’t Worry”!!! sounds like he’s a little involved with poor skank’s litany of lies
Ok. I’m over the trial. There’s no new evidence being brought in, no new information. She’s a lying liar that constantly lies. ( yes I’m aware that statement is redundant as has been most of this trial). The expert witness obviously suck. Her defense is ridiculous and her attorneys are total douche bags. I’m ready for closing arguments already!!! Let’s get this show on the road 🙂
Isn’t there supposed to be another expert witness after this dude?
Yes a battered woman’s expert is on the defense list but we shall see. I heard Matt McCartney her ex b.f. was on someone’s list because he was deposed this past January.
Thank you, Mimi!
BTW, I swear, I have now taken to giving the finger to my TV every time Galanos, et al, say “We’re putting the pause on, stay with us.” ARRHRHGHGHGH! Do they really need all those fucking commercials playing ad nauseum? Enough is enough!
His testimony style is so reminiscent of Jodi’s. I wonder did he coach her, or did she coach him? Or is it the attorneys’ work? They both cannot remember words that came out of their mouths five seconds ago. They can’t answer with yes or no, questions need to be repeated when they don’t like them etc
Seriously,
I wonder if he coached her as well! I was wondering that yesterday. You can tell though that he is OVER Juan. The good doc is starting to get loud. Can’t say that I blame him though – as Juan is making him look completely incompetent. See there he goes again, getting snappy. OMG he just told Juan he has no knowledge in that area! SNAP, lol, truly though I’m bored with this already. Even with the yelling that they are doing now….
Tamara, I agree. I think Juan should make his points and move on. Bring on their last domestic violence expert and lets get to the redirect – which is think will be good as heck. I think the jury will have an idea of what a lair Jodi is in redirect – if they don’t already. I really want to see if someone from Walmart or if Matt McCarthy will testify.
Shut the front door! Jodi failed the PTSD test! WTF? The defense did a spectacularly horrible job of preparing Samuels. It’s like they just met him in the parking lot and asked if he could spare five mns to play expert on the stand.smh
I bet Juan has siblings. Every time he says to the Judge, “Judge he’s not answering!” reminds me of him being a little kid, whining to his mommy because his brother is poking him or something.
yes! but someone has to FORCE this judge to TAKE CONTROL of the witness/courtroom!! How many times does Juan have to ask witnes THE SAME QUESTION but witness WILL NOT ANSWER question directly? witness starts rambling all around the question with extraneous stuff – Judge sits there and says NOTHING! how about “please answer the question directly – yes or no” No wonder Juan acts for frenzied/mad/frustrated/
I agree this judge is awful. She just sits and responds to objections. I thought a judge was supposed to be more of a leader.
First before I get attacked let me say I totally agree that Jodi is a bull shit liar and murdered Travis with total premeditation. Now for fun I always like to think from the other angle. So here is what I am wondering. Nurmi is court appointed lawyer and I presume he is getting paid from some State fund that covers attorneys who are ordered to do these trials. Unless he makes so much money defending scum bags that he offers to do pro bono work as a way of easing his conscience.
Seems to me that allowing Jodi to take the stand knowing she will lie is same as suborning perjury. I thought a defense attorney could refuse to allow the defendant to take the stand if they knew they were going to lie? Anyway with this total incompetent testimony of Dr. Samuels I am left to wonder if Kurmi is pulling a fast sleazy one here. In effect Jodi gets convicted of First Degree and jury votes to give her the needle, her appeal is pretty much guaranteed on the basis of ineffective counsel (what idiot who is competent would hire Samuel to do such a lousy job?). So now her new legal team (and let’s face it there are probably a ton of people who would drool to take this case for the publicity etc) knows all the angles of the prosecution and where their case is weak and go for another trial and are able to preempt the prosecutions main arguments.
What is the real harm, given that Jodi did the dastardly deed and most likely will be convicted, why not leave the door open for a re-trial where you have a chance of maybe at least overturning the DP and possibly getting sentenced reduced to second degree which is what she wanted in the first place? Or even better try a new defense approach of temporary insanity, hell given Jodi might even go for total insanity. I know of a case where the defendant avoided DP by getting convicted of insanity. He is now doing 60 to life in an insane asylum BUT if he is ever deemed to be “cured” he is then free to walk among us and murder again. I know this scum bag and he is not insane, just a schizophrenic sociopath who is smart as hell and God help this world if he manages to use his wiles to convince some idiot that he is all better now that he is always on his meds.
