MOTION FOR MISTRIAL DENIED
The Jodi Arias case is never without its surprises. Defense attorneys Willmott and Nurmi filed a motion for a mistrial, stating that the Prosecutor Juan Martinez had intimidated defense witnesses – and – there are no character witnesses to speak in her defense. Apparently, her childhood girlfriend, Patricia Womack took the 5th Amendment, and failed to answer questions asked by Martinez last week, having legal matters that can be held against her. The other witness that was intimidated was Alyce Laviolette, the domestic abuse expert. This was reported under Seal. I don’t believe her former boyfriend, Darryl Brewer, was intimidated by Martinez. He was ready to take the stand today, but the defense never called him. Was that the choice of the lawyers or Jodi?
Judge Stephens denied the motion, due to the fact that she had offered to conduct the witness statements and examination under Seal. That means it would have been done in private, without the television coverage and the presence of the public in the courtroom. It seems that she agreed with Martinez that Womack had withdrawn from testifying on her own. Otherwise, she would have had to find in favor of the defense.
The defense lawyers then said that they had filed motions before this trial started, so it would be held without television coverage and that the jury should be sequestered; both were denied. They filed these motions for a mistrial under Seal, but brought them up in court today. The defense then stated that Jodi Arias has not received a fair trial.
WILLMOTT AND NURMI WANT OFF THE CASE
For the second time in as many weeks, Willmott and Nurmi asked to withdraw from the case because they cannot offer effective counsel. They can’t mitigate without character witnesses. He pretty much stated that the deck has been stacked against them from the beginning. Judge Stephens also denied this request. Nurmi said due to the court’s ruling, they would not be calling witnesses. Was he blaming the judge? Judge Stephens then asked if Jodi Arias was ready to allocute. The two attorneys huddled, while Jodi Arias huddled with her mitigating specialist. Within moments, a sidebar was called.
WATCH THE VIDEO – ANGRY DEFENSE LAWYERS
Court was recessed for the day. Jodi Arias will allocute tomorrow morning at 9:30 a.m. (Arizona time) – 12:30 p.m. EST. This is when she gets to stand up at the podium and tell her story before the jury. I think this is all she really wants. She didn’t want mitigation witnesses. She just wanted this to be her show. Tomorrow, it will be.
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MITIGATION FACTORS – JODI CLAIMS NO FAMILY SUPPORT – YOU BE THE JUDGE
Both of Jodi Arias’s parents were in the courtroom today. Her mother has been there every day. During the trial, Arias claimed she was abused by her parents (spankings with a belt and a wooden spoon) and that she did not have family support her entire life. Poor neglected, abused Jodi. Ha! I bet her mother wants to stand up and plead for her daughter’s life. There is only one person preventing that from happening. Jodi probably thinks that keeping her mother off the stand supports her claims of abuse and neglect, but the jury has seen her family’s support throughout the trial. Her mother and her mother’s twin sister were there every day. Jodi’s siblings, her father (who is on kidney dialysis) and her grandmother have been in court to support her.
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DEFENSE DRAGGING OUT THE COURT TRIAL – WILL IT EVER END?
Once again, Jodi Arias manages to drag this trial out for another couple of days. Surely, the Alexander family is frustrated. And I can only imagine what the jury is thinking.
What will Jodi Arias say tomorrow? Remorse? We haven’t seen one bit of remorse so far. Truth? She is a proven liar. She even lied on the stand. Whatever she decides to say, I am guessing there will be some fake tears, she will find a way to hold her bent finger before the jury, and she will defend her position that Travis abused her and that she can’t remember brutally murdering him. I hope I am wrong. I hope she finally stands up and takes responsibility. No doubt, it is going to be all about Jodi!
Following Jodi Arias’s statement to the jury, both sides will give closing arguments for the Sentencing Phase. After that, the jury should get the case for sentencing.
MEET THE LAWYERS:(Older Video)





