The Day After the Hung Jury

The freaks and weirdos who claim they support Travis Alexander and his family were out in full force yesterday and today, whining that Jodi Arias, somebody who never had any criminal past, and most likely didn't commit a crime when she killed Alexander in self-defense in June of 2008, will remain alive rather than dead.

Who the fuck is that goddamned sick they want somebody dead and create even MORE grief for more people?

I have never said much about TA's family when I made extensive comments about the trial two years ago, but enough is goddamned fucking enough with the wailing and tears. He's been dead for seven years, for shit's sake. Get a clue and stop with the professional victim card.

Here is the mistrial being declared by the incompetent Judge Sherry Stephens, who will no doubt sentence Jodi Arias to life without parole on April 13 so that she won't lose re-election as a judge:



Note the wailing from the Alexander sisters, right on cue. What sick fucks are these women that they would cry because somebody's life was spared, especially given the fact their brother was a liar, a cheat, a pervert, a business failure, a porn addict, a kiddie porn addict, an abuser, and a general all-around fraud who was a psychological train wreck?

If Jodi had been acquitted, like she should have been (hell, she never should have been charged in the first place), I could understand the tears, but this shit after the penalty phase? Spare me, please. This is fucking sadistic.

Now contrast this display with the actions of the family of murder victim Jay Orbin, whose case was another one out of Arizona and was actually prosecuted by Juan Martinez's shack-up Treena Kay back in 2009. That case was far, far worse. This was actually a premeditated murder by Orbin's wife (technically ex-wife) Marjorie, who shot him, froze him, chopped his head, arms, and legs off, removed all of his internal organs, and left his torso in a Rubbermaid container where his remains could be found by authorities after he was reported missing. This was so she could cash in on hundreds of thousands of dollars in life insurance. She was tired of Jay, a really nice guy without a mean bone in his body, who she regarded as nothing more than a sperm donor for their son Noah, so it was time to get rid of him. She would get little money other than child support if the two actually separated, so she thought weeks or even months ahead of time she was going to kill him. Marjorie didn't know she couldn't collect a life insurance policy if there was no body unless he had been legally declared dead--which would have to be seven years after he was reported missing. She got rid of him and eventually got arrested, tried, and convicted of this heinous crime. Orbin's family, who went through much hell seeing justice carried out, acted with total class throughout. When Marjorie was spared death and got life without parole, the family was perfectly okay with it because they didn't want their nephew or grandson's mother put to death. They didn't cry their eyes out on cue and wail, and they sure as hell didn't go on Twitter or Facebook calling for the heads of the jurors because they chose to spare her life.

The Alexander family could learn a lot about courtroom decorum from the Orbins.

Do I ever agree with this blogger.

It will take many years for Jodi Arias to walk free, and probably not until it goes to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. I may be dead by the time that happens.

The Trial That Took a Century

I seriously doubt she will get the death penalty, but in any case the retrial of the penalty phase of the Jodi Arias case, which took almost as long as the original trial, has gone to the jury.

I didn't write about this retrial much since it wasn't televised although I have still been following it. Lots of information came out in this proceeding that wasn't out there in the original trial.

The same incompetent judge is still showing her bias toward the corrupt prosecution. She didn't even declare a mistrial when the Alexander family pulled their little theatrical shit yesterday by walking out of the courtroom in a show of disrespect for the defense.

Disgraceful.

It's Long Past Due to Dismiss the Jodi Arias Case

It is getting worse and worse for the prosecution in the second penalty trial of Jodi Arias, as a defense computer expert has absolutely destroyed the prosecution regarding pornography on victim Travis Alexander's computer. Unfortunately, the jury didn't hear anything since this was a hearing.

Somebody fiddled with that computer after TA died, and the only ones who could have done it were those in the prosecutor's office.

The judge is so incompetent she will allow this farce to continue, leaving the dirty work to the appellate courts, but it should be booted out.

