When Jodi Arias addresses the jury in her murder trial, the big question will be whether she pleads for mercy or repeats what she told FOX 10's Troy Hayden: She would rather be executed than serve life in prison.
When Jodi Arias addresses the jury in her murder trial, the big question will be whether she pleads for mercy or repeats what she told FOX 10's Troy Hayden minutes after her conviction: She would rather be executed than serve life in prison.
Defense attorneys for Jodi Arias asked the judge to remove them from the case and declare a mistrial Monday, arguing the frenzy surrounding the case has created a modern-day witch hunt.
Defense attorneys for Jodi Arias asked the judge to remove them from the case and declare a mistrial Monday, arguing the frenzy surrounding the case has created a modern-day witch hunt.
Jodi Arias is expected to testify Monday, as jurors try to decide whether she should live or die for killing Travis Alexander.
It's going to be up to the jury to decide if Jodi Arias should be sentenced to life in prison or given the death penalty. On Thursday, jurors heard from the family of Travis Alexander and next week, Arias will take the stand. FOX 10's Steve Krafft takes a look at the challenges the defense faces in saving her life.
Jurors deciding the fate of convicted murderer Jodi Arias were brought to tears Thursday, visibly shaken by dramatic statements from the victim's family members as they described how their lives were ripped apart.
Jurors deciding whether convicted murderer Jodi Arias will get the death penalty heard the victim's brother describe Thursday how he was hospitalized for ulcers, lost sleep and separated from his wife after his brother was killed.
Sheriff Joe Arpaio is responding to critics who said Jodi Arias has a "cushy" jail cell. He's giving the public a firsthand look at her living conditions.
Sheriff Joe Arpaio is responding to critics who said Jodi Arias has a "cushy" jail cell. He's giving the public a firsthand look at her living conditions.
Attorneys for Jodi Arias asked to step down from the case after their client was convicted of first-degree murder, but a judge denied the request, according to court minutes obtained Thursday.
Attorneys for Jodi Arias asked to step down from the case after their client was convicted of first-degree murder, but a judge denied the request, according to court minutes obtained Thursday.
Jurors in Jodi Arias' trial spent Wednesday deciding whether the former waitress should be eligible for the death penalty after they convicted her last week of murdering her lover. And it was a resounding yes.
Jurors in Jodi Arias' trial spent Wednesday deciding whether the former waitress should be eligible for the death penalty after they convicted her last week of murdering her lover. And it was a resounding yes.
Ever since her verdict and interview with FOX 10's Troy Hayden, Jodi Arias has been on suicide watch in isolation. She was unable to see guests during that period.
Ever since her verdict and interview with FOX 10's Troy Hayden, Jodi Arias has been on suicide watch in isolation. She was unable to see guests during that period.
The murder victim's friends are going online to try to create a law to prevent murder victim's names from being dragged through the mud.
The murder victim's friends are going online to try to create a law to prevent murder victim's names from being dragged through the mud.
By BRIAN SKOLOFF Associated Press
PHOENIX (AP) -- Jodi Arias testified Monday in her Arizona death penalty case that she chose to take the witness stand, despite knowing that prosecutors would chip away at her numerous lies to police and her efforts to cover her tracks to avoid being caught in the killing of her lover.
"Were you forced to testify?" defense attorney Kirk Nurmi asked Arias.
"No," she said.
"When you chose to testify, did you so do with the idea that the lies you told would be called into question?" Nurmi prodded.
"Yes," Arias said.
Arias, 32, is charged in the June 2008 killing of her lover in his suburban Phoenix home. She says it was self-defense, but police say she planned the attack on Travis Alexander in a jealous rage. Arias initially told authorities she had nothing to do with Alexander's death, then blamed it on masked intruders before settling on self-defense.
She is set to resume testimony on Tuesday.
Prosecutor Juan Martinez concluded his cross-examination of Arias last week after hammering her repeatedly over her lies and efforts to create an alibi immediately after she killed Alexander. She acknowledged that she dumped the gun in the desert, got rid of her bloody clothes, tried to clean the scene at Alexander's home and even left the victim a voicemail on his mobile phone within hours of killing him and dragging his body into the shower. She said she was too scared and ashamed to tell the truth.
