Jodi Arias is an actress who gained notoriety for her role as a young prosecutor in “CSI: Miami”. She’s been in the spotlight for her roles in television, movies, and the stage, and she’s also the granddaughter of one of the best-known actors of all time. However, there’s still a big question that’s been on the mind of many people: why did Jodi kill her son? Why did she shoot him in the head with a.25 caliber bullet?
a.25-caliber round used in the murder
The prosecution in the murder of Travis Alexander argued that Arias committed the crime in a very planned and especially cruel manner. Prosecutor Juan Martinez said Arias’ “very directed attack” indicated that she was prepared to kill.
The defense counsel argued that the prosecutor was systematically excluding African-Americans from the jury. Judge Sherry Stephens ruled that the prosecution did not present evidence to indicate that race was a factor in the selection of the jury.
Arias initially denied her involvement in the killing. She told the detective that she did not see Alexander after the shooting. Later, she admitted that she had stabbed him more than once. In addition, she claimed to have rented a car in Redding, California.
Arias claimed she was visiting friends in southern California. But before she left, she changed her story. Instead of traveling to Arizona, she rented a vehicle and drove to Utah.
Investigators say that Arias had sex with Alexander the day of his death. They also recovered images of the two in sexually suggestive poses. Those images were retrieved from Alexander’s Facebook page.
Arias and Alexander last saw each other at 1:40 p.m. on June 4, 2008. It was then that Arias killed Alexander.
a.25-caliber round used in the trial
In the trial of Jodi Arias, the Utah woman who killed her Mormon lover in Arizona, the jury had its work cut out for it. Prosecutors threw a heap of doubt onto the defense’s claim that Arias suffered from amnesia. And, the defense didn’t bother to explain how she could have killed Alexander with a gun that she claimed she stole from her grandparents.
The evidence in the Arias case included photos of the crime and blood spatter. However, her hands did not show signs of grossly apparent gunpowder fragments. Also, her nails were very short and they did not appear to have been broken or sharpened.
Forensic scientists analyzed the fired bullets. They determined that the A.25-caliber round was used. It also showed that the victim was bleeding heavily. But, the doctor testified that the bullet shot to the frontal lobe did not incapacitate the victim immediately.
After the murder, the victim tried to escape. Arias pursued him in his blood. She said she stabbed him in self-defense.
During the trial, the jury heard from Arias’ friends. They described her as odd and passionate. Nevertheless, Arias was found guilty of first-degree premeditated murder and felony murder.
Defense attorneys said that Arias was suffering from post-traumatic stress. According to them, she had an affair with Alexander and had taken another woman on vacation.
a.25-caliber round used in the appeal
Jodi Arias, a 23-year-old California resident, has been found guilty of first degree premeditated murder. In her defense, she claims that Alexander was a violent boyfriend who was regularly attacking her. However, some anti-domestic violence advocates have questioned the validity of her self-defense claim.
Prosecutors argued that Arias used a stolen gun to kill Alexander, a man she had been seeing for a two-year relationship. They presented DNA evidence that showed a bloody palm print was found in the hallway of the bathroom. Additionally, a bullet was found in the left cheek. The prosecutor urged the jury to fulfill its duty and return a verdict of guilt.
In court, Arias was stoic. She claimed that she had not seen Alexander in two months, but she provided a false alibi by saying that she was in the shower when he was murdered.
Arias’ defense team argued that the prosecution was showing a blatant bias toward African-Americans and women. They argued that Arias was likely suffering from acute stress, a condition that can make the brain forget information.
Arias was also convicted of the lesser crime of felony murder. She claimed to have shot Alexander in the back of the head. Later, she changed her story and said that she was in self-defense.
