Jodi Arias Trial: In Her Own Words.. How I Killed Travis Alexander With HIS Gun and HIS Knife
Photo Courtesy AP Pool
Phoenix, Arizona- In today’s highly anticipated morning testimony, Jodi Arias finally “gets there”.
After weeks of what can only be described as the dog ate my defense testimony led by Kirk Nurmi, Jodi Arias explains the events leading up to and during the murder of Travis Alexander.
Arias describes an irate and menacing Travis who bounds from the shower, causing her to drop his new camera and pouncing on her, knocking her to the wet tile floor.
“ A five year old can hold a camera better than you.” Arias stated Alexander screamed at her among other threatening expletives while she struggled to break free.
She then ran to the master bedroom closet and apparently using the Spiderman techniques she absorbed via osmosis from the alleged Valentines gift, retrieved a gun she claimed Travis owned over two feet out of her reach while he was sprinting behind her.
She pointed the gun at him, did not realize it went off and then Travis, still coming at her, stumbles to his knees on the now bloody tile beneath him. ( Editors Note: As I have always said, I believe the order of this injury is true and is important to the charges against her)
Enter gratuitous memory gap.
“I have no memory of stabbing him.” – Jodi Arias
Although Arias admits to having flash backs, she states she cannot remember any other details with the exception of her crouched in the bathroom covered in blood and drops a knife she believes was upstairs used by Travis to cut ropes he used to tie her up to the bed.
She did however, have the presence of mind to grab the ropes, the gun, apparently removes and loses her shoes and has no idea what happened to the knife she used to stab Alexander 29 times and slit his neck from ear to ear.
Next memory she is driving in the desert with the gun she alleges was Travis’s when she pitches it out the window at a random location, then puts the ropes in a dumpster behind a gas station and washes blood off her hands.
Pause for Arias innocuous driving babble and road scenery.
“Why didn’t you call 911 and tell them what happened?” Kirk Nurmi asks his sniffling but tearless client.
” …He attacked you, why did you feel You messed up pretty badly?”
“This time it was different, he had done it before and nothing happened, it was heightened.” Responded Arias.
While approaching a check point in Utah, she feels like she will be apprehended there.
Arias decided to do a “whole bunch of things” to cover up she was ever there.
So .. “I called his phone to leave a voice mail”. For nearly 16 minutes she says she tried numerous times to leave a cheery voice mail to ask as if she was not present in Alexander’s home.
“I just thought they would be listening to his voice mail, so I just thought it would throw the scent off for a while.”
– Jodi Arias
Yes, she actually said that on the stand. Defense Attorney Kirk Nurmi was observed writing a note to co-counsel Jennifer Wilmott to send an assistant out to Sam’s for an industrial size supply of Tums.
I made that part up. Testimony continues following jury lunch break.
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@Survivor. hopefully you have a local NAMI chapter.
Worth in person involvement.
Blink….
That is the name of a reporter or journalist (not sure what her creds are). I checked before I posted b/c I initially thought it was the name of the juror, too.
I should have clarified that detail. My apollies.
@Texas Grandfather – great summation of this whole mess. Travis was NOT a true mormon, nor this “wonderful guy” that too many people imply could do no wrong. Sounds like he had many wonderful qualities and came out strong from a challenging childhood -I respect that a lot. But he was a player,he was deceitful and kind of a judgmental prick from a few too many things I’ve heard him say about others. Like, “50cent being named after the average income of his fans”. Funny, the biggest 50 cent fans I knew always turned out to be lawyers from New York. That’s beside the point…Travis was human, conflicted shades of gray and still growing. He was selfish, wanted his cake and then pretended he wasn’t eating it too. You don’t have marathon sex with the girl you just replaced for Cancun the next day, especially a girl you know is obsessed and likely having the sex because she can’t let go. cheating is already a dangerous game and he was playing a dangerous person.
Still, none of that makes me feel he remotely deserved what those crime scene photos show as the absolute horror he went through. But while Jodi Arias may have been driven to the kind of rage to brutally kill like that, it was her behavior in the aftermath that to me, signifies a truly dangerous individual. Those voice mails she left Travis immediately after the killing (made me sick to the core), the emails to continue the charade creeped me out more and her calling up the police to “see if she could be of any help”. that to me is what separates the sociopath serpents like her, from the human emotions and bad mistakes of everyone else.
I really think that LaV should wrap this up These people Jodi and Travis are not spouses
Or e even had a commitment both were single free to date free to flirt or what ever
So all this battered spouse stuff one page a day out of Jodi’s journal just doesn’t prove Travis
Should be murdered to me
LaV is a interesting person but this is going on and on
No wonder she was sick today
People in their 30s single. Date Maybe it doesn’t work out
Maybe they find true love
Travis was murdered Bottom line for me
IF Juror #5 was “coaching” Arias on the stand, which seems highly unlikely, then her attorneys would not have brought this motion. IF Juror #5 was acting in this way, it would have been noticed by everyone in attendance. But it wasn’t.
Juror #5 might have appeared to be shaking her head no, no, no not in coaching but rather in repulsion for JA. In everything, we must remember to think spin, opposite and outside the box, because JA is clever and devious and she has fans. Fans willing to do anything for her. Observe Arias now as the jury leaves. She stares them down and appears as if she’s scrutinizing them. Like a predator, watching and waiting for a single misstep. Of course Arias was smiling when she exited chambers. She is once again vindicated.
