Jodi Arias--Trial for the murder of Travis Alexander #28

Jen's Trial Diaries ‏@TrialDiariesJ 2m2 minutes ago

JM-It's a descriptive term for how she acts.. Nurmi is objecting this misrepresents the law #jodiarias #3tvarias
0 replies 4 retweets 15 favorites

https://twitter.com/hashtag/jodiarias?f=realtime&src=hash

Baby T-Doggie ‏@starknightz 2m2 minutes ago

#J4TA @maryellenabc15 Good! Just b/c one is BPD doesn't mean one can go murder, escape punishment no more than if #jodiarias was diabetic.


?????

☁VortexϟBeautiful☁ ‏@elieluvsmenudo 4m4 minutes ago

Judge Sherry Stevens will be allowing the verdict to be broadcast! Provided live link at:
http://trialslive.blogspot.com/p/the-jodi-arias-trial.html …
#jodiarias
0 replies 1 retweet 2 favorites

Jarrett Seltzer ‏@JarrettSeltzer 3m3 minutes ago

Jodi is finally looking up. Looks like she's got her eyes on the back of Juan #JodiArias

Tammy Rose ‏@News20Chopper 3m3 minutes ago

Juan says BPD is NOT a mitigating factor because it does not have anything to do with his murder

Tammy Rose ‏@News20Chopper 3m3 minutes ago

You don't have to be a certain age to commit a crime. That's not a mitigating factor. #JodiArias
0 replies 0 retweets 3 favorites
Jen's Trial Diaries ‏@TrialDiariesJ 3m3 minutes ago

JM telling jury JA drove from Yreka to Mesa to see TA after all these alleged acts, They engaged in a sex call...they enjoyed it

The Gold Patrol™ ‏@thegoldpatrol 2m2 minutes ago

#jodiarias Juan - Jodi drove from Yreka to Mesa many times after all these “bad” things happened
0 replies 0 retweets 3 favorites
Aaron Murphy ‏@karmicaaron 2m2 minutes ago

@WildaboutTrial2 Murderess might think she is getting the DP. Good!!!!! #jodiarias
View conversation 0 replies 0 retweets 2 favorites
JustBeatrice ‏@JustBeatrice1 2m2 minutes ago Wilsonville, OR

When 1st trial started, I was still nursing my baby. This baby is now potty trained & speaks in full sentences. #LongestTrialEver #JodiArias
0 replies 0 retweets 6 favorites
Jen's Trial Diaries ‏@TrialDiariesJ 2m2 minutes ago

Juan says the records show Jodi was a spoiled child...he will leave it to jury to see if she was an abused child #jodiarias #3tvarias

Carolyn Sung ‏@CarolynSungCNN 2m2 minutes ago

Phone goes off in court. Bailiff walks around trying to figure out whose phone went off, it was his. #jodiarias

Jessica Suerth ‏@suerthjessica 1m1 minute ago

Martinez puts up autopsy photos again, "The person responsible for this is her." #jodiarias
0 replies 0 retweets 0 favorites

Jarrett Seltzer ‏@JarrettSeltzer 5m5 minutes ago

Wilmott looks to be watching the jury, Nurmi on Juan, Jodi head down

Michael Kiefer ‏@michaelbkiefer 2m2 minutes ago

Martinez juxtaposes a photo of #jodiarias and Alexander with another slit-throat photo. One of Alexander sisters runs crying from the room.
0 replies 1 retweet 4 favorites
Jen's Trial Diaries ‏@TrialDiariesJ 2m2 minutes ago

One of the sister's (Natile??) ran out crying #jodiarias #3tvarias
0 replies 1 retweet 9 favorites
Wild About Trial 2 ‏@WildaboutTrial2 2m2 minutes ago

Juan ends in a whisper. I couldn't hear his final words.

https://twitter.com/hashtag/jodiarias?f=realtime&src=hash

Michael Kiefer ‏@michaelbkiefer · 1h
Defense gets one more shot tomorrow morning. Then Stephens will read final instructions, pick alternates and send the jury to deliberate.

https://twitter.com/hardtruth4real/lists/jodi-arias-trial-live

Court proceedings will resume tomorrow at 9:30 AM MST.

