UPDATE: Jurors have gone home for the night after about 3 hours and 15 minutes of testimony. They return tomorrow.
There was so much to tell you guys yesterday, I left a lot of things out. One broad thing I need to point out is that Juan Martinez did not object one time to Kirk Nurmi’s closing argument. It’s generally simply not done. Unless something extremely egregious is said, the opposing counsel will simply address it in their own closing. Nurmi however objected like a jack in the box throughout Juan’s closing. Today he will pay for that.
Before Nurmi can even get out a full though, Juan objects. This is going to take a while. He began with ” The state has presented you with a lot of snippets through the trial…” Objection! Beyond the scope. Nurmi is only supposed to rebut things that Juan said in his closing, not give another closing argument entirely. It looks like Juan is going to be holding him to that.
Nurmi returns from the sidebar, touches on the whole snippets thing again, and then provides a snippet of his own. It has to do with Fonseca’s testimony about Jodi screaming Fuck You! at her father after he slapped her. I’d love to explain his point, but it seems to me to be beneficial to the state who has claimed all along that Jodi does NOT suffer in silence as the defense says. He then talks about her cousin who said Jodi could be a total bitch. Same thing. I seem to be missing something in the Twitter translation. Sorry.
The tweeters seem to be over this whole thing and the tweets are not as detailed as usual. At one point Nurmi said that Juan wanted to call his client a bitch. OBJECTION! And later he said that the state was attempting to distract the jury from the facts. He pointed at Juan and said his use of the horrific pictures of Travis’ slit throat and asking if it was a smile was disgusting. Juan has been objecting a lot (improper argument).
Nurmi, “The State talked to you about the man on the moon. This is about 2008, we are on planet earth, in Maricopa County. Do you kill that woman?”
Nurmi backs of the blame the victim slightly by saying that Travis might have been a good guy to a lot of people, nobody is here to say Travis is a bad guy… but he was not always a good guy to Jodi Arias. He reads an email from Sky Hughes where she talks about Travis being affected by his parents and his abusive childhood. Sky is in the courtroom crying.
Side note: The reports are that Nurmi is louder and more aggressive today. The jury is not taking notes. But they are very engaged with eye contact. Jodi is staring down the jury. Jodi’s pal Donovan is in the courtroom sitting with Jodi’s mother. Jodi’s mother has been stoic and emotionless the entire time.
Nurmi says that Jodi isn’t the only one who lied to cover for Travis. The prosecution witnesses, Deanna Reid (who is in the courtroom) and the Bishop lied for Travis as well.
On to one of Nurmi’s favorite subject, masturbation. He says that the state is trying to distract the jury about the masturbation incident. If they want proof that it happened then he invites the jury to listen to the entire phone sex recording as it relates to child porn claim and computer porn claim. He mentions the orgasming like at 12-year-old girl comment. He asks the ladies of the jury if they think their man would say that. Objection. Sustained. A few beats later he asks if they would be disturbed if their man said that. Objection. Move to strike. Sustained.
Side note: Two jurors are taking notes now.
Nurmi goes on and on about the porn. One of the You Porns was about a girl having sex with his teacher. Travis’ sex fantasies mention in the sexting he learned from watching porn. Seriously, why is this even a discussion/
Moving on to DeMarte, Nurmi says he said “Good Morning” and she didn’t even respond. Really? Well damn. The jury certainly can’t vote for death now. Nurmi says that proves bias. He moves on to try to prop up Geffner by claiming that DeMarte was the “hired gun.”
On to the lack of citations in Jodi’s journal about any domestic violence with Travis. He says the state seems to think there are rules for journaling and all bad things must be written down. But what if she has written it and Travis had read her journal?
Nurmi reads several email excerpts from Chris and Sky Hughes to Travis that say things like ” I thought she was just another girl you were playing.” or suggest that he needs to treat Jodi better. Nurmi suggests the jury read these during deliberations.
Nurmi says Travis invited Jodi to his house on the day of the murder. We know this because he was taking photos of her vagina. Why would he do that if she wasn’t invited? um, huh?