Hopefully the monotonous testimony of LV will end soon. Waxing on philosophically about a man whom she has not met and making determinations from unilateral information, the source of which is a liar. And now, LV has soared beyond reasonable belief in that she states Arias just elicited for Travis “unconditional love”. Really? Unconditional love, the kind that makes you want to massacre someone and leave them stashed in a shower stall? Let’s at least be realistic. This testimony is biased to ad nauseum.
It is my hope that JM will dispel and discredit this witness testimony in short order and succinctly with the facts.
Question. Is Arias practicing mormonism in jail?
Hi Blink and all,
Haven’t been here for awhile, but have been following this case. So tragic.
I think S. Druckerman is the name of the producer, not the dismissed juror#5. Remember all the fuss that ensued when the dismissed juror from the Scott Peterson trial talked to the media? It made that trial even more of a circus. Hope she doesn’t talk until the verdict is in.
My dearest GraceintheHills- lovely to see you.
By the time I moderated this, I do believe Juror #5 was in court today. Waiting on confirmation.
B
Urban rumor is that lizard pod people can omit an unseen vapor from their eyes, which is sometimes magnified by eyeglasses, that although it does not effect all people it does effect some. Symptoms can include vomiting, sudden onset of illness, forgetfulness often leading to important papers left at home or office, mistakes made in paperwork etc, it can make one look foolish. Some other symptoms can be the desire to wear team colors or colors that will make you stick out like a sore thumb among other peers picked to perform an important job regarding good judgment. The vapor also can lend you vulnerable to the idea that “its” one side of the story is all you need to know the truth. Again this is only rumor since it takes so longgggg to watch it’s effect. Aptly referred to LPPED JMHO
It is becoming increasingly clear Jodi Arias is a mentally disturbed woman. What are the chances she’s found not guilty for the murder of Travis Alexander by reason of insanity?
None.
B
Judge Stephens denies defense motion request for jury sequestration. Ms. Laviolette taking the stand.
Hang in there Survivor
You must try to present a loving parent who recognizes the problem. Be firm and try not to be an enabler regarding her activities. We all support you efforts.
Rose
Thanks for the article link. This is a tough situation for all concerned. What can the law do to mitigate some of this behavior? If domestic violence is not reported because of fear of more violence or if a woman is incapable of caring for children due to a lack of job skills, society needs to step in with help. This is legal intrusion into family situations.
A restraining order from a court is just a piece of paper that often enrages an abuser. The police are not able to enforce such an order in a real protective way and abusers know this.
Education of women towards how to not get into such a relationship is helpful. However, there are many types of abuse that are not present at the beginning of a relationship.
I am beginning my second reading of Sandra L.Brown’s book How to Spot a dangerous man,Pub. 2005. She is trying to identify the various types of men so that women can recognize them prior to becoming involved. We need to have a real conversation with young women beginning at about age thirteen at home, at school and in the churches and other organizations regarding the dangers in society for bad relationships.
ATG- if that is recommended reading from your library, I will put it in my queue.
Thanks
B
Did my post about ‘the name’ get posted? I don’t see up atm.
Fanks.
Out all day, case-related and then Blinkette sports. Appollies.
B
My post is still in ‘mod’. Just an fyi in case there’s netiverse issues.
xo
Well…I suppose our (the public) rabid need for as many details as possible and the media’s rabid need for ratings are the basis for the latest motion as court began today.
I am not saying in any way that Nurmi doesn’t have a semi valid point and I fully admit to my addiction that is this trial and my need to get as many details as possible..I agree photographing the jurors when they enter the building is a big no no…but as far as ABC/GMA obtaining copies of the journals and the police interview/interrogation tapes… can we assume someone from the state leaked? Sure we can, atleast for the tapes, the journals however? I wouldn’t be surprised if they weren’t sold by family..I would not put it past jodi to have had copies. ..but until proof is provided no one knows how they got “leaked” but the bottom line is they did
Get over it..how could you expect them NOT to hit the media at some point during a trial of this magnitude with such high level media coverage…it should come as no surprise to them at all.
I understand the concern that the jury may inadvertently see media coverage. .but that is the risk you face in ANY jury trial where the jury isn’t sequestered. Nurmi asserts that thinking that the jury is following the admonitions from the judge is a fairytale and complete farce is amusing since most people would describe the entire defense strategy using those same exact words..
I get that he wants this on record come appeal time..but stop feigning shock and outrage that this happened in the first place..you aren’t fooling anyone.
And the defense legal assistant/paralegal may want to pull back on some of her facial expression towards the prosecution. ..hope she never bets her house playing poker!
Ode writes:
Also does anyone know what the “pic comment to Danny Jones” was that Travis mentioned on 5/26/2008.——————————————————————————————–Doing an internet search, it appears that Arias posted a comment ” are those man boobs or are you just ripped” on Danny Jones Facebook page.
In testimony, Arias said that she was making a reference to the Will Ferrel film, The AnchorMan. The context for all of this was, as I recall, Arias citing examples of Travis’s jealousy. in her attempts to paint a picture of him as a possesive and dominating man. It was referred to again, as an example of Travis abuse, when Nurmi was isolating Travis words to Jodi that he called her a ” pure whore”.
This is yet another example of how defense has copied and pasted Travis’s words, taken things out of context.
BUT I THINK THER IS SOMETHING TELLING IN TRAVIS MENTIONING THIS….
Travis was writing on May 26 to Arias about a bIg lie she was perpetrating, and he was very angry that Arias was doing yet another crazy thing to disrupt his life. in this context,he also refers Arias posting on Danny Jones Facebook, and tells her that writing that makes her look like a pure whore.