But the Alexander computer was turned on twice without using a write-blocker, Neumeister said, once the day after Alexander's body was discovered in June 2008 and again in June 2009, when the attorneys came to examine it.

Files were erased both times, he said, and when the machine was not turned off correctly, it suffered more data loss.

The machine was rife with viruses that are spread through viewing pornography, he said. The viruses themselves downloaded some porn files, an explanation offered by Martinez in motions. But there were others that were the result of searches. Neumeister found thousands of sites accessed when he entered search words like "teen."

And Martinez had the nerve to call Arias a liar in the original trial about walking in on Travis when he was masturbating to photos of young boys.

Stay tuned, folks.

I'd Call It Projection, Juan

In a truly bizarre twist in the Jodi Arias penalty phase retrial, persecutor Juan Martinez is trying to persuade an increasingly skeptical public that his department had nothing to do with the erasure of those porn files, more than a few of which were kiddie porn sites, on Travis Alexander's laptop. Instead, he is claiming Jodi Arias's lawyer at the time was the culprit.

Of course the attorney vehemently denied it. It doesn't make a damned bit of sense anyway to DELETE files that would HELP your client's case.

Nope, old Juan and his cronies were somehow responsible to tampering with evidence.

Nurmi and Willmott fought to get another look at Alexander's computer and obtained it only on the day before the second trial began.

The record, incidentally, is full of orders from the judges who have had the case to compel Martinez to turn over the evidence, which he denied existed at first.

Nurmi claimed that a forensic computer expert found that thousands of pornographic images had been removed from the computer during a three-hour period on June 19, 2009. He alleged prosecutorial misconduct and asked that the murder conviction be thrown out, or at least that the intent to seek the death penalty be lifted.

Martinez responded in a motion Wednesday, claiming he is still unaware of any porn on the computer, and pointing out that the specified three hours was when Schaffer, her co-counsel Greg Parzych and an investigator were viewing the computer.

Too bad all of the stuff being discussed in the retrial were not allowed to come out in the open in the original trial.

Time to Toss the Arias Conviction Into the Trash Can

I doubt given the judge's incompetence she will toss out the conviction despite all of the numerous instances of prosecutorial misconduct, but it is the only sane thing to do at this point.

The case against Jodi Arias, always a nonexistent one to begin with, is unfixable and the conviction needs to be thrown out.

When all of the evidence against her is tainted, to say nothing of the Mormon mob's intense drive to railroad her to death row in order to protect a woman abuser and a kiddie porn addict from being exposed, it's really over with.

As Far As I am Concerned, the Jodi Arias Case is Over

The only reasons it will most probably continue are because the judge is in the tank with the prosecution and she never had any control over a case of this notoriety to begin with.

Anybody who carefully followed the case like I did knows the prosecution was extremely corrupt. They never had any evidence at all of premeditated murder. This was a grossly overcharged case. This was not a first-degree murder case. This was not a second-degree murder case. This was not a manslaughter case. This was a classic case of self-defense. The violence at the scene proves there was a life-or-death struggle going on in that house in early June of 2008. Travis Alexander was the one who lost the fight, but it could have very easily been Jodi Arias.

The Mormon mob consisting of Alexander's friends and business associates got hold the narrative early on, going to 48 Hours and peddling an absolutely ridiculous--and unchallenged--story that Jodi traveled all the way from Yreka to Mesa because she was angry Travis was going to take somebody else to Cancun and killed him in a jealous rage. Later on HLN and other media outlets peddled the story. It made no damned sense whatsoever. Making sense had nothing to do with why the Mormon mob peddled this stupidity. It had to do with protecting one of their own, Travis, no matter what the cost to others. It's becoming more and more clear this poor soul had some serious issues perhaps stemming from his own abused childhood. He was an abuser, and now it seems irrefutable he had an addiction to porn, including kiddie porn, possession of which is a crime and was when he was alive.

With many Mormons, it's all about saving face, even if the person whose face they are trying to save is dead. Lying about and virtually lynching somebody else is perfectly acceptable. The end, of course, justifies the means, even if this means the criminal justice system has been perverted to achieve this end.

