Jodi Ann Arias shot and stabbed her ex-boyfriend Travis Alexander to death (Part II)

[Morticia]

I'm on the fence about the Hughes'. I think they really cared for Travis. I think Sky is one of those women who allows herself to become involved in people's lives. Jodi probably knew this and did, in fact, use her to her own advantage. I could also see Sky harping on Chris about it day and night, which is how he involved himself. I'm thinking Chris can now tell Sky to "butt out" of other people's affairs because, unfortunately, this one didn't turn out so well.

Can you imagine having the Hughes as your in-laws? EEEEK!! TA may have felt rebellious and protective after their meddling, who knows.

[sheesh]

Beth Karas says Juan Martinez was fully ready to deliver his closing argument yesterday.

And that heat of passion/manslaughter will be included.

[elamir]

Good article Berm. Even if they were manipulated, the Hughes kind of creep me out. I have never seen a couple so personally involved in another couple's relationship. It just seems weird and preachy to me.

I think Chris was really a father figure to Travis or more properly a mentor - friendship, business and spiritually - wise. Travis spent a lot of time with them, with their family and at their house, if they didn't think Travis was on the right track maybe they felt morally they had to say something, knowing his parents aren't alive and maybe trying to fill that gap somewhat. Chris and Skye sound like the only people that Travis really took notice of and listened to, not nearly enough as it happens. I don't find it weird but maybe that's just me and how I view different relationships.

[AgathaAppleswine]

Read your own definition of what the ME does, sweetie. Determine the manner and cause of death. Examine the body inside and out and document what he sees. His job does not include speculating on the effect a non-fatal wound would have had on the person. The GSW was not fatal. His report states cause of death was sharp force trauma to the neck and torso.

He says it himself while being questioned about why Det. Flores had written in his police report, quote: "The initial report from Dr. Horne was that the GSW would not have been fatal. The GSW would have possibly disabled him temporarily". Dr. Horne denied telling Flores that and goes on to say his job is to document injuries and determine cause of death, NOT to speculate on the sequence of effects of non-fatal injuries.

Do try to get your facts straight at some point, won't you?

I do have my facts straight, little one. The fact is, that with the lack of bleeding in and around the wound, he did not list it as a cause of death BECAUSE TRAVIS WAS ALREADY DEAD.

Not listing the bullet as a cause of death does not mean that the bullet could not have been incapacitating or that it could not have been fatal.

FLORES is the one who has mucked up, not the ME.

Of course he can suggest what would have happened to the brain when a bullet goes through it. That's part of what he does! I don't know how to make it any clearer to you! If he knows the affects of a blade to the heart, why would you assume that he has no idea what would happen to a person who has a brain injury?

If he had spoken in the absolute, "No, he could not have been conscious", or "No, he could not have stood", you might have room for your argument.

But you don't. He spoke in the abstract, because he IS aware that there is a chance that Travis could have stood if he had been shot first.

The point you keep missing is that there is little bleeding where the bullet lodged. If Travis had been alive, the area would have bled.

No blood = no beating heart.

No beating heart = he was already badly injured.

Already injured = the knife wounds came first.

Do you understand this?

Also, a medical examiner in Arizona has to have (per the Maricopa County government webpage):

Post graduate education and training include four years of medical school, a five year residency in anatomic and clinical pathology, and a one year fellowship in forensic pathology. Following the residency you must pass Medical Boards in Anatomic Pathology and following the fellowship you need to pass Boards in Forensic Pathology. A medical doctor is also required to take a minimum of 20 hours of approved medical education every year to maintain their medical license.

I would think that he has had plenty of training to know the effects of a gunshot to the head. Please stop trying to act like working on dead people does not require medical knowledge or training. Thank you.

[Booya]

After reviewing JM's opening statements, he reminds me of Marc Antony eulogizing Caesar's death (maybe because of his emphasis on Alexander being a good man).
I hope he can channel all of his passion and energy today!! God bless the Alexander family:)

[lorizfree]

Nurmi is doing closing arguments.

[ShellJett]

Good morning everybody! I am so glad this case is almost finished. I have Jodi burnout.
Just imagine how quicker this would be over with if the court was like court yesterday. Maybe this case would have only last a few weeks!

Anyway, I thought yesterday was good. Personally, I don't care if Jodi shot him first or stabbed him. I don't care if Travis smacked her in the face real hard or body slammed her to the ground. She added about 29 additional steps to her actions that day. Doesn't matter which came first. If she shot him first, she still continued on by stabbing him 29 times, then cut his throat.
Nothing in Jodi's whole story justifies what she did that day. She brutally murdered him! Then she worked very hard afterwards to coverup her crime. That shows a person that knew what she did was wrong. Rage and overkill!