Wow, we're almost at the end of this journey, what a roller coaster ride we've been on together. Just by following the tweets here today I was a tad disappointed in Juan's closing. I hope with all my heart that the jury sees fit to sentence her skanky behind to death, but I'm having doubts.

Maricopa County Superior Court

Filing Date     Description    Docket Date     Filing Party

2/24/2015   019 - ME: Ruling - Party (001)   2/24/2015
   
2/23/2015   SDD - Notice: Sealed Document - Party (001)   2/24/2015
     
NOTE: NOTICE OF FILING DOCUMENTS RELATED TO HARASSMENT OF MITIGATION SPECIALIST MARIA DE LA ROSA
2/23/2015   SDD - Notice: Sealed Document - Party (001)   2/24/2015
   
NOTE: NOTICE OF FILING DOCUMENTS RELATED TO HARASSMENT OF WITNESS MARC MCGEE
2/23/2015   SDD - Notice: Sealed Document - Party (001)   2/24/2015
   
NOTE: NOTICE OF FILING OFFER OF PROOF REGARDING MS. ARIAS' TESTIMONY
2/22/2015   OBJ - Objection/Opposition. - Party (001)   2/23/2015  
   
NOTE: DEFENDANT'S OBJECTION TO THE STATE MAKING ARGUMENT RELATED TO AGGRAVATING CIRCUMSTANCES FOR WHICH PROBABLE CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN FOUND AND/OR ASSERTING THAT A LIFE SENTENCE COULD LEAD TO MS. ARIAS' BEING RELEASED FROM PRISON
2/20/2015   012 - ME: Trial - Party (001)   2/20/2015  

http://www.superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/docket/CriminalCourtCases/caseInfo.asp?caseNumber=CR2008-031021

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Juan Martinez Prosecutor Support Page


The much anticipated day 40..

The Jodi Arias Death Penalty Retrial: A Juror’s Perspective

by The 13th Juror MD
DAY 40

“THE BELL NOW TOLLS"

Imagine, for a moment, that you have been in the jury process for almost five months. The jury box has become your “work away from work” and you have been a lamb to the law following every rule and admonishment given to you. You have bonded with your fellow jurors but have never said a word about the case you are intricately involved in every day. You have kept secrets from your family and your other job. Your children are curious and it has become habit to distract conversations. You have learned to deflect and avoid. The television, radio and cell phone have become daily reminders of the freedoms you do not have. The ritual has become habit.

You arrive for jury duty and are seated in the jury box. The bailiff hands you packets to pass among your comrades of thirteen. The court waits while each of you gets settled with your fifteen or twenty page document. It is in that moment that the reality of your responsibility hits you with the greatest force. Your mind immediately works to grasp the decision of deciding the life or death of someone. Your head begins to wrap around the idea that you are responsible for justice and it is as if you see the family of the victim for first time. You try not to look at the sorrow in their eyes just as you avoid looking into the eyes of the defendant.

This jury of fourteen received their instructions from Randy and all of their faces remained void of emotion. I knew their hearts were racing. It was a mere ten months ago that I, along with thirteen others, received our final instructions in the death penalty trial of Marissa DeVault. I will remember that day as one of great angst and anticipation with a flavor of dread. The dread came from the fear of being picked as an alternate which would not be determined until the end of the defense closing rebuttal.

As with my trial, judge Stephens walked the jury through the law by reading their jury instructions aloud to them and the court.

“…and you must accept the jury’s prior verdict. You must accept that the defendant caused the death of another, acted with premeditation and reflected on the act before the killing. The time may not be a prolonged amount of time in premeditation,” she said. She adjusted her glasses on the rim of her nose and continued while the jurors read along silently.

