Arizona woman serving life sentence for killing boyfriend killer wants murder conviction overturned – Jodi Arias says trial was a ‘circus’, prosecutor ‘played to the audience’ and the judge failed to control news coverage
‘I deserve a second chance’ – Jodi Arias
Arias wants her conviction in the murder of Travis Alexander overturned
Tried for her admitted killing of her ex-boyfriend Travis, Arias says the trial was a ‘circus’, – the prosecutor ‘played to the audience’ and the judge failed to control news coverage
Arias, 37, is serving a life sentence for her first-degree murder conviction in the 2008 death of Travis Alexander at his home in Mesa, Ariz.
In the appeal released Friday, Arias’ lawyers said prosecutor Juan Martinez courted news coverage and improperly conducted his case
They also said Judge Sherry Stephens let news organizations turn the trial into a ‘circus-like atmosphere’
Arias, 37, is serving a life sentence for her first-degree murder conviction in the 2008 death of Travis Alexander at his home in Mesa
Despite her reservations about testifying during the sentencing retrial, Arias had actively courted the spotlight since she was arrested in 2008
The appeal was filed after Arias tried unsuccessfully to bar the public from seeing her appellate brief
Jodi Arias [photo], who was found guilty of killing her estranged boyfriend has filed an appeal to overturn her conviction
Jodi Arias is asking an appeals court to overturn her murder conviction in the 2008 death of her former boyfriend, saying a prosecutor’s misconduct and a judge’s failure to control news coverage during the salacious case deprived her of the right to a fair trial.
In the appeal released Friday, Arias’ lawyers said prosecutor Juan Martinez improperly questioned witnesses, ignored rulings on evidence and courted news coverage.
They also said Judge Sherry Stephens let news organizations turn the trial into a ‘circus-like atmosphere,’ was slow to restrict journalists even when they broke the court’s media-coverage rules and allowed trial spectators to become emboldened by what they saw on the livestream from the Phoenix courtroom.
The appellant Jodi Arias seen [right], with the victim, the court heard attacked Alexander [left] in a jealous rage after he wanted to end their affair and planned a trip to Mexico with another woman
In the appeal released Friday, Arias’ lawyers said prosecutor Juan Martinez courted news coverage Judge Sherry Stephens let news organizations turn the trial into a ‘circus-like atmosphere’.
‘The court admitted that this desire to feed the unusual public interest in the trial caused the media to hound and harass the attorneys, witnesses, jurors and court staff,’ defense attorneys said.
Curiously while unwilling to take the stand and testify during her sentencing retrial, Arias [photo], she has actively courted the media attention since her arrest. Incarceration has not slowed her down either
Arias, now 37, is serving a life sentence for her first-degree murder conviction in the 2008 death of Travis Alexander at his home in Mesa.
Prosecutors said Arias attacked Alexander in a jealous rage after he wanted to end their affair and planned a trip to Mexico with another woman.
Arias has acknowledged killing Alexander but claimed it was self-defense after he attacked her.
The guilt phase of the Travis Alexander murder trial ended in 2013.
The jury convicted Arias but deadlocked on punishment. A second sentencing trial began in late 2014 and stretched into early 2015, also resulting in a jury deadlock. That required Stephens to sentence Arias to prison for life.
The case turned into a media frenzy as salacious and violent details about Arias and Alexander were broadcast live around the world.
In the face of a mountain of evidence, Arias has acknowledged killing Alexander but claimed it was self-defense after he attacked her
Despite her reservations about testifying during the sentencing retrial, Arias had actively courted the spotlight since she was arrested in 2008.
She did interviews on TV’s ’48 Hours’ and ‘Inside Edition’ after her arrest and was on the witness stand for several weeks during the trial in which she was found guilty of murder. She also did a series of media interviews after her conviction.
Arias’ attorneys say Martinez courted journalists and spectators, signed autographs and posed for photos during the trial. ‘This prosecutor unapologetically ‘played’ to the audience outside as well as to those watching the livestream,’ Arias’ lawyers wrote.
Arias, seen in court during her trial in 2015, is serving a life sentence for her first-degree murder conviction in the 2008 death of Travis Alexander at his home in Mesa
They also said Martinez made an unfounded accusation that an expert witness for the defense team had an inappropriate relationship with Arias.
They also said Martinez disregarded court rulings by repeating questions after the judge had overruled them.
The appeal was filed after Arias tried unsuccessfully to bar the public from seeing her appellate brief.
The state has until January 4 of next year to respond to the appeal,.
Leave a Reply