If we have evidence tampering here--and we already have proof of perjury in the original trial--how can anybody be sure ANY evidence the prosecution had wasn't concealed or tampered?

As far as I am concerned, this case is over. It needs to be thrown out "with prejudice," meaning that Jodi Arias could never be tried again for the death of Travis Alexander. It's unfixable.

Why the Arias Conviction Will Be Overturned

One of the two reasons this outrageous conviction will be overturned is because of the death threats to witnesses and the false narrative pushed by the Mormon cultists who are doing it thinking it helps victim Travis Alexander and his family. The other is the equally outrageous media coverage which sought to promote the false narrative the Mormon mob has pushed since shortly after Jodi Arias was arrested in 2008.

The media are crying "foul" because yesterday Judge Sherry Stephens kicked virtually everybody out of the courtroom, including and especially the media in order for an anonymous defense witness to testify. Now they are demanding to know the name of the presumably threatened witness who was trying to give another perspective of what happened in early June of 2008.

The media people can't seem to get it through their heads that the public's "right to know" is completely overshadowed by a defendant's right to a fair trial.

Judge Stephens should have never allowed ANY media or general public in the courtroom AT ALL in the original trial. Maybe the outcome would have been different, but certainly defense witnesses wouldn't have been hounded with death threats.

The Circus Resumes in Phoenix

Tomorrow resumes the circus down in Maricopa County, as a jury will hear evidence and decide whether or not to put convicted killer Jodi Arias to death despite the fact the state had absolutely no case for premeditation.

The difference between other cases and this one is other cases didn't have a demented group of Mormon cultists seize and control the narrative of the case beginning with the repugnant 2009 "report" by Maureen Maher that aired on "48 Hours." She and her producer should have been FIRED for their slanted, utterly ridiculous report. Having watched the live stream of the trial, not read FB or Twitter or the filthy HLN "coverage" of the trial, I went from believing Arias committed second-degree murder to believing she should have been acquitted. The state had NO case whatsoever to prove premeditation--it was laughably weak--and there were many, many instances of misconduct by the prosecution. From what I can see this was a classic self-defense case or manslaughter at the most. However, thanks to the idiot Mormon cultists (as opposed to the LDS church), Arias didn't have a chance in that courtroom.

I am confident that if Arias gets the DP, and even if she gets LWOP, it will be overturned on appeal because of the numerous instances of prosecutorial misconduct and the utterly bizarre media coverage which made a fair trial impossible.

Jodi Arias Trial: Status Hearing

Update: Apparently there was no video of the proceedings. The next hearing has been set for August 26.

Details:

Arias’ attorneys argue that the definition of “especially cruel” is too vague for jurors with no legal experience to determine what makes one killing more cruel or heinous than another. Their June motion appears to challenge a landmark 2002 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that found a defendant has the right to have a jury, rather than a judge, decide on the existence of an aggravating factor that makes the defendant eligible for capital punishment.

The high court in that case, which originated in Arizona, determined that allowing judges to make such findings violated a defendant’s constitutional right to a trial by jury. Prosecutors argue that state and federal courts have found the process continues to pass constitutional muster, and that the defense motion lacks merit.

Judge Sherry Stephens gave defense attorneys until Aug. 5 to file final motions supporting their arguments. She set another status conference in the case for Aug. 26.

“It appears there are a number of issues that are unresolved so I am reluctant to set a firm trial date for the penalty phase retrial at this time,” Stephens told attorneys Tuesday.

It is supposed to happen at around 10:30 PDT, give or take a few hours knowing that courtroom. I expect the retrial for the penalty phase will be postponed for several months. The defense attorneys have several other cases they are working on for the next few months.