“This act is death qualified in its cruel and heinous nature. It has been determined that the aggravating factor in that act was especially cruel. There was focus on pain and suffering and the defendant knew, or should have known that the victim would suffer,” the judge read. She turned the page while the rustle of papers could be heard in the jury box as they followed suit.

“In regards to mitigating factors, these can be discovered in any phase of the proceedings. You are the sole judge of the credibility of each witness. You can consider their memory, observations and their bias, if any. In regards to expert witnesses, you may consider education, experience and qualifications,” she said.

She paused and glanced at the jury as if to make sure they were following along. She went back to reciting the jury instructions. “Attorney remarks, opening and closing statements are not evidence. They are only to serve as guidelines in your discovery process. You are to look at mitigating factors when considering mercy for the defendant. You may consider the character, propensity, history and record of the defendant. You may also consider evidence that is put forth by the state, the defense and the defendant.”

Judge Stephens put a finger to her tongue and then turned the page. “The conviction of premeditated murder is unrelated to mitigating circumstances.” She then went through the nine mitigating factors that the defense team had listed at the beginning of the trial.

“You are not limited to those nine factors,” she explained. “The weight of each factor is at your sole discretion. The defendant’s choice not to testify should not affect you in deliberation. You are not to consider the financial cost of these proceedings. In considering mitigating circumstances, the defense must prove mitigating factors by a preponderance of evidence and that evidence must be more probably true than not true. Does the total of mitigating factors outweigh the aggravating factors? These factors must be of quality and value to be believed individually as a mitigating circumstance,” she said, pausing.

The judge turned another page, straightened her glasses and continued. “These factors, whether aggravating or mitigating, is not to be considered mathematically. The factors must be considered by severity or quality. Your decision is binding. If you find for death, your foreperson shall complete the verdict form. There is a separate verdict form if you find for life.”

After she finished and the jury put their instructions in their folders, they watched as Kirk Nurmi walked to the podium that was facing them. He was wearing a charcoal colored suit, a white shirt and a purple and blue patterned tie. He is a tall man in comparison to the height of the podium. He set his legal pad down, glanced at it and looked toward the jury. His head comes slightly forward as if he were trying to see something more closely.

“Several weeks ago, you were presented with the Jodi Arias case. This case has been tailored in sadness,” Kirk Nurmi said as he walked to the projector and put a picture on the screen that was shown throughout the courtroom. It was a picture of Arias and Travis Alexander taken outside with trees in the background.

“They loved each other,” he said. “This was taken in New York at the Sacred Groves. We ask ourselves how we go from there to June 4, 2009 when he was killed by the woman he loved. Obviously, if you look at this tale, there really can be no happy ending and no verdict can change that. The pain is real for the family as you heard in the Victim Impact statements. There is nothing but sadness.”

Kirk Nurmi looked at his notes on the podium and then walked forward a couple steps toward the jury. I noticed he did a respectable job of looking in the juror’s eyes as he scanned the jury box. He had one arm crossed over his breast while the other rested on it from his elbow. “The difficulty in this goes back to Jodi Arias and her prior conviction. The cruelness made her eligible for the death penalty. It is difficult because you must put your emotions aside and base your decisions on the evidence. In that, you have to realize that the Victim Impact statements, although sad, cannot influence your verdict. I draw your attention to page seven of your jury instructions.”

I did not see any jurors check their instructions. I did not witness any taking notes, barring a jot on a notepad here and there. Kirk Nurmi read the instruction and continued.

“The only aggravating factor is what the prior jury has decided. You must consider the mitigating factors that we brought forth in this stage. In some ways, your choice is simply life or death for the defendant. This question may be simple but it is monumental and you will not take this decision lightly. If you look at page twelve of your jury instructions, your decision is binding and not a recommendation. It will live with you forever,” he said. He paused and walked back toward the podium.

“The silver lining is that the law accounts for the monumental nature of the task placed in front of you. You will each, individually, make a determination of the sentence based on your own moral assessment and sound judgment. In spite of your capability to consult with each other, you are making your own moral judgment. You have the obligation to look at evidence and you have the right to look beyond what is laid in front of you,” he said pointedly.