I dont think Travis citing what Jodi did is random- I think this is actually a reference to what Arias was holding over him- meaning Travis was saying
” hey, you are calling me immoral for such and such- well what you posted on Danny Jones pic makes YOu look like a pure whore”
just a thought, Very curious to know what exactly is being talked about in the may 26 email.
still cant find when the may 26 email was introduced in full to court.
OOOOOOOOOOPS
Well it looks like the email that we have been referring to as being sent on May 26 is actiually a TEXT that was sent April 7, at 5:27…………
And Laviolette is saying that what Travis is talking about is Arias claim that she was told he was seeing Lisa Diadone.
hmmm. okay, if this was about Lisa,back to drawing board.
meant Lisa Andrews
I’m watching Jodi in the courtroom as she’s using her left hand wiping something off the table. I don’t see a crooked ring finger. Am I missing something?
Ragdoll says:
April 3, 2013 at 10:04 pm
http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/region_phoenix_metro/central_phoenix/jodi-arias-trial-update-juror-kicked-off-trial-issues-statement
—————————————————————
I read this yesterday and heard it on the news as well Ragdoll. The thing I don’t get is if this was true, then why was it the defense that allegedly wanted Juror #5 removed from the jury? I also heard that earlier and it doesn’t make sense if it’s in fact true. Jodi allegedly came out of the judge’s chambers after the meeting with her defense team and the Alexander family smiling as if she were happy with the outcome and right after the judge announced that Juror #5 had been removed. Why on earth would the defense (and Jodi herself) be happy about that if she were in fact trying to help from the jury box? Anyone know?
The defense in my opinion is throwing anything and everything against the wall to see if it sticks or will grant a mistrial. I am glad the judge is moving on and letting this case progress. I cannot imagine how hard this is for TA’s family.
Ragdoll says:
April 3, 2013 at 9:56 pm
I can’t verify if this is authentic or not…if true….. Whoa.
re: juror # 5
http://media2.abc15.com/html/pdf/Juror5.pdf
Not what I expected. At all.
………….
Ragdoll,
My info. is just speculative, too, but I read that the voice mail was a set up by someone friendly to the defense, to get rid of #5, as she was viewed as being anti-Arias. I tend to believe that. There was a reason JA and her “staff” seemed so pleased, and that sadly, Travis’ family seemed upset.
Just an opinion watching JA today – I just can’t get over the change in JA physically in the 4 yrs. since her interview with 48 Hours. She was very attractive back then. I would not say that about her now. She’s almost homely. I don’t say this to be snarky, but what a difference a few years makes in her case. Perhaps living with the daily reminder that she brutally took the life of another human being and being held accountable for it now is working on her. Maybe it doesn’t effect her psychologically because she shows no remorse, but it does effect her physically. She aged considerably and lost her beauty.
Sue- she is a 20 minute makeover away from what she was. She is playing the role of Jr. Librarians never slit throats.
I promise, in her mind, she is full of her former glory and looking this way is a means to an end.
B
totally confused about these texts and emails that defense is referring to -
Until I figure out what he wrote when for sure, no more posting about it for me!!
I hear you, it has been most confusing.
B
#5 in court room gallery
https://twitter.com/JustifyTravis
-snipped
Ryan Smith @ryansmithtv 1h
#jodiarias Juror #5 is in the courtroom! Watching the trial in the gallery
-snipped
Justify Travis @JustifyTravis 1h
Oh sh!t .. is Juror #5 a friend of the defendants family???? #jodiarias
===============================================================
Does this NOT go against her statement? If she wanted to keep the integrity of justice taking place in THAT courtroom, why is she there?
Honestly, that better not be true. However, it does not matter to me in the sense that I don’t think anyone over average intellect can’t see a shcmaltz when they see one. I have seen more than most of BS in folks interfering in legal proceedings.
If this woman wants to be the next Joy Wray, I say let her. Worked out so well for Wray.
B
LaViolette is now up to the events occurring on June 4th. She is now repeating Jodi’s story..
“He goes into the shower and wants her to take pictures of him because he’s been working out and he’s proud of the way his body’s looking. Um, she drops the camera and uh, he gets very upset she drops the camera and um, says that a kindergartener or a five year old could do this better and apparently comes out of the shower, body slams her, she falls to the ground, um, she wriggles away and um, runs into the closet, gets the gun that he has in the closet and he comes after her again and is coming at her like a football player and she does not believe the gun is loaded. Point it at him and shoots and after that she doesn’t really remember anything,” said LaViolette.”
After 5 min of cross, imo JM is
an argumentative Ahole
who is letting TA down
cross strategery
He establishes she thinks her memory’s fine
He attacks her credentials
so angrily, forcefully, bullet fashion,
the experts’ prediction has to come true
mrmory cagueness when asked a global memory retrieval qyestion about the entire panoply of journals
Heh I’m for DAs that ask content Qs without tricks
let the case stand on its merits
Here come Juan Martinez….questioning Ms. LaViolette about her credentials. At one point AV is laughing at him, Jodi is smirking and the courtroom breaks out in laughter. He is clearly irritating her to the point of going to sidebar with counsel. Fireworks. Ms. LaViolette is not being cooperative..and she’s attempting to make JM look like a clown.
Well- my Good blinksters, if you can believe it, I was offsite all day without access so y’all are clueing me in, much appreciated.
B
recess. Judge apparently dealing with a Wilmott thing at JM’s behest (as he reminded).
I get now JM took a 2010 program talk title of LaV & is weaving an angry fairy tale.
imo he is incompetent.
He needed to pick 5-6 vignettes of her testimony in this case & impeach.
Can you believe the woman kicked off the jury came back to watch the trial? I would be humiliated and never show my face again.