I think Jodi is going to get convicted but I think we have a lot more to hear from her before she ever gets the big needle. I predict a retrial will happen for her and just hope that the juries continue to find her guilty and keep her ass off the streets forever.
agree with your assessment of trial/defense case – I suppose it all boils down to the jury whether she gets DP – if jury wimps out and can’t make unanimous decision on that hope they can agree on life – no parole – so this psycopath is never on the streets again. if they vote DP then she’ll have years and years of appeals anyway –
In Arizona, the average time between the death penalty being given and the execution is 16 years. Add to that, she will be isolated from the other prisoners and I will be happy with that. I will not live to see her executed, but I think that Travis’ family will. I saw Travis’ brother smile as Juan Martinez boxed in the doctor yesterday. 1st time since the trial started.
question – if defense calls a “battered woman syndrome” witness – what kind of expert witness is that? are they a psychologist? and if Dr. Dufus was also psychologist – why couldn’t he assess Jodi on battered woman syndrome also?
Probably because she is not a battered woman. They decided to angle for PTSD and failed miserably..
susan, try this link…
http://www.wptv.com/generic/news/national/Jodi-Arias-trial-live-video
remember they are at lunch until 4:30ish
If you haven’t had a chance to read this Plea Agreement that Wurmi sent to the State, you’ve got to read it (see below).
In light of Dick Samuels (defense expert!) being grilled by Juan Martinez
for the last 2 days this letter sent to Juan can be viewed as comical. Wurmi has rubbed me the wrong was since day 1 of the trial after reading this he’s far worse than I could have imagined. He’s the reason people despise lawyers. He’s the ultimate SLIMEBALL.
— Threatening Juan with the 10 letters that have been proven to be forgeries.
— The Case numbers referenced on pages 4-5 are jokes & are in no way comparable to JA’s slaughter of Travis.
— Pg 5) Threatening to out the relationships of friends & family & members of the church, & more
— Pg 6) Jodi doesn’t “see the possibility of the death verdict being very likely” She also wasn’t in the area during the murder, oh wait forget that . . she was there & it was a man & a woman dressed as ninjas that did this….and Travis liked little boys & it disgusted Jodi so much that she threw up several times then spent the remainder of their sexual relationship wearing little boys spider man underwear & taking it the poop-shoot…..! And let’s not forget how she tried to entrap Travis by secretly recording a sexual phone call….or that she forged 10 letters from Travis stating he abused her & had pedophile tendencies…..or lied to the police & everyone else for 2 years (nix that one, she’s never stopped lying). And the topper: “A jury will never convict her because she’s innocent”
— Pg 7) Ms. Arias want’s a more favorable verdict??!! She’s now thinking of his family??!! She’s not shown one iota of remorse for them since this trial began. Yes she’s faked a few tears but always for herself & her own predicament – her own embarrassment. She’s shown zero remorse. I’m sure Travis’ family can endure any length this trial will go on for. Just tell her that if it goes on too long & things get too rough for the family she can always send them flowers
— Pg 7) How generous of her … “she’s willing to resolve this case in the manner she described above” BUT still has NO regrets for killing Mr. Alexander — only for the lies she told the media – why, because she believes that people will look at her negatively & as a liar . . . something she’s finally right about.
http://jodiariasisinnocent.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Plea-Bargain-document-2011-Jodi-Arias-Is-Innocent-com.pdf
Holy Chit. My head is exploding from reading this. It’s a damn threat letter and the wording is quite juvenile, as if composed by a 9th grader.
As if the defense is not appalling enough (professionalism, appearance, etc) they are nothing but hired thugs! That document (authentic I presume) is atrocious and there should be repercussions of the insinuations of it. Sleazebags!
Threatening to out the relationships of church members!? Wtf. That right there shows no remorse and a self righteous attitude. The church did not kill Travis.
Juan is going to get him on the amnesia. He diagnosed Jodi as having amnesia and confirmed there would be no memories from particular beginning to particular ending. But Jodi remembers dropping the knife in the MIDDLE of the “downward “U.” TOAST! I know it’s coming!!!!
I’m wondering if any of you can help!
I am highly intrigued about Prosecutor Martinez. Not on a personal level but on a professional level. I cannot seem to find anything about his conviction/loss ratio, his philosophies of prosecution, case specifics, or if he has authored any articles in any legal journals. Has he been a prosecutor in any other jurisdiction prior to Maricopa County, AZ?