Nurmi frequently calls things from Juan’s closing distractions. This time it is the email from Jodi to Abe. Nurmi says it shows how jealous Travis was about Abe. Jodi had to let Travis know that she told him she was not interested.
He talks about the text that the state suggests Jodi sent to herself. He says that is a huge leap.
Side note: Notetaking has stopped again. Back to intent listening.
Graphic testimony about Travis tying Jodi to a tree. He is comparing the sexting to the text in question and point out similarities in the wording. I love the variations in tweets between the network media (very demure) to the social media bloggers (often graphic).
Nurmi says the jury has no duty to kill Jodi Arias. They should decide based on their moral judgment. He explains that mitigators are not excuses, they go to the level of moral culpability.
Nurmi says that up until this point in time Jodi lived a life that is deserving of not having it taken now. The state says she killed him so you should kill her. Let the killing continue. But the jury must consider mitigation. The fact that she is convicted is unrelated to mitigation. Nurmi went through nine mitigators again hitting the highlights of each.
While going through all the mitigators (or potential mitigators) Nurmi continuously reminds the jury that their decision is based on their own moral assessment, nothing more. He also repeats over and over that her life is worth saving. Etc. He puts up a picture of Jodi and her dog. Would you kill this girl? Finally a sidebar. I hope Juan is pointing out that there should be a time limit and limit as to what is proper argument so that this ends at some point in the future.
Side note: I really want to go back out and play in the snow!
Nurmi puts up a photo of Jodi and Travis. One of these people is already dead. Will you kill the other? Objection. Sidebar.
Side note: Troy Haden from Phoenix Fox 10 says his source claims Jodi already has a cell ready at Perryville regardless of verdict. Troy’s source says that Jodi will be in solitary death-row like conditions for up to 4 years even if she gets life. Can earn way out. She will be moved there the same day as the sentencing.
Side note: The Alexander family and friends are all crying. Stephen is making eye contact with jury as much as possible. Trying to get a read. The jury is looking at Nurmi and rarely looks at spectators.
Nurmi ends saying that Travis thought Jodi was special. He tells them that they have the opportunity to return a verdict of love and compassion for the woman who Travis Alexander loved.
And we’re done.
Jurors #2 (middle-aged woman, 50ish?) and #13 (30ish /40ish man) are selected by lottery as alternates. I bet they are upset. Jury instructions are read. Alexander supporters are weeping quietly. The final jury is 8 women and four men. The were sent to deliberate just before 1:45 ET 11:45 MT.
After jury leaves, Jodi’s mom, sister Angela and Donovan chat. The Alexander sisters are sobbing in the first row.
It looks like the jury will deliberate from 9 4:40 MT on Monday- Thursday. (Because, Bottomless Margarita Fridays). If the jury has a question, it appears we will not be told. Because, super secret trial. 🙁 Judge Stephens will answer them in writing. Because, Arizona. We will have one hour notice before the verdict is read.
Jury went to lunch and returned to start deliberations at 3:15 ET. They took a smoke break (lol not really sure if anyone smokes) at 5:00 ET. They are expected to deliberate until 6:30 ET.
Some of my Jodi Arias posts are more fun to read than others. You can find them all here. Check out the ones about the Sleaze Highway and the Venus Anal Fuck Machine or Howard Johnsons. Those were the fun days of Fonseca’s testimony. 🙂
Good grief! Great job TT. I was consumed with this trial, and the first penalty phase, but I just had to get out of “Jody World” for awhile, so I kind of avoided the re-trial of the penalty phase. God bless you for sticking with it so I can stay informed. (I signed up for Beth Karas’ trial blog, but it was daily, and WAY too blah blah blah, so I cancelled after skipping a week of reading it.)
It sounds like Nurmi is as annoying as ever! I would certainly not want to leave arguing my fate in his hands. I’m shocked Jodie didn’t elocute. I miss watching Juan Martinez-I hope someone interviews him afterwards and we get his take. I hope the Alexanders finally get some peace and can get Jody out of their thoughts.