Blink: Juror #5 is seated in the courtroom as a spectator…can this cause problems for the trial?
Absolutely. This just got circus status.
B
Blink,
I am so sorry you missed today. Please watch the full account of TA’s IM’s, and text messages. He was unbelievably brutal and he went on for 5 hrs. It has really changed my mind about this. I thought it was about Jodi being rejected but it seems it is domestic partner violence.
The media has only shown bits and pieces which make him look like a wounded good guy. He was anything but that.i am a grandmother but I thought young women today were much less forgiving of verbal abuse. The side by side chats don’t corroborate this..although the” skank whore ” comments were less frequent after lunch.
As to Martinez, I had to turn him off..he was an abusive and arrogant bully going on and on how domestic violence isn’t in DSM. And how AV couldn’t administer tests. Well, if Domestic violence isn’t in new DSM 5, they are slow to acknowledge what is clearly a category defined by recognizable symptoms.
As for AV not being qualified to diagnose someone because she isn’t a PHD, here is a fun fact, Casey Anthony was given the MMPI twice and tested out normal on every scale. The MMPI is recognized as the gold standard in Psychological testing.
Thank you for letting me go on and on and for your wonderful intelligent comments.
Please please listen to AV’s testimony from today. IMHO,she is perhaps the best expert I have ever watched.
?? Snow White….get past it JM, this is as ridiculous as Lizard vapor. The prosecution is not starting out well with Miss Laviolette. I am disappointed.
Jodi’s appearance in court to me is a little bit of Karma justice. It must be difficult for her to not be able to do her make-up for her close up.
What I got for today is a big fat WOW.
Nurmi accuses jury of being liars.
Juror # 5 reappears
JW asks AL if she has memory problems and if she has feelings for Jodi
JM outta the gate in true form.
Responses from AL (my favorite was when she was asked about snow white waiting around for prince charming while unconscious) no she was not waiting she was lying around unconscious. lol. That was priceless.
Re: Juror #5 sending signals to Jodi by shaking her head. Much of the feedback regarding her was that she sat on the edge of her seat, took a lot of notes AND she looked back and forth between JM and the witness as though she were watching a tennis match. Hence the head movement that would look like shaking her head no. I do tend to have the feeling that she may be a friend or know Travis or his family or know of them. Just a feeling. Hope her presence does not have adverse affects on the outcome of this trial.
Yes, Travis was brutal. He and Jodi were dancing to a twisted tune for sure but we must not forget in our assessment that Jodi was a willing partner. She LIKED it according to her own words written in her journal. She wanted MORE of it because it meant that she could continue to control Travis without him even knowing he was being controlled.
Some people are adept at pushing the buttons of others, at playing puppet master. This, IMO, is Jodi Arias. Travis danced to her tune and continued to even after he figured out what she was.
Jodi Arias is no victim.
I wish Martinez had had this at his fingertips today:
http://www.daily49er.com/news/speaker-shares-insight-on-stopping-domestic-violence-1.2375056#.UV4v5b8ptfu
This is a link to a review of LaViolette’s lecture ” From Snow White Ti The Wicked Witch” in which she says:
“I look at Snow White and she was a very passive character, but she was also nice,” she said. “She was almost nice enough to make you sick. Her whole life was about cleaning and singing.” It appears the gist of this particular lecture is that women need to move from being less Snow White ( passive) and towrad the strength of the Wicked Witch ( assertive). So yes, she does have a bias. Even a fairy tale can offend her sensibilities.
The point Martinez was trying to make is that LaViolette used her continuum ( created by her) to define Snow White as a battered woman. Snow White is a fairy tale, so therefore, LaViolette’s continuum can make any relationship appear abusive.
It wasn’t so effective for Martinez, but he did bring out some goodies.
1. LaViolette will use any catchy title to get attention for her purposes.. Emphasis ( mine) on USE and FOR HER Purposes. Catchy titles appeal to LaViolette, because they bring attention to her cause. National news making cases probably do too.
2. When LaViolette backtracked and then vehemently explained that she could not judge Snow White as abused, she said ” because I don’t know about her relationship with the Prince”
This is exactly one of the points that Martinez needs to make. She doesn’t know the entirety of the Arias alexander /Travis relationship, because Travis was never interviewed. And….
3. The one on one clinical interview made up 44 hours of her assessment process. How can she say it is not at the very least a very important component of her assessments, if not the most important one?She did not do any direct interviews with anyone other than Arias.
4. She does not have a PHD, so she is limited in being able to directly access standardized testing that would be recognized in legal determinations of state of mind. His point is that this is not a proven tactic,
So, we DID learn new things to think about with regards to about LaViolette. That Martinez has an aggressive style is old news. I don’t think it is wise for LaViolette to use smirking as a way to deflect his style.
I hope that Martinez gets some sleep and uses his facts well.
In the meantime,I do have some questions for LaViolette:
Has anyone else used her continuum in determining battered women syndrome or abuse in premeditated murder case.
Has the continuum been used to prove abuse, therefore self defense in a case where the victim of the homicide was naked, unarmed, in his own home, and was killed in the manner Arias killed him ?
Has it been used by others, period, and in what capacity ( give names, cite references!!)
My take on Jodi’s hair is that it is her way of showing alignment with LaViolette. if you wanna know what Arias considers a true standard of beauty, look at her drawings, all idealized, all the women portrayed without a hint of abuse…… There are therapists who analyze their creative patients by looking at their art. Arias art is decorative, as in making something look pretty in order to mask the ugliness.
