In you missed this morning’s recap go here.
After a lovely lunch everyone returns to court, Juan gets half a sentence out and Nurmi asks for a sidebar which of course happens. We continue with Demarte talking about her interview with Taylor, a friend of Travis’. Taylor said that Travis was irritated with Jodie because she would hack his Facebook account, show up uninvited, help herself to things, etc. She behaved erratically according to DeMarte.
Next DeMarte talked about her interview with Sky Hughes. Sky told her that Jodi would wait outside the bathroom door for him to come out and outside his bedroom door while he talked on the phone with others while they were at her house. Sky says she followed him all over the house. She says Travis caught her listening outside the bathroom door to his phone call with Deanna and chased her off and she returned to spy again.
DeMarte tries to discuss her interview with Daryl Brewer but Nurmi objects. Nonetheless, DeMarte is allowed to continue. She says that According to Daryl, Jodi continues to call and show up uninvited at his home a great deal after they broke up. She would claim she was in town and ask to do laundry or eat. Daryl says that Jodi never overreacted but she was clingy and whiney at times.
Next, DeMarte talks about Matt. Matt said he moved to get away from Jodi Arias. She cried a lot when they broke up and she guilted him in to seeing her. He moved to work at Crater Lake and Jodi showed up to confront a fellow employee he was seeing at the time. He was out of town and she slept in his dorm bed without his permission. After all of these excerpts, DeMarte makes some sort of summation that shows her behaviors are those of someone with borderline personality. Those with borderline personality are quick to idolize them and then can turn and demonize and devalue them. She knew she was going to marry Travis immediately and when that delusion did not happen she justified killing him by saying that he was a bad person and was able to leave the murder scene and drive straight to a makeout session with Ryan Burns with no internal conflict.
DeMarte says once again that her friends and family referred to her as a chameleon whose personality changed according to who she was with. For example, the “likes” on her My Space page were identical to Travis Alexander’s.
Since the afternoon session begin, Jodi’s mitigation specialist, Maria De La Rosa has been sitting next to Jodi who seems to dislike what she is hearing.
A text between Travis and Regan Housley discusses Jodi’s erratic behavior. She is hysterical that he no longer wants to see her. He is worried she might kill herself. She continues to stalk him. He tells her to expect angry messages from her since they are talking. Travis refers to Jodi as “crafty” and “scary.” At the time of this conversation according to Travis they have been broken up for a year. They joke that she has probably already hacked his account to read this tweet. Travis says to keep watch on her car tires.
We move on to tests of Jodi anger issues. She answered “often” in response to how often she feels anger in a variety of situations. She has aggressive outbursts. She has kicked her mother. Jodi has been suicidal since 1997. Jodi’s parents confirmed that is when she began having suicidal thoughts. DeMarte gets in Jodi’s statement that “no jury would convict her” on a televised interview prior to conviction. She later claimed the reason she said that was that she had plans to commit suicide. Jodi tells the now age old, I was going to slit my wrist but that really hurt so I didn’t, story.
DeMarte says that Jodi has BPD not PTSD. It really seems to me that DeMarte is doing the best job of making a mitigation argument and she is on the prosecution’s side. Martinez is done with the witness. Nurmi asks to wait until tomorrow to cross-examine the witness. Granted. Court over. Total Sidebar tall for the day? An even 20.
Thanks for reading and sharing these recaps. If you missed any, you can find them here. I liked the Slim Highway and most of the December recaps the best. The defense witnesses made for some hysterical recaps. The prosecution witness are pretty straightforward and humorless. Like it’s a death penalty trial or something.
I forgot how scary Jodi was. Listening to Travis conversations outside his door, showing up at the ex-boyfriends and sleeping in his bed. She was fu**ing crazy.
If only these therapists could see past their own diagnosis and realize that JA is far worse than a Borderline Personality…she is a sociopath and there is no cure or redemption for that condition. They protect their egos and reputations by not looking past their original diagnosis. Jodi may be a Borderline but she is far worse.