The court was silent in spite of its being packed with three rows of media, a full complement of families for both the victim and the defendant and public seating that overflowed with spare seats filled in the aisle. It was something the jury certainly noticed and added to the intensity that each felt in their seats. They pretended not to notice as they watched Kirk Nurmi explain his case for Arias.

He paced slowly as he walked parallel to the jury. He spoke pensively and as if he was contemplating each thought before he presented. He did not look at his notes often and when he did, the pauses served to emphasize his point. The jury watched.

“Miss Arias offers nine mitigating factors,” he said as he put the list on the screen, the same list the court had seen almost a half a year ago. “As I mentioned moments ago, only one factor may be enough for the appropriate sentence to be life in prison. These factors are about the life of Miss Arias. Consider factor number one,” he said as he pointed to it on the projection screen with the tip of his pen.

“It is confirmed by Detective Flores that the defendant has no criminal history. The next factor one must consider is the age of the defendant at the time of the incident,” he said. He put a copy of Arias’ California driver’s license. “She was born on July 9, 1980 which made her just twenty seven years-old. Age is just a number. Thirdly, Miss Arias told you when she was on the stand that she was remorseful for her act. The fourth factor is that Miss Arias suffered both physical and emotional abuse as a child,” he explained.

He looked at the screen behind him and directed their attention to the fifth factor listed. “Miss Arias suffered both physical and emotional abuse in her relationship with Travis Alexander. Need I remind you again, that you only need one factor. Of particular importance is the sixth factor which says the abusive nature of Miss Arias’ relationship with Travis Alexander caused her to suffer extreme emotional distress at the time of the incident.”

Kirk Nurmi walked back to the podium and turned a page on his notes. He adjusted his glasses briefly. “We discussed on multiple occasions that Miss Arias was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. Additionally, she was diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder. Finally, Miss Arias’ psychological stability was limited by her ability to cope with the tumultuous relationship she had with Travis Alexander.”

Kirk Nurmi stopped again. He raised a forefinger toward the jury. “Consider that Dr. DeMarte diagnosed Miss Arias with Borderline Personality Disorder. She explained to you that Miss Arias was born with a vulnerability to this illness. It is biological. If you remember, she used the analogy of this illness being like that of a switch or a trigger. This issue was compounded when she used Marijuana as a teenager. She contemplated suicide. There was abuse in her childhood when her father choked her, hit her and threw her against the wall. I am sure you remember when she spoke of her mother digging her fingernails into her arms,” he emphasized.

“This disorder manifested itself in her relationships. Consider her living in a filthy home with Bobby Juarez, the same man that choked her,” Kirk Nurmi told the jurors. He went into the relationship with Matt McCartney while a picture of Arias and Matt was displayed on the screen. He followed with a picture of happier times with Daryl Brewer and his son, Jack. Arias looked foreign in her blonde hair. The attorney emphasized that she did everything to be liked by her boyfriends and her affectations were returned with infidelities and lack of commitment. These emotional injuries only contributed to her “illness” and made it worse.

The jury was then taken down the road of the horrors she suffered in the relationship with Travis Alexander. Kirk Nurmi revisited the testimony of Dr. Geffner and Dr. Fonseca emphasizing that the combination of sexual tension and the manifestation of Borderline Personality Disorder somehow climaxed in the cruel and awful death of the victim. They got to hear more about pornography found on a computer and a thought that Travis Alexander had an investment in pornography. The jury got to see the fragment clips of an old porn video found in the archives of a computer buried in unallocated space.

I thought it worth noting that few jurors were still not taking notes. They seemed to be listening patiently but it was hard to see how engaged they were in an argument they had heard for months in a row. I knew many were trying not to think about the peril of one day soon becoming an alternate. At this point, some of the jurors were thinking the decision might be made today.