Let’s grant JM had a cute opening analogizing the case principals to Snow White & Prince Charming, spinning iff a talk she gave, delivered so angrily he was easily made an object of laughter. She didn’t have to work at it; he did it to himself. He allowed her to distinguish that pop talk (the point I think he was trying to make) from the instant case easily, saying the talk was about the role childhood plays vs what we have here, a case of an adult domestic violence relationship. He let her make that point a couple times.
At that point he needed to stop his analogy & bring it home.
–what % of adult DV relationships end in the victim murdering the partner with
more force than is needed to kill: a bullet, 29 stab wounds, & a slit throat.
–You say they both had other relatiinships yes or no?
–in what % of excessive force DV murders is the DV relationship only one of several of the
partners dating relationships?
–in what % of excessive force murders using more than one weapon does the DV relationship
exist long distance, across several States, and the alleged perpetrator has to travel a long distance to
see the murder victim? and so on
JM needed to grant her for the sake of argument only her position it was an ADV relationship and move on to
its tenuousness (not monogamous, not intense, dating only, across State boundaries and so on) and to the
details of the overkill (leaving the latter as the visual imagery in jury’s head, not the fairy story image).
There is so much going on today I feel like I have no biz commenting until I am done reviewing.
My first reaction to Juror #5 sitting in court today is I hope she is comfortable being the face of the derailing of this case.
I find myself limited in my reaction because I legit have no idea how anyone thinks a former sitting juror sitting in court does not warrant a mistrial. Why not just file the habeas now in prep?
B
http://www.ebay.com/itm/JODI-ARIAS-COURTROOM-DOODLES-DRAWINGS-mormon-symbols-heart-snow-white-black-eye-/321064158322
This sold in January. Clearly shows LaViolette discussed an ‘abused’ Snow White with Jodi. I’m surprised Jodi hasn’t shown up in court with a puffy sleeved long dress and red lipstick.
No, it clearly shows an artist interpretation based on LaViolette’s lecture, he dramatic adaptation is pre-Jodi.
B
No, it clearly shows an artist interpretation based on LaViolette’s lecture, he dramatic adaptation is pre-Jodi.
B
_____
Blink, are you saying that Jodi saw LaViolette’s lecture online while in the jail and that’s how she is aware of an abused Snow White concept?
No, I am speaking of the artwork only.
B
It appears that I missed the JM fireworks too. Band rehearsal this evening.
The fact that LaViolette does not have a PHD is pure hogwash. The work she has done is as much or more than would be required for a PHD. Besides that, some PHD’s imo equate to Piled Higher and Deeper and are nothing more than a flag saying that I am important.
The problem I have with LaViolette’s testimony is the manner that was used to acquire information and how it was presented by the defense. The only thing that could be used to evaluate Travis’s contribution were the e-mails and text messages. Why didn’t LaViolette interview Travis’s family and friends? There is not enough balance in her analysis of both sides for me to give much credibility to her testimony. Makes me question just how many men she has actually worked with regarding abuse. Although the percentage is small, there are men who are abused by women.
Jodi was looking for a “Sugar Daddy”. She thought she had one with Travis. She also liked older men. Travis was ten or more years older than Jodi. Sociopathic behavior sometimes becomes vicious when the person being manipulated doesn’t behave as required and fights back.
Jodi is smart. She has a mind that is much better than her mom or dad. She wanted her mom to be smart too and IMO mom just wasn’t the type of person to care much about higher levels of knowledge.
What was Jodi doing with her friends about drugs. Her mother caught her growing “pot” in the mothers Plasticware on the roof. If she was doing this, was there other things happening as well that young teens should not be doing? Mom and dad lost control and Jodi was on her own. She made a large number of poor choices and the result was the choosing to take Travis’s life because she could not be number one.
If Travis was past his mid thirties and was not married or committed to a woman, he more than likely would never get married. Jodi was not prepared for that outcome.
Agreed, and specifically, why not attempt to interview non-scheduled witnesses? As an example, the women she alleges Travis was involved with multiple women she discovered view emails/texts. Why not attempt to interview them as collaterall interviews?
One of the things I struggle with wrt ALV is that I think she is quite gifted in her work. The issue of domestic violence and intimate partner violence and homicide is very, very real. In a recent lecture I was asked to write in my notes, and UNDERLINE- “There is no greater time of risk to a woman than the time she is leaving an abusive relationship.”
It was in the context of analyzing and developing an offender of an unsolved homicide.
I actually find it somewhat comparable to this case in the reverse. The woman was the victim, and she really had no real signs the offender was capable of this level of violence, and saw none of the markers until it was too late.
She was a professional woman dating multiple men casually and wound up getting pregnant by a colleague who was married. You guessed it, he was the leading suspect initially, except it was proven he did not know about the pregnancy, and analysis of the women’s digital correspondence and his alibis ruled him out.
In the process of investigation, it was determined that certain vm messages had been erased recently from her home recorder, and eventually canvassing the neighborhood produced a suspect that had been seen at times when the victim was not home, either gaining entry, or at other times, just sort of casing the neighborhood.
Yes, she was brutally murdered by a former love interest she had no idea was really now stalking her and the crime itself was so brutal and heinous it was designed to look like a lust killing- not your typical intimate partner homicide.
I mention this because I think ALV can be very helpful in teaching women or men about the reality of truly abusive relationships and should not be crucified because she is a defense witness in this case. She should of course be prepared to address what I would consider her shortcoming in her preperation for it, however. JM can accomplish what he needs to in a linear and respectful manner.