My “official” diagnosis is BPD. I think a better diagnosis for her would be “narcissistic idiot”.
Wow! They got in some good information w Demarte, I think. If I were a juror, JA just became crystal clear. I think it’s a mistake for Nurmi to wait til tomorrow to cross. I wouldn’t want the jurors chewing on this all night.
I can’t believe the Judge allowed him to wait until tomorrow to start cross with all the time that has been wasted. What time did they call it a day?
And yet, after all the crazy things this psycho bitch did, Travis invited her into his home and fucked her? He didn’t deserve what happened to him, but he should have seen it coming. Dont play with fire, kids, mmmmmm’kay?
How do you know that? Because Jodi said so? That picture of her naked on his bed with her braids? Where is her right hand? Just behind her hip…no doubt holding the gun she stole from grand dad.. “Now take my picture Travis.” ‘Now you’re going to take a shower Travis.” Jodi. like always, found a way into his house that day. I think that guy was in fear that day for a hell of a lot longer than the last 2 minutes of his life.
I agree with you 100%…people are relying on Jodi’s account of what happened leading up to Travis’s death which makes no sense! She probably woke him up after crawling through the doggy door!
Ugh this gave me chills, you’re spot on. Bless his heart…
You know what they say – “Crazy in the head, crazy in the bed.” I know plenty of guys that subscribe to that. Living in a social community that was so sexually restrictive and strict in general, a girl like Jodi who was willing to fulfill any fantasy he could dream up (supposedly with no strings attached, as a selling point) would have been hard to turn away from. This whole case is a good cautionary tale for people who think casual sex-buddy fun with a clingy and obsessive ex can ever be a good idea.
DeMarte seems like a hired-gun clown who would say anything for money.
So let me get this straight, after the complete shit fest of “expert witnesses” the defense brought in — unprofessional, TRULY hired guns that were all proven to have an established PATTERN of offering expertise in exchange for a high income, some of them with records of foul play, and the majority of them having never actually dealt with Jodi personally — DeMarte is the hired gun clown who would do anything for money? The one expert witness who has actually had extensive face time with Jodi, knows every element of this case from the beginning, and who STILL doesn’t attach exaggerated, baseless claims to her testimony?
After all the fuckery, stupidity, and hilarity I’ve witnessed on this blog, this TOPS it all.
There has been something in the water here lately.
On Wed, Feb 4, 2015 at 8:16 PM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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Psylocke, everyone has a right to an opinion, mine happens to be that the years of expertise of the defense professional experts obviously completely trumps that of the prosecution’s. Relax and enjoy the trial and retrial. Its going to take awhile.
Mind if I ask which defense psychology expert you find credible?
On Wed, Feb 4, 2015 at 10:35 PM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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Eel…I’ll take quality over quantity any day.
Actually, Tamara, I find each of them completely credible. Dr. Richard Samuels, Dr. L.C. Miccio-Fonseca, and Dr. Robert Geffner. Granted, they may not be the most charismatic people the world has ever seen, but the combined weight of their years of expertise is undeniable. DeMarte, on the other hand is an inconsequential novice flyweight and not credible. That’s the way I see it and nothing you can say will change that. I completely understand you have a different point of view, and I respect that because, for the most part, I like you and envy your talent, while even in the occasional disagreement where you are dumb ass wrong.
Sweetie, (said in my Andy Cohen voice) I don’t know what sort of work that you do, but I’m sure if you think of your own work place, there are people who have been there a long time and you wonder how they have kept their jobs for as long as they have. All three of the defense attorney’s psychologists know each other. They were all confused in their testimony. Geffner made “timelines” with the same event in two or three different places, was surprised that happened and had no idea which was the actual date of the event or any proof that the event even happened.
This is not one of the times I am dumb ass wrong. 🙂
I’m curious what you thought about Alyce LaViolette whose testimony was considered perjury?