Thanks for the update!
“Nurmi ends saying that Travis thought Jodi was special. He tells them that they have the opportunity to return a verdict of love and compassion for the woman who Travis Alexander loved.”
This is the creepiest most ridiculous, most asinine, request by an attorney for a convicted murderer EVER! I find this overwhelmingly disturbing! Excuse me while I go wipe the ick off!
Yep. It was kinda creepy.
On Wed, Feb 25, 2015 at 5:40 PM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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I agree!
Actually, Travis was afraid Jodi was an axe murderer. Would you call that special? As for loving her..he wanted her to go away and leave him alone. But, he loved that wild and crazy sex and she kept throwing it at him. Sadly, that became the ONLY thing he loved about her in the end. Therefore….she killed him. RIP Travis. Hopefully you and your family will get justice soon.
I don’t think Nurmi has really been effective in anything he’s done, but appealing to the moral implications of sentencing death is definitely and obviously the best way to go.
I would like to think I’d be able to look at the facts of the case separate of my personal beliefs, but I just don’t know if I could be a deciding factor of someone’s life even if they’re sociopathic murderers.
Out of 12 people I wouldn’t be surprised if AT LEAST one other person feels the same way – so I’m not holding my breath for the DP.
I’m happy that the Alexander’s, in my opinion, will receive justice either way knowing she will rot in a jail cell; there’s millions of people in this world that never get the closure of knowing what happened to their loved ones much less who did it.
If something like this happened to one of your guys family members, would you go to the trial everyday? I couldn’t imagine the pain of getting up every morning and getting dressed just to go cry for hours on end day after day.
I would not be able to afford to go every day. Who would be here posting and antagonizing the commenters? 🙂
I think Nurmi did a great job with his first closing. She really has no mitigators to speak of so he has to play the heartstrings. ARE YOU GOING TO KILL THIS GIRL? Would probably work on me.
Plus I have always had a soft spot for Nurmi. ( I know, shut up.)
On Wed, Feb 25, 2015 at 6:08 PM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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@psylocke unfortunately, I think you are correct and there will be will at least one the jury that won’t vote for the DP. If it was a family member I would show up daily. No matter how long it took. Even imaginging after this trial, how painful it could be. After the sniper trial quick trial and verdict last night, that judge should have been moved to Arizona to try Arias case YEARS ago. It moved along quickly.
The only trial I have sat through daily, that was criminal, was in New Orleans and involved a close friend, a police officer, shot 5 times on duty. He didn’t die but was paralyzed at 26. It was emotional, painful and heartwrenching daily. BUT, we are lucky. He is still with us. So I can’t really imagine what the Alexander family is experiencing. Great recap as always TT. Can’t wait for verdict. Will have to keep my eyes on CNN.
Yesterday, Jodi was in tears after Nurmi’s review of her child abuse (lies), relationship abuse (more lies), so I guess it isn’t true that borderlines can’t feel empathy, but they seem only to be able to feel it for themselves!! What bugs me about Nurmi’s approach is that he is insinuating that if they give her the DP, they are murderers. Moral blackmail – ughhh!!
The thing with borderlines is that they cry only for themselves.
That is not true.
On Thu, Feb 26, 2015 at 11:00 AM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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The only good that might have come from this was that in life Travis would have touched hundreds of lives, but through his death millions have been touched
If I was on this jury, having stated I could vote for the death penalty, and on the fence up to yesterday, the coded message in the magazine that Juan showed the jury would tip me over to the DP side. That’s the real Jodi.
I always considered myself “pro death penalty.” And I believe I could give the death penalty. But I think I am one of those people that might find it for serial killers, or baby killers. I’d be fine with her getting LWOP. Also, since I know that is cheaper than killing her, I’d factor that in even though I should not, because I’m like frugal and shit.
Just keeping it 100.