B
Rose
You could teach JM some things about how to get the needed points across. He may be good in some ways, but in others he reminds me of the old story about the beginner carpenter who had but one tool, a hammer and he could not build anything that it could not build.
mamere says:
April 4, 2013 at 8:18 pm
Blink,
I am so sorry you missed today. Please watch the full account of TA’s IM’s, and text messages. He was unbelievably brutal and he went on for 5 hrs. It has really changed my mind about this. I thought it was about Jodi being rejected but it seems it is domestic partner violence.
The media has only shown bits and pieces which make him look like a wounded good guy. He was anything but that.i am a grandmother but I thought young women today were much less forgiving of verbal abuse. The side by side chats don’t corroborate this..although the” skank whore ” comments were less frequent after lunch.
As to Martinez, I had to turn him off..he was an abusive and arrogant bully going on and on how domestic violence isn’t in DSM. And how AV couldn’t administer tests. Well, if Domestic violence isn’t in new DSM 5, they are slow to acknowledge what is clearly a category defined by recognizable symptoms.
As for AV not being qualified to diagnose someone because she isn’t a PHD, here is a fun fact, Casey Anthony was given the MMPI twice and tested out normal on every scale. The MMPI is recognized as the gold standard in Psychological testing.
Thank you for letting me go on and on and for your wonderful intelligent comments.
Please please listen to AV’s testimony from today. IMHO,she is perhaps the best expert I have ever watched.
——
I listened to ALV- not just today but from day one-
How do you or Ms. LA Violette know that Travis was unbelievably brutal?
Sometimes the truth IS brutal
How do you or she evaluate brutality vs. stark raw language describing the truth?
How do she or you know his side of their relationship? Do you know if he would have fit on her continuum of abuse and aggression as a victim if she could have heard his side his feelings his take?
Remember even ALV says the 5hrs isnt that big of a deal for two 20-30 somethings in an argument…as for her thoughts on this language being some of the worst shes seen or read- well that certainly backs up her story of not doing the internet ims emails ect
as anyone who has spent anytime conversing knows just how frequent friendly convos can turn into all out cuss fests and “character assassinations”-
This is a new generation people have live blogging of their journals where people bare all in the rawest of language- they have sites that deal solely with trashing your ex- complete with intimate details and posting of xxx rated photos-
How does this killing suddenly get chalked up to domestic partner violence based on some harsh texts and emails -
Calling someone a liar- the worst thing that ever happened to you a slut or a three hole wonder or a sociopath may be mean and disrespectful but it sure as heck is not evidence of domestic violence nor is it proof of Psychological abuse, it all depends on the context of the relationship and the entire history- which we dont have and never will as Travis is not here to explain HIS reasonings His feelings His mindset–
Travis was not a saint he was a D–CK sometimes but he was a wounded guy-
ALV took Jodis word on everything and she took Travis’ words and deeds and put the defense spin on it-thats what she is paid for
For instance she says PP he was abused as a child he was esculating she was in fear of her life-
EVEN if we take the defenses side as the truth-
Travis dated more than one woman at a time and kept this hidden- that is not abuse certainly not when he and Jodi were not in a committed relationship-
If Travis was such a physical abuser who couldnt control his fury or wrath… why is there next to no evidence of any of it only Jodis side? Why is he the one who has defensive marks on his hands yet Jodi walks away unscathed?
Mr Martinez can be abrasive, but IMO he is no more arrogant than ALV with her inappropriate smiles and gender bias or Wilmottt and her giggling questioning or Nurmi and his How does that make you feeeel–
Martinez is not an abuser he treated Defense witnesses the same for the most part except Lisa – Why should he suddenly treat ALV with kid gloves? Because she is a woman -because she came off likeable at first? She sat up there on the stand and blamed the victim- oh wait thats right Travis is the Perp…. so its okay to play into his character assassination based on nothing more than JAS selfserving drivel and some very heated texts and ims full of cuss words and mean descriptors-
JM he was not even abrasive at first with ALV-in fact he came out of the gate very toned down and respectful-
ALV is the one that was evasive and condescending- not JM
questioning an expert on their credentials is not abusive -it is par for the course and He did not bring up the DSM and say domestic violence isnt on there- he said (PP) there is no test to score a person as battered
and even if there was ALV couldnt test as she is not qualified
Recognizable symptoms? at best maybe- but the “symptoms” can be faked by Sociopathic liars who are determined to play the victim inorder to bolster a bogus self defense story (her 3rs story BTW) after having walked away unscathed from the bloodbath which resulted from having traveled 1000 miles to stab a man 27 times after shooting him in the face, and then slashing his throat for good measure
True, about CA which just underscores the point of the matter- evaluations, continuums and tests are not always reliable they are only as good as the latest version, as good as the administer/author and they are only as good as the word/truthfulness of the subject
mamere you are entitled to your opinion, and I would guess most here feel as you do, and it scares me- because if JM style turns you off, and this “expert” interpretations can make you question the states whole case than sadly there is probably at least one juror who feels the same.
Whats really sad is this isnt about whether or not JA felt used or abused its about whether or not JA acted in selfdefense in killing Travis that day- or instead set out to kill him by any means necessary-
I think the evidence speaks clearly to who was the aggressor and who was the victim… but 12 jurors may see it differently, just as you have
Thanks for sharing your thoughts mamere, and thanks for letting me share mine.
AJMO
Peace
I agree that ALV was out of line in her question to Martinez, but honestly, I am not sure I blame her. I truly believe martinez rabid dog approach dilutes his effectiveness to the jury. I have seen more than a few criminal attorneys agree with this position- as well as prosecutors.
Many of his questions in the Snow White scenario I could not figure out the relevance as it relates to this case in particular.
If he was suggesting that Jodi planned her attack on Travis either consciously or other by attending a lecture by ALV, I could see it, but as far as overall just looking to discredit her, I think that track was not helpful but confusing.