Arias' attorney on Monday worked again to portray the victim as a sexual deviant who coerced Arias to fulfill his fantasies only to please him, replaying a recording of Arias and Alexander having phone sex.
"He had more sexual partners than I've had," Arias said.
However, text messages shown to jurors and recordings played in court during Arias' cross-examination appeared to indicate that she not only enjoyed some of the sexual encounters, but instigated them.
"It made me feel good to know he was enjoying himself," she said Monday.
Prosecutors are working to prove the attack on Alexander was a premeditated killing that deserves a first-degree murder conviction in order to secure a chance at the death penalty.
"Did you go to Mr. Alexander's home on June 4 with the intent on killing him?" Nurmi asked Arias on Monday.
"No, I didn't," she said. "That was never a thought."
Arias' grandparents had reported a .25 caliber handgun stolen from their Northern California home about a week before the killing -- the same caliber used to shoot Alexander -- but Arias says she never knew her grandfather had the weapon. Authorities believe she brought it with her, though she has testified she shot Alexander with his own gun as he chased her into his closet after body-slamming her and threatening to kill her.
"He was trying to kill me so I was defending myself," she said.
Alexander had also been stabbed and slashed 27 times and had his throat slit. His body was found by friends about five days later.
Arias has testified that in the months leading up to his death, Alexander had grown physically abusive and beat her on numerous occasions. However, no witnesses have testified and jurors have heard nothing to indicate that Alexander had ever shown violent behavior, and there has been no proof given that he owned a gun.
Arias told authorities repeatedly after her arrest that he didn't own a gun. That story changed after several years in jail when she admitted to the killing.
Arias has been on the witness stand for nearly two weeks. Once she concludes her testimony, jurors can pose questions to Arias via written notes provided to the judge, something allowed in Arizona criminal cases.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 1:15 PM EDT2013-05-21 17:15:24 GMT
An NYPD detective is accused of hacking into department computers and obtaining information about dozens of people including co-workers. Edwin Vargas was arrested Tuesday outside his home in Bronxville.
An NYPD detective is accused of hacking into department computers and obtaining information about dozens of people including co-workers.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 12:39 PM EDT2013-05-21 16:39:13 GMT
The MTA says limited service will resume this afternoon on Metro-North and Amtrak trains between New York and New Haven.
The MTA says limited service will resume this afternoon on Metro-North and Amtrak trains between New York and New Haven. Beginning with the 3:07 p.m. departure from Grand Central Terminal, Metro-North will operate about half of the regular eastbound PM peak service and regular hourly westbound service with the 4:23 PM train from New Haven. Repair work on tracks that were damaged in last week's train collision has progressed quickly, says the MTA.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 7:33 AM EDT2013-05-21 11:33:20 GMT
A New Jersey priest who resigned after admitting he worked unsupervised with kids despite a legal agreement that barred him from doing so is headed to court.
A New Jersey priest who resigned after admitting he worked unsupervised with kids despite a legal agreement that barred him from doing so is headed to court.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 7:23 AM EDT2013-05-21 11:23:53 GMT
The New York jury on which Caroline Kennedy served has acquitted a man of dealing crack cocaine. Kennedy was juror No. 7 at the trial of Harlem resident Nelson Chatman.
The New York jury on which Caroline Kennedy served has acquitted a man of dealing crack cocaine. Kennedy was juror No. 7 at the trial of Harlem resident Nelson Chatman.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 6:51 AM EDT2013-05-21 10:51:26 GMT
The Metropolitan Opera says it's decided to disband its resident ballet company.
The Metropolitan Opera says it's decided to disband its resident ballet company. The American Guild of Musical Artists said the eight remaining dancers of the Metropolitan Opera Ballet have accepted buyout packages.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 6:06 AM EDT2013-05-21 10:06:47 GMT
Looking for some waterfront property in tony Greenwich? A 50-acre compound known as Copper Beach Farm has hit the market with an asking price of $190 million.
Looking for some waterfront property in tony Greenwich? A 50-acre compound known as Copper Beach Farm has hit the market with an asking price of $190 million.
Jodi Arias in court 3/4/13