On Wed, Feb 25, 2015 at 7:24 PM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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If I were on that jury, I would vote DP only because Travis’s family requested it. Also, I would have seen zero remorse from Jodi.
I think the jury will come back LWOP.
I don’t really care what the family wants. Pretty much every family would want the DP if it was an option. We just can’t fry every psycho chick that kills her lover. There is probably not enough lethal injection stuff in the world for that. I’m just saying.
On Wed, Feb 25, 2015 at 7:55 PM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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Off topic but I’m curious. I heard a news update in NPR this morning regarding the first female to be executed in Georgia in a long time. Her last appeal was denied and she was scheduled to die Wednesday. The state cancelled it du to snow? Allowing her another weekend to live because of snow? I must have missed something. How can snow cause an execution to ne cancelled? Is this a real thing in Georgia?
I’m just making an assumption but if the conditions are really that bad/Georgia doesn’t have the infrastructure to support the snow removal then it would be a hazard trying to get the dozens of different party members together.
How would you feel if you weren’t able to make an execution you’ve been waiting for for years because your car is snowed in lol
The schools have been closed for days. It’s hit 40 degrees nearly every day. The weather people are fucking with the state government and schools because they can. It’s been a weird week Yes it snowed, but the roads were fine.
On Thu, Feb 26, 2015 at 1:00 PM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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NEW POST is up in case you missed it.
http://s17948.p858.sites.pressdns.com/2015/02/26/jodi-arias-trial-weirdness-because-arizona/#comment-233638
On Thu, Feb 26, 2015 at 2:36 PM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
> The schools have been closed for days. It’s hit 40 degrees nearly every > day. The weather people are fucking with the state government and schools > because they can. It’s been a weird week Yes it snowed, but the roads were > fine. > > > > On Thu, Feb 26, 2015 at 1:00 PM, Tamara Tattles [email protected]> wrote: > >>
First, I am living in a suburb of Phoenix in Maricopa County. I am a friend of both Abe and Katie Wick who was one of Dr. Drew’s jurors during the first trial. I am also a member of the legal profession and am familiar with the judicial system in Maricopa County. I wanted to praise you for the thorough blogs and updates and tell you that I appreciate you for taking the time to write them for all of us. I followed the first trial and penalty phase with rapt attention during most of my spare time but was unable to do so this time around. I come here for updates now.
Thank you again for keeping us informed. I know that both Abe and Katie are anxious for a fair and just verdict as am I but I have little hope of all twelve jurors reaching a unanimous verdict on death which is what I believe she deserves. I can only hope that this rather twitchy Judge gives her life without parole if there is no DP.
Merilyn,
If the jury comes back with LWOP I’d be satisfied. If they deadlock this time I’m of the understanding that Judge SS can sentence her to life, eligible for parole in 25 years. That would be unjust to me.
I can’t remember if the jury has that third option, parole after 25. Do you know, TT?
Also, am I right that if the jury deadlocks the judge determines the entente?
I’m still sick and overtired. I need to stop typing before I make. Bigger fool out of myself.
If this jury deadlocks it automatically goes to a Life sentence. Only the judge can determine a Life With or Without parole possibility. If with parole possible she has already served about a third of the 25 years before parole eligible sentence.
Thanks, Steve . Appreciate the clarification
Technically, as I understand it the judge can’t really give Jodi Life With Parole. I mean she could technically give a sentence of Life with parole in 25 years but I read about this during the first sentencing trial and there was essentially no way she would actually get parole.
Also, the laws have changed in AZ since 2008, if you get a first degree murder conviction now parole is no longer an option. I think that has something to with the whole parole thing for Jodi as well.
On Wed, Feb 25, 2015 at 7:50 PM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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The jury decides DP or Life. If they decide DP, it’s over. If they decide Life, the judge decides LWOP OR LIFE with possibility of parole after 25 years. After 25 years another panel decides if she actually gets paroled.
If the jury cannot unanimously decide on a verdict, DP is taken off the table and the judge decides between Life or Life with possibility of parole after 25 years.
INCORRECT!