I realize I am not going to sway your opinion, and that is fine. My interest is how a juror’s mind could go there. Thankfully, the jury took a lot of notes during DeMarte’s testimony and I believe one of the jurors may be a psychologist and that would help deliberations immensely.
So anyway. Nurmi says 9 days out of 10 he doesn’t like Jodi. How many days out of ten would you say you like me? 🙂
On Thu, Feb 5, 2015 at 5:27 AM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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I do understand what you’re saying, but I think it’s a dangerous assumption to equate experience with knowledge – if you’re a dumbass for 40 years, you’re just an older dumbass. I’m not even going to get into all the issues of Geffner, who has continuously been found lacking credibility in numerous COURTS.
I know this may sound presented with ageist undertones, but IN SOME CASES, and especially in certain fields, there gets to a point where reeducation is an issue and their practices, standards, or even experience don’t correlate with those of day – like Fonseca thinking texting after 11pm is strange and erratic behavior?
But most importantly they were just flat out unprepared and lacking fundamental knowledge – no title or degree can remedy that – they were unclear of details and events even a casual spectator knew, and continuously asserted these stretching and flat out weird conclusions on the basis of nothing.
Even though it doesn’t count for anything, I personally think the idea of a hired gun, plucking someone off the street two weeks before you need them in a life or death trial case of a brutal murderer, is an unethical practice – DeMarte has been here since the START.
Each of you, Psylocke and Tamara, have made some valid and insightful points in response. The shortcomings of the defense experts are certainly real and unfortunate. I make no argument on that, but even with all their faults I contend that their good points far outnumbered their faults. I’m never one to think anyone could be perfect, and I think you two would agree with that outlook in your own thinking. Too many in this world see only evil or good, black or white. Its all shades of gray and you find the more you know, the less you know for certain. But I digress.
Alyce LaViolette, I believe is a well meaning, knowledgeable, and intelligent lady. Her demonization online broke my heart. She was asked to give her opinions and she gave them to the best of her ability.
How many days do I like you, Tamara? 24 out of 25. There’s not much that you write that I don’t read with enjoyment, and I come close to reading it all.
Psylocke, indeed, the ‘Peter Principle ” is still in effect in every sector. Burnout is another factor, in my wheelhouse.
Tamara, please no vanilla comments about my shades of gray reference.☺
The only vanilla you will find here is part of a deliberate oxymoron and former screen name. 🙂
I can understand having compassion for Jodi. In fact, I share many of her “bad traits” I have not as of yet murdered anyone. My decreasing balance in hormones however certainly exacerbate these traits, so I still have time. Should that happen, I hope you are on my jury.
On Thu, Feb 5, 2015 at 6:46 PM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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EEL, are the 29 stabs and slit throat and gunshot to the face just jodis recklessness of youth? like gentle mike?
Thanks Tamara for pulling this all together. I know it must be time consuming.
There wasn’t much time left in the day. Less than half an hour probably. (I get really far behind on the time because I am blogging other posts at the same time).
The jury took lots of notes today.
My question remains…the DEFENSE is going to argue PTSD and or Borderline as their mitigation factor. DeMarte did a better job than anyone proving BPD. How does this help the prosecution? I guess it gets all of the other crazy behavior in…
On Wed, Feb 4, 2015 at 7:58 PM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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But it doesn’t make her look insane to justify her actions. Just crazy that she did it coz she was obsessed with him & also goes to show what she did following to try to get by with it & also I’d say to avoid punishment in court. Thankfully those 2 Kinds of crazy are very different when it comes to being held responsible for your actions. And probably helps the prosecution to establish why she’d be likely to do something again given the chance? (Just my 2 cents. I’m no professional :D)
I don’t have any legal expertise, but I do have a background in mental health. I don’t think one could argue BPD as a mitigating factor. It’s a personality disorder – one that is often characterized by aggressive, self-centered, impulsive behavior. It helps to explain her motivation, but doesn’t really excuse it.