Kirk Nurmi continued his argument throughout the morning and furthered it for an hour after lunch. The jury was served pictures of Arias with ex-boyfriends on the large screen in front of them. Arias could be seen smiling and it was hard to envision her ultimately committing the kind of murder she had been convicted of. Further pictures showed her and Travis together on various occasions including the baptism picture.

“She is remorseful,” Kirk Nurmi said emphatically. “You witnessed her remorse as she was on the stand in front of you. She begs to do that day over again. She regrets the pain she caused. She is still trying to wrap her mind around the deed she has done.”

He walked away from the podium and stood in front of the jury. His eyes scanned them as he made his plea. “Do you kill this girl who grew up as a victim of abuse? What do you do in response to that? Ladies and Gentlemen, I want to remind you as you look at the pictures in front of you, that is the person you are deciding for,” he said as he gesticulated toward the screen. A picture of her, Daryl and Jack smiled back at the seated jurors. “Do you mark death on the verdict form? Are you going to kill this girl? If you do, you are killing the same girl that Travis Alexander loved.”

Kirk Nurmi gathered his legal pad and exhibits and made his way to the defense table.

Judge Stephens dismissed the jury for five minutes and then brought them back in. Before they sat down, Kirk Nurmi asked to approach and the judge dismissed the jury as quickly as she had brought them in. The attorneys and judge spoke in a bench conference and the jury was called back in when they were done.

“Mr. Martinez?” Judge Stephens prodded the prosecutor.

Juan Martinez was dressed in a gray suit with a light blue shirt and a blue striped tie. The jury probably did not notice the significance of the colors but I did as they have become known as those of Travis Alexander. I had never taken note in certain colors as symbols until after serving my time as a juror.

The prosecutor walked to the podium and put his legal pad down. In his other hand, he had a white paper document. For the first couple minutes, I am positive that the jury was as confused as I was. I did not understand why we were talking about Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, the first two men on the moon. Juan Martinez was reading a speech written in 1969 and it sounded almost like an epitaph. He read each word carefully and slowly as if he were a great orator and his words spoken was of utmost importance. Its feel was passionate and the delivery was almost soft-spoken.

“…These two men are laying down their lives in mankind’s most noble goal: the search for truth and understanding. They will be mourned by their family and friends; they will be mourned by their nation; they will be mourned by the people of the world; they will be mourned by a Mother Earth that dared send two of their sons into the unknown,” Juan read from a speech that was to be given by President Nixon many years ago.

“In their exploration, they stirred the people of the world to feel as one; in their sacrifice, they bind more tightly than the brotherhood of man. In ancient days, men looked at the stars and saw their heroes in constellations. In modern times, we do much the same, but our heroes are epic men of flesh and blood,” Juan Martinez read.

He turned the page and continued reading for the jury. “…For every human being who looks up at the moon in the nights to come will know that there is some corner of another world that is forever mankind,” he finished. He carefully returned the pages to their proper order and walked back to the podium. He placed the sheets down and turned around, walking toward the jury.

Juan Martinez looked at his feet and then at the jury. “This was a speech written for President Nixon should he have had to make a speech in the event these two astronauts were lost. We know this never happened as both Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin returned from the moon. It is compelling, isn’t it?” He asked rhetorically. Nobody answered his question although it seemed he was waiting for an answer. He took two steps and turned and faced the jury again.


“Not only is it compelling, it is not true, just like the story of Travis Alexander masturbating to pictures of little boys. This story is what the defendant would like you to believe. Like the circumstances of the speech I read, it was a story used in case something should happen. The demarcation is June 4 of 2008. It was not until after the defendant was arrested and a psychological forensic evaluation done on her years later, did Travis Alexander suddenly masturbate to little boys.”

I noticed many jurors leaning slightly forward in their chair. It was apparent that some jurors liked Juan Martinez and watched his moves intently as he spoke.

“I want to show you Exhibit Number 204, again,” he said as he walked over to the projector. He slid a picture onto the screen and it appeared on all the screens throughout the courtroom. “So, just because he looked at pornography on June 1, 2008, which is not illegal, he deserved this three days later?”