Video:

Arias Trial Transcripts Revealed

Some transcripts previously sealed of the juror questions in deliberations and sidebars have been released in the Jodi Arias trial farce in Phoenix:

There were frequent arguments over what could and could not be admitted as evidence: Martinez’ concerns over playing an explicit audio recording of a phone call between Arias and Alexander, and discussion over whether it should come into the trial during Arias’ testimony. On another day, Martinez insisted that a photo of a sexy woman wearing a French maid’s costume be cut out of a document allegedly sent to Arias by Alexander as a suggestion of what she should wear when she cleaned his house.

Later that same day, as the lawyers discussed how to introduce the defense’s theory that Alexander was possibly a pedophile, Martinez went on a discourse about a series of 10 letters on the topic that Arias claimed were written by Alexander and which Martinez avowed were forgeries — only to discover that Nurmi was not talking about them at all.

On Feb. 20, Nurmi raised his concern that members of Alexander’s family were rolling their eyes and shaking their heads at testimony. (An e-mail to Stephens a few days later claimed that one of the jurors was trying to coach Arias with head gestures as she was in the witness box.)

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Jodi Arias Case

There hasn't been much going on since the hung jury deal, but Arias's defense lawyers responded to Maricopa County county attorney Bill Montgomery's statements about the possibility of a deal:

Today Arias’ defense attorneys, Kirk Nurmi and Jennifer Willmott issued a joint statement in an exclusive to The Arizona Republic.

“If the diagnosis made by the State’s psychologist is correct, the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office is seeking to impose the death penalty upon a mentally ill woman who has no prior criminal history,” they wrote. “Despite Mr. Montgomery’s recent statements to the media, it is not incumbent upon Ms. Arias’ defense counsel to resolve this case. Instead, the choice to end this case sits squarely with Mr. Montgomery and his office.

“It is solely for them to determine if continuing to pursue a death sentence upon Ms. Arias, who is already facing a mandatory life sentence, is a good and proper use of taxpayer resources.”

Jodi Arias Verdict Replay

In case you didn't see it:




She should get credit for time served and walk free. This wasn't a capital case in the first place.

Jodi Arias Trial: Hung Jury

Update 4:25 PDT: It was a hung jury today. The jury decided it was going to wash its hands of the whole farce after they damned well realized they totally fucked up with the verdict. It should have been either manslaughter or acquittal instead of this Murder One bullshit.

Now they can't bring themselves to execute her. Not even the Chris Hughes-Mormon-HLN mob could force them to do it.

Now yet another jury panel with have to be put together IF they can ever find anybody in Arizona who hasn't heard of this trial.

It should be pleaded down to manslaughter and she be released with time served, since this was obviously a self-defense case.

They probably can't do that, but this is such a slam dunk for the defense to overturn on appeal, it would be the smart thing for the state to do.
_____

On the same subject of Jodi Arias, a podcast featuring Arias acquaintance Gus Searcy is available. He notes other Mormon women had sex with Travis Alexander or knew he was mistreating Jodi Arias but they were too scared to come forward. It seems the pressure put on some Mormons by others is too hard to overcome.




The Farce in Phoenix will continue today at around 10:30 PDT with jury deliberations. They probably have all decided on death for Jodi Arias so that it will be thrown out on appeal in a case that should have resulted in acquittal for the defendant, but who knows? Maybe one or two of them is willing to stand up for what is right. I doubt it.


Saw this post that sums up not only Travis Alexander's own conflicted feelings, but actually the mentality of the Mormon-influenced lynch mob which sees Jodi Arias as a "whore," which was the furthest thing she was.

With the "friends" of Travis, it's all about the coverup. Mormons are notorious for groupthink and will lie and ruin others to preserve the reputation of one of "their own," even a Jack Mormon like Travis was.

Video in case the jury makes a decision or in case there is a hung jury which then means another jury is impaneled:

Jodi Arias Trial: Mitigation Phase

Today at around 9:30 PDT or whenever they get around to it, the Farce in Phoenix is supposed to resume with the mitigation phase.

I have no idea whether Jodi Arias will give a statement or just say, in effect, fuck it, because that simply stirs up more of the mob mentality.