On Thu, Feb 26, 2015 at 11:53 AM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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TT, since jodi was charged under the old laws wouldnt her case grandfather through the new laws?
Yes but grandfather means keeping the original law. You can’t change the rules after someone is charged.
On Thu, Feb 26, 2015 at 12:42 PM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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What is INCORRECT TT?
Not that I expected them to actually have a defense but wow….What a point less few months.
I know that I could not vote for the death penalty. If someone killed one of my daughters I would want him/her dead, my motive selfish, pure revenge. I would probably want to do it myself. I do not think I would be capable of murder though.
I think she will get LWOP. Fine by me. No need to spend more taxpayer money on the automatic appeals she is entitled to with the DP.
Lock her up in Perryville. Let her linger and malinger alone in her cell. No more media play, no more Visits from her probono attorneys. Leave her in segregation for a couple years.
Let her think about The Secret and her memories. Let her fester remembering the abuse she’s suffered since she was a child, all the lies she’s told. All the bullshit that the defene team hopes will stick.
I want her to be alone and forgotten. I want her nowhere near an inmate or guard that she could find a way to manipulate. I want her to die a slow painful death years from now from a horrible protracted disease with no one to comfort her.
She knows the pain of the nick of a razor blade and couldn’tt tolerate it when she planned her suicide in jail. (She doesn’t have a high tolerance for pain and failed in her attempt.)
But as usual she thought ahead and had gotten extra towels to lie on so when she sliced her wrists her blood wouldn’t trickle down to the bottom bunk,alert her bunkie who might have called for help and saved her.
The woman is a vile creature.
I hope her sentencing is soon and the Montgomery Family can finish this chapter and remember Travis the way he was meant to be remembered. My hope would be that the family can forget Arias and move on.
Thanks for all your updates, TT. Your trial coverage has always been excellent. Now that you have to cover it by reading tweets and news updates has to have been so much harder. Know that it is appreciated.
I’m sorry for the ramble. I just get riled up when it comes to her.
I hope it’s a quick verdict so this shit show ends.
Ditto deco
You have voiced my opinion to a tee
I’m not sure why I am unable to say KILL HER. But still want her tortured. And trust me, I think Travis Alexander had a lot of growing up to do. But I guess I think kids in their 20s have a lot to learn about who they are, manipulation, mistakes, and the results of their actions. I suppose I think everyone deserves a second chance. However travis gets no second chance, by her hand, so she shouldn’t either. LWOP will give her time to consider how she wound up at 27 years old, with no life.
Man, I am so glad to finally see that it’s time for the jury…
BTW, if you HEAR (not here! God this thing where my fingers type homophones for the word I intend is SO irritating #hormonalbrain) there is a verdict (probably next week or later) please post here or tweet me or email me. I usually have my head in a blog especially early in the week. So I may miss it.
On Wed, Feb 25, 2015 at 11:59 PM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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I signed up to get a text from the local news station as soon as a verdict is reached! Hopefully it works and I’ll let you know right away!
THX!
On Thu, Feb 26, 2015 at 5:45 AM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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Just wanting to thank you TT for all the time and thought you have put into this phase of JA trial.
You have the ability to filter thru all the noise and deliver a completely understandable article.
Thank you again.
Thanks for reading. I much prefer recapping and seeing the trial with my own eyes. I followed 26 people for this phase. It was fun getting to know who was a topic or so behind (Nancy Grace) and who would type things like Venus anal fuck machine and who would just say things like “things got really naughty.”
On Thu, Feb 26, 2015 at 2:00 AM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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26 people? Wow. I can’t imagine trying to write something that makes sense from that many, who are limited to 140 characters. I’m i!impressed!
Will be looking for a verdict today. Fingers crossed its swift and no more f ups.
This phase was absolutely disgusting and a disgrace. Travis and the Alexander family deserved better. You don’t get to hack up a guy because he treated you poorly and may have been hypocritical.
I bet today is verdict day. No court Fri so who wants to come back Monday? But alas this is. …because Arizona. ..