There was no coloring of the picture of Travis Alexander in a death pose on an autopsy table. Its clarity was gruesome, stunning and heart wrenching. It was one of the pictures that jurors remembered every day of the trial as they tried to find understanding in its cruelty over the prior four months. It surfaced at unexpected times as the victims are known to do to jurors deeply involved in murder.

Juan Martinez began pacing in a controlled step by step manner. Sometimes he would look at the jury while other times he would look at his feet while he walked. He took the jury back to the days when Travis Alexander had been found. He did not react when Kirk Nurmi voiced his periodic objections. During these objections, something he avoided while the defense presented their case, Juan Martinez would wait in position until the judge allowed him to continue. Even if Juan Martinez hand was in mid-air to clarify a point, he would freeze as Kirk Nurmi completed his objection process.

“This is the person you are responsible to,” he emphasized, directing the jury’s attention to a photograph they did not want to look at. “These pictures tell a story. This is not about masturbation and it is not about love. This is about murder. The defendant used a knife and a gun. She premeditated this murder and do not forget that another jury has decided that. She knew right from wrong. Further, she committed this murder in an especially cruel manner and you must accept that.”

Juan Martinez walked to the defense table and took a sip of water from a cup. He carefully set the cup down and walked back toward the jury box, pacing parallel to those seated. “Travis Alexander suffered both physical and emotional pain at his death. She, Jodi Arias, knew this would happen,” he demonstrated with a wave toward the defense table. He walked to the projector and replaced the frontal picture of Travis Alexander with another, a view from his back. A cluster of deep knife wounds could be seen discolored by the effects of decomposition. Again, it was a picture that no one cared to look at except for in brief moments.

The prosecutor crossed his arms across his chest and began talking and pacing. He spoke to no one in particular but his words reached everyone in the jury box. “Let me tell you a story about the defendant and pain. We saw by her own words that when she was in jail, she attempted suicide. She took pills to act as an anti-coagulant to thin her blood. She then tried to cut herself but was unsuccessful because what little pain she got, she could not do it. It gives you a tiny measure of what happened to Travis Alexander by her own hands. Every one of twenty seven stab wounds will give you an idea of the pain he suffered. Consider that he was in the shower and conscious when this deadly assault happened,” he explained, pausing.

The jury’s attention was held.

“Consider the evidence presented by the defense. These allegations are made by their experts but just because they said it does not make it true. You are free to accept or reject any and all evidence because a hired gun gave it to you. These are horrific allegations from someone who killed him. She states that on January 22, 2008, that she was attacked and broke her finger. Yet, her diary claims nothing of note happened. Where is the support for this alleged injury? You need to see a police report or medical report. Where is the witness to substantiate a claim that arises in a forensic evaluation years after the alleged incident? On January twenty fourth, in her private diary, it is written that nothing of significance happened,” he said.

Juan Martinez walked back to the prosecution table and took another sip of water.

“You need to look at the evidence and that which supports it,” Juan Martinez continued. “Look at April of 2008 when the defendant claims that Travis Alexander was choking her within inches of her life but claims that she stopped to consider her attackers feelings in the process. She couldn’t gouge his eyes out because she was concerned for his feelings. Dr. DeMarte has told you that this is an impossibility and not logical. Tell me, is there anyone else that can tell you these events happened or does this just come from the defendant’s mouth in order to get a secondary gain? You need to look at that person,” he said waving toward the defense table, “and realize that the only source is Jodi Arias.”

The prosecutor talked in length about the letter written to Abe, never sent, but Travis Alexander was made aware of. This letter was a manipulation, he reminded the jury.

“I am sure you remember when she took the stand and claimed her mother was smoking Marijuana at her birth while her father was using Cocaine. Has there been anything to support her claims except her own word that it happened? She is manipulating her story so that she may get a secondary gain of a lighter sentence,” Juan Martinez emphasized.