She really made the mistake of her life ever getting involved with a cult.

As we know, a couple of people who were supposed to give statements in support of Jodi not getting death were themselves being threatened by the so-called Travis brigade in complete violation of the law. Defense attorney Kirk Nurmi tried to get a mistrial on this basis, and of course the judge denied it.

The judge, Sherry K. Stephens, is trying to pass the buck. She got way in over her head with this trial.

Since I am gone again for almost the entire day, I will miss the deal.

Update: Jodi Arias gave her statement "pleading" for her life today:



The judge actually lifted a ban on her giving interviews, but her mouth has always been her biggest problem.

The "verdict" of life or death has now gone to the jury. I expect her to receive the death penalty, and that would be her best chance to have the ridiculous murder one overturned on appeal.

Here is her interview in a series of clips.


Video:

Jodi Arias Trial: Mitigation Phase

I apologize to readers when I mislabeled Thursday's impact statements by Travis Alexander's siblings Steven and Samantha as part of the mitigation phase because I titled that post as such.

I corrected it.

I haven't posted much at all the past two weeks because I have actually been working at a short-term assignment.

Today should be the mitigation phase of the trial, and then the jury will recommend her fate (probably death, which would be the best outcome for the appeals process since the verdict will almost certainly be overturned). I don't know if anybody is actually going to speak for Jodi Arias. I certainly hope she won't talk to the jury because that jury has its mind made up, and there is no point at all in doing it. It just further gives the likes of HLN and the Chris and Sky Hughes-influenced social media lynch mob more reason to spew more vitriol directed at her.

This is utterly unique, this hatred for a murder defendant, in the history of American justice. Not even O.J. Simpson had an organized lynch mob out to ruin him and affect public opinion. That is because Jodi Arias was unlucky enough to get herself involved in a quasi-religious denomination which many people regard as a cult, Mormonism, and the tendency of many of its members to cover up the sins of one of their own in order to save face. Beginning in 2009 with 48 Hours with its report that was utterly slanted and full of lies about the relationship between Jodi Aria and Travis Alexander by Travis's alleged friends like the Hugheses, Jodi Arias never had a chance, at least not in the short-term. Then CBS compounded it by committing journalistic malpractice by interviewing her when she had no attorney present and it was obvious she was suffering from trauma. I noticed it YEARS ago; it doesn't take a rocket scientist to see she had PTSD. CBS had NO right to do the interview knowing full well her statements would be used in court.

Yet the despicable Maureen Maher and her producers are actually proud of their "work" on behalf of a segment of the LDS, while ignoring that 800-pound gorilla in the cutting room floor. They had yet another slanted "report" the other night on the "lies" of Jodi Arias rather than on the LIES they spewed on behalf of Travis Alexander's Mormon friends and business associates. They did not act like journalists but like a p.r. firm and should have been FIRED for their malpractice. They allowed themselves to be completely manipulated by a lying, devious group of "friends" who have proven to be even worse now that many of them are literally cashing in on Travis Alexander's death.

Update: This circus has been delayed until tomorrow at around 9:30 PDT, but the defense today gave its best shot at trying to get this incompetent judge to declare a mistrial thanks to the lynch mob activity surrounding the case and witness intimidation.

Jodi Arias's ex-boyfriend, Darryl Brewer talked briefly about her in these series of clips. Tragically she changed when she got involved in something that was little more than a cult, and it destroyed her life. Part one of several:

Video:

Jodi Arias Trial: Aggravation Phase

The end is near for this farce in Phoenix. Today's display of whatever begins at 10:30 PDT.

Yours truly will be gone all day today and will miss out listening to the impact statements by the Alexander family continuing to display denial about their brother.

Then I fully expect a death penalty verdict, but given how tainted this jury is, they might recommend LWOP or life with parole after 25 years just to make it harder for Jodi Arias to appeal the sentence.

In the event the likely death verdict is handed down, it will be overturned by a higher court.



