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A video showing Jodi Arias testifying during her retrial hearing was released on Thursday. According to ABC News , during her testimony, Arias did express some remorse for murdering her boyfriend Travis Alexander.
The testimony was given behind closed doors because the convicted killer claimed she was receiving death threats. Her attorney claimed that because of the threats, she would not be able to publicly answer questions in a way “she truly means.” Her attorneys objected to the release of the video, but a judge overruled the objection.
During her testimony, Arias said it took her years to admit to herself that she had actually killed Alexander due to the way she committed the murder.
“Because what I did was so horrific, that I could never have imagined doing that to another human being.”
As reported by the Inquisitr , Arias, who became a media sensation because of the murder, initially blamed “masked intruders” for the stabbing death of Alexander.
According to FOX 10 News in Phoenix, Arias appeared to be crying at one point when she testified and she expressed a wish that she could go back in time and do that day over again.
“It’s revolting, I just look at that and think how stupid I was, I think what those lies put so many people through, I just wish, there are a lot of things I wish I could do it all again.”
Her defense team brought up her background and asked Arias about her disciplined upbringing. Some of her other relationships were also brought up during the filmed testimony.
The presiding judge over the retrial, Judge Sherry Stephens, had closed the courtroom during Arias’ testimony. Two days later, Stephens received orders from the Arizona Court of Appeals to stop the secret testimony. Arias opted not to address the jury again.
A mistrial was declared after the jury could not come to unanimous decision about whether to give Arias the death penalty. One juror held out and Stephens declared the jury hung.
Now the judge has to decide whether to sentence Arias to life in prison or give her the possibility of being paroled in 25 years. The judge’s decision will be made on April 13. In the meantime, Arias is being held in the Maricopa County Jail as she waits for the decision. She will be transferred to prison once she has been sentenced.
[Image courtesy of KPHO]