Wanted to let everybody know that I will NOT be writing the recaps for closing. There really is no need to.

Your recaps have been a true pleasure to read. Although I watch the live testimony, I go to your recaps regularly because you capture so much of the essense of what actually happened in court in such a unique way. The photos and your comments throughout the recap are priceless. I appreciate the time and hard work you put in throughout this trial. Thank you!

[AgathaAppleswine]

Beth Karas says Juan Martinez was fully ready to deliver his closing argument yesterday.

And that heat of passion/manslaughter will be included.

This nonsense of protecting and coddling the accused is why I never bothered to go forward with charges against my abusive boyfriend. It's difficult to believe that the system is about justice when the prosecuted person gets every opportunity to get away with what they did.

Anyway, off to work. I'll be praying for a powerful closing statement, and that the jurors will make the right choice. See you guys tonight!

[Sneakers the Wonder Dog]

I can only imagine her pain. I pray to God that nothing like that ever happens to one of my 4 kids. That has to be killing her inside. I don't know how she sits in the court every day.

While I know she is there because she loves her child and wants to support her. I am disgusted by the fact she tried to sell those forged letters to the National Enquirer.

Good morning everybody! I am so glad this case is almost finished. I have Jodi burnout.
Just imagine how quicker this would be over with if the court was like court yesterday. Maybe this case would have only last a few weeks!

Anyway, I thought yesterday was good. Personally, I don't care if Jodi shot him first or stabbed him. I don't care if Travis smacked her in the face real hard or body slammed her to the ground. She added about 29 additional steps to her actions that day. Doesn't matter which came first. If she shot him first, she still continued on by stabbing him 29 times, then cut his throat.
Nothing in Jodi's whole story justifies what she did that day. She brutally murdered him! Then she worked very hard afterwards to coverup her crime. That shows a person that knew what she did was wrong. Rage and overkill!

Wanted to let everybody know that I will NOT be writing the recaps for closing. There really is no need to.

You are awesome Berm! Thanks for all of the recaps and your blog!

As much as I dislike the DT's style and tactics, personalities, etc.....they did a great job muddying the waters. It pains me to say, I would give them an A+.

They started with a seemingly cut and dry case of Murder #1 against their client - Yet they managed, with smoke and mirrors, to create confusion, doubt, and disagreement. They undoubtedly gave JW a run for his money.

In the end, however, I do not believe the DT was interested in revealing the truth or achieving fairness. In fact, I believe the DT had to set aside every modicum of wisdom and intellect they possessed in order to advance the theories they did.

Therefore, the A+ means nothing in the grand scheme of things. They are unprincipled and underhanded charlatans. Whether they win or lose, they will never be the same. They will be forever tainted by their choice to promote evil over good.

I give them an A+ for the pure fuckery. I understand they have a job to do but their tactics at times were beyond unprofessional and possibly unethical.

:) I asked this a while back, but things were moving fast then...

IMO, clearly Jodi had no illusions of cleaning up the crime scene after seeing the big bleedout blood stain on the carpet -- that was there to stay.

What she did need to do is buy herself time. As much time as she could so she could at least control her destiny: by suicide or later surrender or whatever.

So she wanted/needed to get Travis' lifeless body as far out of sight as possible. Laying there at the entry, it would be most readily discovered: by peeping into his bedroom or by smell.

So she tried to pull it back into the shower ... but it was too heavy and it was sticking to the hallway floor with his blood that was coagulating.

So Jodi got that plastic cup -- the one found in the shower -- and she spread water on the hard surfaced floor as a lubricant to help slide his body back to the shower.

The water reduced the friction & mitigated stickyness enough to allow the body slip & slide along the floor.

She could also have rolled his body onto a towel, then wet the towel & floor and used that to drag him back to the shower.

Remember there was so much water that an adjacent file box was soaked red on the bottom.

If she were cleaning up, she surely would have wiped the blood off the wall that contained her hand print -- it was readily in view. And there was blood everywhere. Cleaning all of that was impossible.

So the water was used as a lubricant -- perhaps like the Egyptians used sand to move those huge pyramid stones.

And the cup/water/shower/towel were used to clean her body -- I do think she undressed to clean the blood off & put on clean clothes/shoes.

All of which bought her time -- his body wasn't discovered for days -- and escape: she wasn't covered in blood.

I agree with you, I posted something similar awhile ago.

The Arizona Republic, however, obtained a copy of the e-mails between Alexander and a close friend from California, Sky Hughes.

http://www.mydesert.com/article/2013...ealed?gcheck=1

While they've offered some interesting information I still can't get over the fact that they bought Nurmi's lies to them about the pedo allegations. Make no mistake, they fell for it. With friends like this who needs enemies. This is why JM couldn't/wouldn't put either of them on the stand.