It’s definitely her biggest mitigating factor. But it’s not a free pass for murder or the consequences.
On Thu, Feb 5, 2015 at 5:44 PM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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Uh oh, I see Jodi in the photo carrying her coloring books into court. Do you think they give her a little stubby pencil in case she pokes herself in the eye, it wouldn’t reach her brain?
Remember the main trial when jodi said she was going to cut her wrist but stopped because it hurt and Juan nailed her with the “how do you think all those stabs felt to Travis”, those were the days
I don’t think BPD, even if the defense argues it as mitigation, is enough to preclude the death penalty. I think Juan is willing to admit to the BPD to show that the PTSD is bullshit…. The two are miles apart psychologically.
I was curious about whether BPD has been successfully argued as a mitigating factor for sentencing. I suppose it has, because it’s not uncommon to raise it as a mitigating factor, but I haven’t found a case (just a quick search, of course). It comes down to whether her mental condition limited her culpability for her actions – did she know that what she was doing was wrong and did she have control of her actions.
That is what Nurmi will argue.
On Thu, Feb 5, 2015 at 5:59 PM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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I can’t wait to see if Wilmot or Nurmi will do the cross tomorrow. JW did it during the trial and Dr. DeMarte did not budge one inch. JW tried to act all knowledgeable and tough but it just didn’t work out for her. Then in the closing arguments, the defense seemed to rely totally on Dr. DeMarte’s testimony; it was so bizarre. If anything, Dr. De was stronger this time than during the actual trial. All of the trial watchers seemed to think that this has been a great week for the prosecution. They said that JA talked to Wilmot and drew all morning and Maria de la Rosa sat by her during the afternoon, for comfort I guess. Let’s get this show on the road. To quote Nene, “Bye, girl, bye.”
This is part of what I don’t get. In the guilt phase, the defense totally went to Demarte’s testimony. They seemed to like the whole BPD concept and abandoned PTSD all together. So why are they backpedalling in the guilt phase to position one?
On Wed, Feb 4, 2015 at 11:55 PM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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Could it be instructions from the client? Jodi may be driving the bus on this one…
I can just imagine the tirades at her lawyers after court ends each day.
Great job. Thanks for hanging in there.
What I would LOVE to know is how much money Nurmi has made so far on this case? I want to guess it around the million dollar mark. Any guesses?
Not enough. He has Jodi as a client…
It’s been a long time since I read the figures, but that sounds about right. Nurmi would LOVE to get off this case though. He has begged to be replaced for YEARS. He is not allowed to leave the case. You can’t really blame him. His ass dragging in this iteration is not for his financial gain. He’s doing the best he can for his client. You can look at him and Willmott and see the physical toll the case has taken on them. I have a lot of sympathy for them.
On Thu, Feb 5, 2015 at 10:18 AM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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I agree. I can see it most in JW. It’s aged her considerably.
Omg Yes! I was thinking that the other day when I was watch DeMarte and Willmots’ original battle (which was as epic as I remember, I love that girls attitude) – but she just looked so young and fresh.
I would buy a book from him where he wrote about his personal experiences with her if he is legally allowed to write one. Life must be hell since she disrupted his life. He should have run when he had the chance. I believe he will have Jodi nightmares forever. Talk about PTSD…
I loved Psylocke’s comments about what can happen when a professional has been at their job for many years. LaViolette basically described JA as suffering from Stockholm Syndrome which became a part of our understanding in the 70’s. She also describe almost all actions by men as domestic violence. That Fonsecca lady is some sort of sex therapist and Geffner has had his work tossed out of court because he lied. It’s been a real problem for the defense to find experts and witnesses for JA. No matter what I did, I would have some friends who would stand up for me and to hell with any consequences. DeMarte decimated the defense yesterday. She was even stronger than during the original trial. Nurmi is doing the cross today; I guess Wilmot didn’t want any more of that this time around.