I found info on both Nurmi and Willmott, but Martinez’ professional background is like a phantom.
I found a little bit…
Juan Martinez Maricopa County Prosecutor is considered one of Arizona’s top Death-Penalty Prosecutors. According to the Phoenix New Times, Martinez is despised by many Defense attorneys, “because he relentlessly plays hardball on the job.” A graduate of at Arizona State University, Martinez was licensed to practice Law in 1984 and joined the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office in 1988. Martinez, according to the Times, rarely enters into plea bargains and is known to be meticulous in preparation and presentation.
Thanks so much, CC! (Love your name, by the way). Gosh, though, I would love to know more details about his conviction/loss record, cases, any potential journal articles.
BTW, “despised” is quite the strong word! Now, HLN did say that he is known to “work alone,” which is why you see no other counsel with him. I’m wondering if he is truly such an island in his career mission and his work, and how this has affected his W-L record (whatever that is).
Again, thank you!
and you might want to look at this about some of his prior cases…
http://www.facebook.com/Justice4Travis/posts/442158152526999
CC, you came through for me again — you’re awesome!
honestly, if I were Dr. Samuels, at this point I’d pull a Jodi to start feigning a fog to avoid ever having to revisit the career slaying he’s experiencing in this court room.
this is so bad it’s verging on hilarious. his notes are a scattered mess that demonstrate possible doctoring, his ethics are disturbingly questionable, his competence about the very basics that compose a PTSD diagnosis is nonexistent, i would almost feel bad about the career death taking place if it weren’t for the fact that he’s attempting to protect a known murderer and likely sociopath from receiving the well-deserved consequences of her actions by twisting science and debasing the experiences of actual trauma victims.
Did the judge just come back from sidebar and say That’s all Folks or did the defense actually finish. We were at sidebar and I was flaming a moron at an evil undisclosed location and suddenly we had the seal of the mediocre state of Arizona.
LOL!
Did we all doze off during this part??????
http://www.hlntv.com/video/2013/03/19/why-did-jodi-slip-folder-under-her-behind
Sweet Geebus. That girl’s a side show.
Guess I did miss it. She is so weird. I don’t know why her attorneys don’t make her sit still and pay attention. I mean if the jury has to sit still and pay attention she could at least do the same. If I was on trial for my life I’d be doing a lot less sketching, whispering, and wiggling around and more paying attention
Is she truly going to try to smuggle the notebook with her hiney? Course her backdoor hasn’t had much attention as of late…. She knows all the cameras are there, albeit not probably aware which ones are pointed where I still feel she is setting grounds for an insanity appeal somewhere down the line. Come on, the handstands in the interrogation room, singing, smiling at the family members of her victim (this could be inherited, if you pay attention to her mother and the mother’s twin they are always laughing in the courtroom), the sneaking of a notebook under her bum, etc. They’re making a mockery of the CJS.
This is extradornarialy telling about who and what Jodi Arias is. She is on trial for her life, the jurors have shown that they do not believe her in their questions to her, and her first expert is an unmitigated disaster and she tries to steal a journal (one of hers I believe) on live TV. You just can NOT make this stuff up! I have a dear old friend and she told me many years ago, ‘When people show you who they are, believe them’.
A Doctor sending Jodi cards while she is in prison shows he had to have put the answers on that PTSD test to show how a great doctor(which he is not a doctor)Made the rersults come out to show PTSD. Really how solid are these test to prove anything when you lie anyway
I am glad to find this site.I have been trying to tell some one .Dr.Drew had a man call his show a few weeks ago.He stated Jodi Arias had come in a bar the night before she drove to mesa and asked if she could borrow some money.She said she had to go Mesa .All along she’s been saying that he guilted her into coming.On her way to Utah.So she changed her mind and went there.He said she was frantic.He loaned her the money.I don’t think Dr.Drew got that it proved premditation.He just asked the guy if she pd. Him back.He said she did.I’ve tryed to figure out how to get that info to The procecuter.I think thats pretty important info that proves one more time she planned this whole horrible crime.What a creep.I have 3sons.It scares me to death.thanks for this place to vent.
That is truly scary if it is true. I almost think the prosecution shoulda done more investigating and found more character witnesses.. I saw a guy on Nancy Grace sayin that he was Travis’s bud and he had bad vibes about Jodi..I know that isn’t enough to testify but I bet there’s a ton of people who do have enough to add to this but we aren’t hearin from them.