Dr Jill did a great job. And her personality and approach was such that the DT could not punch holes in her testimony. I'm sure the jury liked her, too. She was just very believable and personable.

She was. Loved her Titanic analogy. It was fitting.

She sure doesn't look like the same cocky bitch that was sparring with Martinez during her cross.

She started out looking pretty smug yesterday and by the end of the day not so much.

I think Martinez will wow the jury with his knowledge of the facts and his passion. He will bring it home. I prefer Nurmi doing the closing for the DT because he is just so dry and boring and couldn't convince me to do anything.

You just know that when Nurmi gets up there we are going hear a lot about anal sex, three whole wonders, etc. I'm dreading Nurmi. It's going to be an all out trash/assault Travis Alexander and Stabby's just a poor victim. It's going to be ugly and disgusting.

I have to disagree with some of the sentiment regarding Chris and Sky Hughes around Jodi/Travis...

This is exactly what my male friends do, and with my appreciation. Much of what happens in men's groups -- Christian and secular -- revolves around intention vs. action, being "in integrity", and having accountability partners/groups. It's what we do as men to better ourselves. I've been called out many times by my friends for being out of integrity -- sometimes I disagree, sometimes we've argued about it. But our friendship remained and I was usually wrong, since I'm not yet perfect.

My male friendships are characterized much more by this "challenge" dynamic than the "consensus building" I've seen in women's groups. This is also not uncommon in peer relationships originated/built in 12 step groups.

It's my best friends who are willing to be honest with me when I'm in the wrong. Sometimes, at times, they know me better than I know myself .... or am able to see at the time.

Just my

Would your friends fall for a skeevy lawyers lies about you being pedophile if you were murdered? The Hughes's did.

My male friends have never assisted me with my relationship (Think we a bit antiquated in that regard) but I wouldn't necessarily have a problem if they did want to give me advice here and there. But if they went to my gilfriend or wife and started communicating with her about the dynamics and the rights and wrongs of our relationship, that is creeptastic IMHO. I guess one could argue that they were friends with Jodi as well, but I don't really believe that.

Right?! They had known her for a minimum of a two or three months at that point. Travis was supposedly their "best friend"

If ANY of my friends tried "meddling" in my personal business, I would not be happy. It's not their place. As for Travis, he obviously thought Skye and Chris were crossing the line, too.

Exactly. No wonder he felt he had no one he could confide in when she started going all stalker/tire slashing on him.

[Metis212]

If ANY of my friends tried "meddling" in my personal business, I would not be happy. It's not their place. As for Travis, he obviously thought Skye and Chris were crossing the line, too.

I must admit, I have been known to meddle. I have a dear friend who married this gorgeous hunk of manhood, he was a model in early adulthood. They lived together for two years before marrying. During those two years, I got the creeps every time I was around him. He hugged too close. He was too nice. He had a former girlfriend who hacked the house phone and called her. My friend felt sorry for her cause he moved out of the girlfriends house to be with my friend. The more I said, what is up with this stuff, the more she said something was wrong with me.

As soon as they married he talked her into a single bank account that he controlled. She agreed even though she made more money than him and always had financial independence. Once everything was set with her paycheck going straight into the bank account, he put her on a budget. 200/month for everything thing she needed including the groceries for the house.

I hung in there with her, asking those questions that only friends can ask. I helped her move out twice. I refused to help her move back in. I didnt tell her to leave him, I just kept asking her questions about her and her happiness. She finally left him after 12 years of marriage, the last 8 years were really bad.

I firmly believe in meddling with love.

[Shahoolie11]

Before shit gets really crunk today and tomorrow....I just wanted to say it's been nice knowing, liking, disliking, debating, joking and commisserating with you all on My Death Space for the entirety of this trial. It has been a great experience for me... Maybe we'll see each other again on a different thread!

[rdeadline]

Nurmi is doing closing arguments.

That is a really bad idea.

[Sneakers the Wonder Dog]

Before shit gets really crunk today and tomorrow....I just wanted to say it's been nice knowing, liking, disliking, debating, joking and commisserating with you all on My Death Space for the entirety of this trial. It has been a great experience for me... Maybe we'll see each other again on a different thread!

I second those emotions!

