UPDATE: The jury is back with the new Arias death penalty decision. Jodi Arias reportedly remained calm as the jury returned a decision that the killing of Travis Alexander was exceptionally cruel, which will allow the death penalty to be considered during the sentencing phase of her trial in Maricopa County, Arizona.
ORIGINAL STORY: The Jodi Arias death penalty deliberations have begun. The same jurors that already convicted 32-year-old Arias of first degree murder in the killing and shooting murder of her boyfriend, Travis Alexander, must now decide if she can be sentenced to death for the crime.
Alexander was stabbed 27 times, his throat was cut, and he was shot in the face.
In order for the death penalt y to be an option for her sentencing, the jury must now find that the crime was aggravated by being especially cruel, depraved, or heinous. Arias has famously said that she would choose to be put to death over life in prison, but convicted murders aren’t allowed to make that choice.
Prosecutor Juan Martinez made another hard-hitting argument against Arias: “The last thing [Alexander] saw before he lapsed into unconsciousness…was that blade coming to his throat…And the last thing he felt before he left this earth was pain.”
Jodi Arias spent the weekend on suicide watch after last week’s conviction in Alexander’s bloody killing. His family sobbed, and Jodi Arias herself seemed to be fighting back tears.
Now the crowd is waiting for the jury to reach a decision. Some people wonder why it’s taking so long.
Here’s Kirstie Alley’s take on it:
Dear Jodi Arias, I hope you get your death row wish. Dreams can come true.:)Love, Every other woman who has not stabbed her man 37 times
— Kirstie Alley (@kirstiealley) May 15, 2013
But she’s far from the only observer who is experiencing those emotions:
What is there to even discuss?! Of course he was killed in a cruel manner! #jodiarias
— Mallory Brasher (@mallorybrasher8) May 15, 2013
At the time of writing, the jury was still debating. We’ll update when they reach a decision.
Four jurors in #JodiArias trial just walked out and into elevators. Smoke break? #FOX10
— Troy Hayden (@troyhaydenfox10) May 15, 2013
The deliberations are taking too long. Someone’s not agreeing with something…. #JodiArias
— Gina Fletcher (@ginafletcher) May 15, 2013
This jury hasn’t been hurried in anything they do — including the Arias death penalty decision.
[crime scene photo by Fer Gregory via Shutterstock ]