Video:

Jodi Arias Trial: Aggravation Phase

The aggravation phase of this utterly aggravating trial is supposed to begin around 10 a.m. PDT today.

It's a given she will get the death penalty and thus make it much easier for the verdict to be overturned on appeal thanks to oodles of instances of judicial error and prosecutorial hanky-panky. If she gets less than death, it will be harder to overturn it because at least she will be "allowed" to live.

3:10 PDT: As expected, this jury decided to take the easy way out and give "death" to Jodi at this stage or at least put it on the table, which means that she will prevail upon appeal, which is automatic, if the mitigation phase is unsuccessful, which it will be.



Video:

Jodi Arias Trial: Penalty Phase

Since Jodi Arias has continued to do what she shouldn't do, and that's open her mouth to the media, this tainted jury will likely give her the death penalty.

The good news, however, is since there is so much reversible error in this trial, any verdict and sentence will be overturned on appeal.

Since there is no way she can ever get a fair trial in Arizona, thanks to the Mormon mob and the media sensationalism, she could very well get freedom like Debra Milke eventually did. That's assuming she doesn't let her depression overwhelm her and she commits suicide.

It may take a long time, as long as a dozen years, for the case to be resolved. HLN might not even be around that long; hell, Nancy Grace, Drew Pinsky, and Jane Velez-Mitchell will likely be long retired before this is over with.

It's a disgrace, that verdict. They can't ever tell me this wasn't a result of the fallout from Casey Anthony. The media-instigated mob mentality is truly unseemly.


Here is a graphic about the death penalty appeals process, should that be necessary in this case:




Update: Trial has been canceled until May 15. No reason was given.

Jodi Arias Trial: Verdict

Verdict is to be announced at 1:30 PDT.

Clearly there is no a hung jury here.

If it is M1 or M2, but especially M1, we know the jury has been tainted thanks to not being sequestered.

I suspect the verdict is either for manslaughter or for acquittal, which is the only correct verdict, but given the media frenzy, death threats, and the like, it may not happen. It would take a lot of moral courage to acquit, but I doubt the jury is that courageous.

I could be wrong.


The bottom line is this: Anything short of Murder One is a huge victory for the defense and a crushing defeat to the prosecution.

Update: Well, it is time for appeals, and I hope top notch attorneys in the United States take this case to have it thrown out by the higher courts.

The state did NOT prove its case. It doesn't matter what a jury personally believes--the state did NOT prove it AT ALL plus witnesses were tainted. Not sequestering the jury was a bad idea.

Either that jury was made up of a bunch of Mormon morons or else they were afraid of what would happen if they had any other verdict besides M1. I vote for the latter although I was always skeptical of the jury makeup.

I suppose she will get death, which will please the greedheaded Alexander family, which is saying through their lawyer they will file a wrongful death suit although I have heard the statute of limitations has passed on that.

What a bunch of stupid, crooked idiots in this case, but even so, it's obvious the verdict and any sentence will be overturned on appeal.

I just wonder how long it will take.

Video:

Jodi Arias Trial: Deliberations

Update 4:30 PDT: No verdict today.


The jury will continue with its deliberations today starting at 10 a.m. PDT. It is said one of the jurors has some kind of appointment this morning.

There is a lot of speculation as to the verdict. Most likely it will be hung or be manslaughter, which is what the defense managed to get included as an "out" for the jury to prevent a mistrial, but the ONLY acceptable outcome is an acquittal.

I am not sure any jury, especially one not sequestered, would have the moral courage to do the right thing here. This goes far beyond what happened in that bathroom/bedroom on the afternoon of June 4, 2008. It has to do with the machiavellian conduct of Maricopa County officials.

I saw this post over on another site, and it sums up my beliefs perfectly:

I got to thinking about this case on a level removed from the nitty gritty of the evidence, but on a more philosophical/civic level.