[Person]

Juan Martinez Hit Points for Premeditated Murder

Gun from Grandpa Burglary

Rental car rented from different town than Yreka, a color that doesnt stand out, her hair color at the time of rental, her mileage on rental car. license plate turned upside down to avoid traffic signal cameras

Gas cans - no gas purchased in Arizona - could also be used to burn evidence in the desert

Ryan Burns Utah alibi - the point of her being away from Yreka

Cell phone - turned off in Arizona, no trace of her in Arizona

Cleaned the body and the scene, locked the door, doggy gate on staircase

Gun and knife - she knew her future actions could, (and to her) would kill Travis. a naked wet man sitting down in a stand up shower with three walls poses no threat. look at wounds of Jodi and wounds of Travis after the, according to her, dropped camera.

email and voicemail and texts to a dead man and flowers to his family after the murder

[elamir]

I've got a friend that just arrived here from the US, she's coming over for dinner with her boyfriend tonight (just confirmed) - don't think it didn't cross my mind to cancel but I couldn't do it.....argh!!

Just hope Cairo lives up to it's terrible reputation with the worst peak hour traffic you've ever seen, and they will be fashionably approx 2 hours late- should give me enough time to watch Juan.

[elamir]

Here's hoping the live streaming holds up to the demand, it managed to hold up for the Anthony trial....otherwise they'll be some tears.

[Jillee]

At about 3:28 Stabby looks like she might she start to hyperventilate

I think she IS hyperventilating at 1:37:00

[Person]

And Travis was killed three times over which goes against self defense

[PopRocks]

Before shit gets really crunk today and tomorrow....I just wanted to say it's been nice knowing, liking, disliking, debating, joking and commisserating with you all on My Death Space for the entirety of this trial. It has been a great experience for me... Maybe we'll see each other again on a different thread!

Ive only been following this trial for a month and it immediately sucked me in. Im do grateful i found this place to discuss this topic because nobody i know watches this

I just hope im not disappointed with the verdict

[Freaktab]

A few thoughts: Sometimes a typo is just a typo.

I do not like the DT style or the tactics, but they have done a decent job with what they had to work with. Another poster (sorry, am on mobile) stated that Nurmi checked out awhile ago and that Palin has handled most of it and I completely agree.
Frankly, from a legal point, I am glad that Palin has defended Stabby with so much fire (again, don't like the tactics) because the first appeal filed will be ineffective counsel.

[elamir]

Arias has arrived, in light blue top and is now back in chambers.

[sheesh]

Geez, how tall is Jean Casarez?

[AnnieBelle]

Before shit gets really crunk today and tomorrow....I just wanted to say it's been nice knowing, liking, disliking, debating, joking and commisserating with you all on My Death Space for the entirety of this trial. It has been a great experience for me... Maybe we'll see each other again on a different thread!

Cheers!

[coconut]

Read your own definition of what the ME does, sweetie. Determine the manner and cause of death. Examine the body inside and out and document what he sees. His job does not include speculating on the effect a non-fatal wound would have had on the person. The GSW was not fatal. His report states cause of death was sharp force trauma to the neck and torso.

He says it himself while being questioned about why Det. Flores had written in his police report, quote: "The initial report from Dr. Horne was that the GSW would not have been fatal. The GSW would have possibly disabled him temporarily". Dr. Horne denied telling Flores that and goes on to say his job is to document injuries and determine cause of death, NOT to speculate on the sequence of effects of non-fatal injuries.

Do try to get your facts straight at some point, won't you?

BOOM! They made mistakes in a critical area of evidence. Johnny Cochran would have destroyed The Prosecution over these inconsistencies.

I'm on the fence about the Hughes'. I think they really cared for Travis. I think Sky is one of those women who allows herself to become involved in people's lives. Jodi probably knew this and did, in fact, use her to her own advantage. I could also see Sky harping on Chris about it day and night, which is how he involved himself. I'm thinking Chris can now tell Sky to "butt out" of other people's affairs because, unfortunately, this one didn't turn out so well.

They seem to be such lovely people, so concerned about everyone about them and making all kinds of friendly recommendations...

[PopRocks]

Juan Martinez Hit Points for Premeditated Murder

Gun from Grandpa Burglary

Rental car rented from different town than Yreka, a color that doesnt stand out, her hair color at the time of rental, her mileage on rental car. license plate turned upside down to avoid traffic signal cameras

Gas cans - no gas purchased in Arizona - could also be used to burn evidence in the desert

Ryan Burns Utah alibi - the point of her being away from Yreka

Cell phone - turned off in Arizona, no trace of her in Arizona

Cleaned the body and the scene, locked the door, doggy gate on staircase

Gun and knife - she knew her future actions could, (and to her) would kill Travis. a naked wet man sitting down in a stand up shower with three walls poses no threat. look at wounds of Jodi and wounds of Travis after the, according to her, dropped camera.

email and voicemail and texts to a dead man and flowers to his family after the murder

He needs to get creative and put up diagrams mapping out her entire trip of what she did, where she drove, who she called etc to really drive home the fact that this killing wasnt an "accident"