Juan Martinez took the jury on a walk down the memory lane of the trial by speaking of a magazine with secret messages. He spoke of Dr. Fonseca, Dr. Geffner and Dr. Samuels speaking on inconsistent test results and results that were clearing tainted with malingering. Of great importance were results based on a faulty premise of a traumatic event that turned into two events on her tests. The dual events Arias spoke of invalidated the tests because she was trying to align test results to her favor. It was the secondary gain that was important to her.

“The argument of the defense is based on a false premise. There was no domestic violence. Look for the corroboration and you will not find it because it all based on the word of the defendant. The defense claims that the defendant has no criminal history. There is a minimum standard in society. Should we give the defendant a gold star for that?” he asked the jury.

“Dr. Janeen DeMarte diagnosed her with Borderline Personality Disorder. This is not an illness and this does not give her a free pass. She is intrusive and she always been intrusive. Consider her correcting everyone’s grammar. Look at her stalking behavior with the victim. As I have said before, this disorder is not a mitigating factor,” he pointed out the raising of his hand.

He continued pacing as he spoke. “She falls in love and then does not want to be in love. Every one of her relationships has shown you that. None of her relationships show physical or mental abuse and is not corroborated by anyone in any of her fictitious stories. Her relationship with Travis Alexander was a sexual relationship. It was not tumultuous at all except in the words of the defendant long after the fact.”

Again, Juan Martinez walked to the prosecution table, took a slow sip of water and then continued his assault on the foundation of the defense team’s mitigating factors. “The fact that she was twenty seven at the time has no bearing as a mitigating factor because we have all been twenty seven. I will leave you to decide if child abuse or domestic violence existed. In your search, you will find that it does not exist. Remember that everything negative said about Travis Alexander comes from Jodi Arias and no one else.”

Just then, I could hear the beep of someone’s phone as I sat in the packed gallery. I quickly realized that it sounded like it was coming from the media side. Randy, the Bailiff, went on a search for the offender. He soon realized it sounded like it was from some person in the media as each started checking their purses and shirt pockets. One of the reporters pointed at Randy. The Bailiff looked down and realized the sound came from his pocket. He hurried out of the courtroom. It was obvious he was embarrassed. If the tone had not been so serious in the closing of Juan Martinez, it might have been humorous.

“You cannot forget why you are here,” Juan Martinez said to the jury, raising his voice. He walked over to the projector and put up a picture of Jodi Arias and then laid a picture of Travis Alexander on an autopsy table over hers. It was a reminder to the jury that spoke in stark contrast to the pictures the defense team had presented earlier.

“Travis Alexander’s sister says that she just wants to hear his voice one more time. His family cries for justice. The person responsible for this sits in that chair today,” he said as clearly pointed toward the defendant. “Look at your jury instructions and determine if any of the nine mitigating factors exist and I will tell you that they do not. You have to look at the evidence, or lack thereof, and determine if it is sufficiently substantial enough to call for leniency. Does it have any quality or value? It is not a mathematical determination. Most importantly, if you do find and unanimously agree that there are no mitigating factors, then you must choose death.”

Juan Martinez walked over to the projector screen. He began putting up the same pictures of Jodi Arias smiling in the accompaniment of her prior boyfriends. He slid and replaced each picture with another picture. Her ivory teeth and blonde hair were in most of the pictures.

The jury saw Bobby Juarez again. They looked at Matt McCartney at a pose they were familiar with. In another, it was Daryl Brewer with her and his son, Jack. They looked like happier times. Jurors would search her eyes in those pictures for the evil that killed a young man named Travis Alexander.

It was before anyone realized it that Juan Martinez put up another picture. Only this picture featured ivory teeth in the grimace of death. It featured a gaping wound that was fodder for nightmares for anyone who saw them. Its contrast to the pictures the defense team had presented could not be ignored.

“You saw the defendant’s smile?” Juan Martinez asked the jury. “Then I want you to look at the victim’s smile. She did that! I am asking you to do your duty and apply the jury instructions as written,” he demanded.

Juan took two steps toward the jury and scanned their eyes. “The bell now tolls for each and every one of you. I am asking you to remember the victim, Travis Alexander.”