I think anyone thinking Jodi was like snow white lost that image with the dog kicking .
I really just feel that Stephens has lost control here. If this thing goes to verdict it will be a minor miracle.
My view on this remains the same. This was a forensic case and having viewed recent macros, unless there is some issue I am not aware of, I still do not understand why the angle in prosecution was not squarely focused on that. Imo, that was the tightest case against Arias.
B
Rose says:
April 4, 2013 at 10:08 pm
Let’s grant JM had a cute opening analogizing the case principals to Snow White & Prince Charming, spinning iff a talk she gave, delivered so angrily he was easily made an object of laughter. She didn’t have to work at it; he did it to himself. He allowed her to distinguish that pop talk (the point I think he was trying to make) from the instant case easily, saying the talk was about the role childhood plays vs what we have here, a case of an adult domestic violence relationship. He let her make that point a couple times.
___
THose people laughing were JAs biggest fans 4 of them and most unprofessionally the Mitigator- who should be ashamed of herself- it was not the entire courtroom laughing only them- that I copuld see/hear-and IMO ALV was very sickening asking him if he was mad at her- he isnt one of her male offenders who she can feel superior over-
I understood completely what JM was saying ALVs continuum “guideline” can be used to fit even a myth – every relationship
it is all in how the “history” is interpreted- anyone can be made to look like an abuser and anyone can be made to look like a victim-
ALV said she cant evaluate Snow white and the prince because she doesnt know enough about their relationship- she only read the fairytale – the WD version at that-
Well she doesnt know enough about JA and TAs relationship either- she did not interview both parties she didnot interview anyone but the killer- and she based her thoughts on TAs character and abuse on mostly JAS fairytale journal- JAs word and TAS written words which he can not clarify… – when he was nice and loving and giving he was trying to seduce her back into the cycle of abuse… when he was dating others he was a cheater but JA was just trying to break away…when he was sexual he was a deviant when JA was sexual she just wanted love and attention….How does she know what TA was thinking felling hoping?
How does she know he wasnt trying to appease her- to calm her to steer clear of her wrath when he brought her gifts,etc
…Im scared to tell you Iam not gonna be able to came and see you sing but…
How does she know TA wasnt the one who felt like an incest survivor who hoped sex would bring him love and fulfillment- how does she know JA wasnt the one in power?
You
–what % of adult DV relationships end in the victim murdering the partner with
more force than is needed to kill: a bullet, 29 stab wounds, & a slit throat.
–You say they both had other relatiinships yes or no?
–in what % of excessive force DV murders is the DV relationship only one of several of the
partners dating relationships?
–in what % of excessive force murders using more than one weapon does the DV relationship
exist long distance, across several States, and the alleged perpetrator has to travel a long distance to
see the murder victim? and so on…..
its tenuousness (not monogamous, not intense, dating only, across State boundaries and so on) and to the
details of the overkill (leaving the latter as the visual imagery in jury’s head, not the fairy story image).
—-
Good points I agree-
Except I think he was great leaving them with thoughts of a fairy tale written down and applied to her continuum as I do believe that is all JAs journals and this DMV defense is a fairy tale.
AJMO Peace
I think before we vilify Martinez it would be wise to wait until he returns on Monday. Yes, he is abrasive and comes across as a bully, but he is excellent at what he does. He was just charging out of the gate yesterday (very poor timing for him to begin his cross at the end of the day), but I believe he is working toward a goal and will arrive there in his unique Martinez fashion.
LaViolette is a likable witness and I even think I would like her outside this context, but it bears remembering she admitted to him yesterday she named Travis Alexander the perpetrator in the relationship. Really? Review the photos of his butchered body and the accidental photo shot of him with his throat slashed, Jodi in the foreground. He was anything but the perpetrator in this case and Martinez is going to make sure the jurors recall the reason for this trial: he was indisputably the victim and Jodi came out of the murder scene virtually unscathed, barring a cut up finger from slashing him to death. Travis is NOT on trial here for a violation of Mormon chastity or for being a player.
Obviously, Travis was a player with a very active sex life involving a number of women. He was, however, single regardless of whether Jodi had determined he was hers and any woman he approached was The Enemy. If he came back at her in anger, it was because she had stalked him, invaded his privacy in all areas of his life and likely far more grievous offenses than we’ve witnessed thus far. He foolishly (and at times reluctantly) tolerated it when she placated him with sex, the kinkier the better.
Travis had an internal war waging within him between unattainable Mormon chastity values and being a 30ish bachelor with a voracious sex drive. Suppression of one’s sexuality truly gives it more energy, much like the rebound energy of a spring that has been held down then released. Had he not been a Mormon, most of this would not even be an issue in the court. Jodi was a Mormon because it was a way to try to ingratiate herself to Travis. In her mind, he was hers whether he liked it or not. He paid with his life in a manner so cruel most of us can’t even fathom what he suffered before death. His wondering whether a girl he dated was really an axe murderer was a flash of intuitive recognition that was prophetic.
The song I’d like to hear Jodi warble out is “Every Breath You Take”.
Chilling.
Oh I wish that the courtroom doodles of Snow White could be admitted into evidence. If she doodled these during court time can they be looked at?
Juror #5
http://www.ebay.com/itm/TAMBRA-Jodi-Arias-Trial-JUROR-5-in-Gallery-ACEO-Original-Sketch-Painting-10-/190821122567?pt=Art_Paintings&hash=item2c6dd34207
I could not read the artist signature on that sketch.