The State, and by extension the prosecutor is supposed to be the people’s representative to see that justice is done in situations where a there is an allegation of unlawful conduct by a member of the people. Their job is not to win convictions or any other court victories. Similarly it is the police’s responsibility to enforce the law, and where necessary, to provide assistance to the prosecutor in their task of achieving justice.

A prosecutor should take the evidence, as it exists, present it in an honest manner, and charge a person based on the evidence and the facts as presentable in a court of law. A prosecutor should not tailor the testimony of the state’s witnesses in order to achieve what he perceives as being a victory. In fact a prosecutor should not stand for any misrepresentation by either his, or for that matter, the defenses witnesses. The prosecutor should also not shop around for witnesses who will be willing to testify in a manner that suits the prosecutor’s version of the case. In fact, if after a reasonable amount of due diligence the prosecutor finds that the preponderance of expert opinion does not support his theory of the case, then the prosecutor should not further his theory.

Now, given any responsibility, there needs to be a mechanism that assures that the person tasked with that responsibility does in fact fulfill it, in the manner intended. The courts are not always the answer, because not all misconduct is criminal, and in fact certain jobs and tasks enjoy a degree of immunity. There needs to be a method to control a prosecutor who distorts, or causes, or accepts the distortion of witness testimony. Of course at the first step we have his immediate supervisor, who is supposed to protect against this happening, but there is an obvious conflict of interest there. You have the courts, who are supposed to guard against this, but the courts themselves are bound by constraints of what they can or cannot do.

The greatest check on this sort of prosecutorial misconduct is the jury, which when faced with such a situation can and should reject the prosecutions case.

In this particular case, the State v. Jodi Arias we have substantial evidence of a prosecutor flying outside the bounds of justice. Putting aside, for the moment, his behavior in court, we have at the very least the following acts that show him clearly perverting justice:

1. The whole Flores/Horn issue with respect to the sequence of the gun shot. Someone is lying. We know it, they know it, JM knows it, the judge knows it and the jury knows it. JM should have never elicited that testimony. But he did it 4 times.

2. Horn’s testimony about the typographical error vis a vis the dura mater was a lie. JM may have not prompted him to say it. Once Horn said it, he lied under oath. Again, everyone knows it. However, it is incumbent on the prosecutor as the representative of the people in the cause of justice to call him out on it. Other DA’s have done so with their own witnesses. Gil Garcetti charged, and convicted, Mark Fuhrman of perjury before the OJ trial was over. And he had a sequestered jury, so he wasn’t even posing for the jury.

3. The only possible reason that JM had for using DeMarte was that he needed a particular opinion from a psychologist. Given the nature of the tests conducted, the chances were that he was going to get the same opinion as Samuels from any psychologist. The tests conducted by DeMarte were probably done as a part of her job at Bayless, where she was probably just the person administering the test. He probably couldn’t get the opinion he wanted from any of the other staff, and so went with her. And she probably did it to get into the lucrative field (by comparison to her other work) of being an expert witness. Again, we know this, the jury knows this and in my opinion, JM is liable for gross misconduct in eliciting testimony, which though just an opinion, is grossly outside the bounds of “expert” testimony.

JM’s conduct is a blatant miscarriage of his job as the “justice” advocate for the state. Given that situation, the jury should just reject his pleadings in their entirety. It is the only recourse the public has in a situation where a prosecutor starts playing fast and loose with his responsibility.

This is really what this verdict should be about. The entire prosecution case needs to be thrown out because it is unsalvageable. It's tainted. I doubt a conviction would happen even if the case were retried because the tampering itself could come in as evidence. Some would call such an action "jury nullification," but it really isn't because the prosecution didn't have a whole lot of evidence to show anything other than this is a self-defense case (even with the overkill of the slit throat--Travis Alexander was probably dead when that happened). Maricopa County needs to be sent a message that you cannot overcharge a case and then, when you realized you DID overcharge it, decide to manipulate evidence and witnesses in order to railroad a young woman to death row.

I don't think this jury has the moral courage to do such a thing given the insane circus atmosphere outside the courtroom, but you never know.