The silence that held the courtroom as Juan Martinez returned to his seat was heavy and painful. I remember looking toward the family as the jury was excused until the next morning.

The sounds of Travis Alexander’s sisters crying were more painful than the brutality of the final pictures of Travis Alexander on the screen. My heart felt like it was bleeding tears as I left the courtroom. I can only imagine how heavy the jury’s hearts felt as the obligation of their task faced them around the next corner.

I will never forget the cries of sorrow and the spirit of Travis Alexander as his memory and his siblings’ cries enveloped the souls of those in the courtroom.

My recent trial taught me something that these jurors will eventually learn as they get past the deliberation room. I wish I could say that there was any sense of victory but it is sorely lacking. There is only one thought that will remain as this trial moves into the history books.

At the end of the day, there is a victim and there are those that have survived this cruel and heinous death. Whatever the results, it is still colored by tragedy in a spectrum of emotion. There can be no good ending in a murder trial, only lessons…

Travis Alexander had spoken for the last time and the jury would remember each of his words.
https://www.facebook.com/JuanMartinezProsecutorSupportPage/posts/356855807841335


Justice 4 Travis Alexander…

Finally....Did we ever really believe we would be here today?  

Nearly the end of a long, long journey entrapped in the scorched earth evilness of one Jodi Ann Arias.

Prayers for the jury to do their duty faithfully no matter which verdict is ultimately reached.  

Blessings to the Alexander's for their pain and sorrow to subside leaving only the spirit of Travis to sustain them.

Thanks for prosecutor, Juan Martinez, for his singular pursuit of justice, and to Det. Flores, a steady pillar of support.

Pleadings to Nurmi to cut it short today, stop with the lies, smoke and mirrors, and let the jury do its job.

Hugs to all my friends here as we await Justice 4 Travis Alexander.

Cathy ‏@courtchatter · 50m
Nurmi will be back up this morning for final closing (Juan is finished) then we're on verdict watch! I'll be in the courtroom for 930 start

https://twitter.com/hardtruth4real/lists/jodi-arias-trial-live

Tammy Rose ‏@News20Chopper · 1m1 minute ago
This is it. Defense gets one more chance to address the jury & then we're on verdict watch

Wild About Trial 2 ‏@WildaboutTrial2 · 6m6 minutes ago
TA family and supporters taking their seats now. Sisters wearing bright salmon outfits

William Pitts ‏@william_pitts · 38m38 minutes ago
Am sniper trial had time for crime to be committed, trial, sentencing and Clint Eastwood to make a movie. #jodiarias case still going.

Weeziethm wrote:Finally....Did we ever really believe we would be here today?  

Nearly the end of a long, long journey entrapped in the scorched earth evilness of one Jodi Ann Arias.

Prayers for the jury to do their duty faithfully no matter which verdict is ultimately reached.  

Blessings to the Alexander's for their pain and sorrow to subside leaving only the spirit of Travis to sustain them.

Thanks for prosecutor, Juan Martinez, for his singular pursuit of justice, and to Det. Flores, a steady pillar of support.

Pleadings to Nurmi to cut it short today, stop with the lies, smoke and mirrors, and let the jury do its job.

Hugs to all my friends here as we await Justice 4 Travis Alexander.

Thank's weezie. You very eloquently stated my thoughts. Here's hoping things go smoothly and we never have to see her ugly murderous face ever again!! Love and heartfelt prayers to the Alexander's

Troy Hayden ‏@troyhaydenfox10 · 1m
Heading into #JodiArias courtroom right now. Too hopeful to wish this all ends today? Probably. Here goes....

https://twitter.com/hardtruth4real/lists/jodi-arias-trial-live

Wild About Trial 2 ‏@WildaboutTrial2 · 1m
Nurmi is here now. Medium gray suit, bright salmon tie like Willmotts top. Did they coordinate last night on phone? Y or N? #JodiArias

https://twitter.com/hardtruth4real/lists/jodi-arias-trial-live


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