B
“I agree that ALV was out of line in her question to Martinez, but honestly, I am not sure I blame her. ”
Blink it wasnt just her questioning of the prosecutor- it was her overall “reactionary” stance to what she perceived or wanted others to perceive as bullying tactics by the prosecutor-
She claims she wants only to be talked to in the manner to which she is speaking with JM- well she is the one who came out of the gate being abrasive condescending and evasive- already geared up to spar…self serving prophecy much?
She is used to being able to speak down to people that are abusers- she is used to provoking/pushing “abusers”?/males buttons in order to evaluate them—we have already discussed her gender bias in this regard- she thinks of JM as nothing more than another male abuser
she wanted the upperhand she wanted the “power” in the relationship/debate and JM will not concede it to her- so she much like JA cries abuse save me judge from this big bullying man…
“I truly believe martinez rabid dog approach dilutes his effectiveness to the jury. I have seen more than a few criminal attorneys agree with this position- as well as prosecutors.”
Many dont agree-I do not see his style as a rabid dog approach
but I do understand how some could see it as too abrasive-
still IMO not in regards to THIS witness as to me,
she is a joke who has turned the clock back on real cases of domestic violence/selfdefense cases
- She has opened the door wide to many a second guessing over whether a victim will lie to cover-up a cold blooded murder or is truthful and is an actual survivor forced to kill in order to save themselves and their children.
“Many of his questions in the Snow White scenario I could not figure out the relevance as it relates to this case in particular.
If he was suggesting that Jodi planned her attack on Travis either consciously or other by attending a lecture by ALV, I could see it, but as far as overall just looking to discredit her, I think that track was not helpful but confusing.
I think anyone thinking Jodi was like snow white lost that image with the dog kicking .”
— The jury is not privy to the dog account-I think the use of the “title” was brilliant as I have already explained:
ALVs continuum “guideline” can be used to fit even a myth – every relationship=it is all in how the “history” is interpreted- anyone can be made to look like an abuser and anyone can be made to look like a victim- ALV said she cant evaluate Snow white and the prince because she doesnt know enough about their relationship- she only read the fairytale – the WD version at that-
Well she doesnt know enough about JA and TAs relationship either- she did not interview both parties she didnot interview anyone but the killer- and she based her thoughts on TAs character and abuse on mostly JAS fairytale journal- JAs word and TAS written words which he can not clarify…
She did portray JA much like SW innocent- passive – nice to a foalt-as I said everything JA did is because she was abused trying to break away- finally growing a backbone- just” moody”
Yet TA doing those same things apologizing being sexual- being temperamental etc is definite signs of his abuse.
“I really just feel that Stephens has lost control here. If this thing goes to verdict it will be a minor miracle.”
perhaps
“My view on this remains the same. This was a forensic case and having viewed recent macros, unless there is some issue I am not aware of, I still do not understand why the angle in prosecution was not squarely focused on that. Imo, that was the tightest case against Arias.”
agreed for the most part- regardless if one wants to believe JA was abused these ims and texts of Travis certainly show she had alot to be pissed about- and it would seem goes more toward providing motive of revenge than selfdefense- as does most of the evidence at the crimescene- and at autopsy
Thanks for responding Blink- and I do agree there is a chance a juror will feel as you do and base there verdict on much the same—-
PS Hi Graceinthehills glad to see you!
Respectfully submitted
AJMO
A book I highly recommend is entitled “The Gift of Fear” by Gavin de Becker. This book deals not only with domestic violence, but violence of all kinds. I read this book when I was going through a very tumultuous divorce and had to get a restraining order against my husband. He violated it 19 times. He was crazy and I feared for my life. I found this book to be very insightful.
Below is Amazon.com’s review of the book:
Each hour, 75 women are raped in the United States, and every few seconds, a woman is beaten. Each day, 400 Americans suffer shooting injuries, and another 1,100 face criminals armed with guns. Author Gavin de Becker says victims of violent behavior usually feel a sense of fear before any threat or violence takes place. They may distrust the fear, or it may impel them to some action that saves their lives. A leading expert on predicting violent behavior, de Becker believes we can all learn to recognize these signals of the “universal code of violence,” and use them as tools to help us survive. The book teaches how to identify the warning signals of a potential attacker and recommends strategies for dealing with the problem before it becomes life threatening. The case studies are gripping and suspenseful, and include tactics for dealing with similar situations.
People don’t just “snap” and become violent, says de Becker, whose clients include federal government agencies, celebrities, police departments, and shelters for battered women. “There is a process as observable, and often as predictable, as water coming to a boil.” Learning to predict violence is the cornerstone to preventing it. De Becker is a master of the psychology of violence, and his advice may save your life. –Joan Price
Welcome Carmen. I have been recommending that book since I started this site in 2009. It should be required reading.
B
Ode says:
April 5, 2013 at 7:51 am
Juror #5
http://www.ebay.com/itm/TAMBRA-Jodi-Arias-Trial-JUROR-5-in-Gallery-ACEO-Original-Sketch-Painting-10-/190821122567?pt=Art_Paintings&hash=item2c6dd34207
I could not read the artist signature on that sketch.
B
———————————————————————
It has the initials TW 2013 the e-bay seller is Tambra further down in the description is includes her last name Tambra Wilcox.
Blink it was not a sketch done by JA. It was recently done probably following the dismissal of #5. Just thought it was interesting to see her face.
I wonder if JM is aware of the JA’s court doodle. I wonder if this is why he started out of the gate with the Snow White story? I agree with Mom3.0, I think Miss Laviolette taunted JM a bit. She was on the defensive side. Can I blame her? Maybe not but I was not impressed with either of them.