Convicted killer Jodi Arias will be allowed to represent herself in the sentencing phase of her capital murder trial.
On June 4, 2008, Arias attacked her boyfriend Travis Alexander, and ended up stabbing him repeatedly, slitting his throat and shooting him in the forehead at his Mesa, Arizona home.
Admitted killer Arias, 34, claimed she was acting in self-defense, but prosecutors were successful in convincing a jury that it was premeditated murder, brought on by a jealous rage after Alexander tried to end the affair.
The case was adapted for a 2013 Lifetime made-for-TV Original entitled Jodi Arias: Dirty Little Secret, starring actress Tania Raymonde. Here is a teaser trailer:
The murder received extensive media coverage, and there are hours of court proceedings, commentaries, interviews and other various detritus available surrounding the lurid case. Arias has clashed with her legal team throughout her trial, and her lawyers were denied after asking Judge Sherry Stephens to be dismissed from the case.
Arias, who received her GED in prison, will have her lawyers on hand in an advisory capacity, to help her traverse whatever ideas and concepts she might conjure in time for what will surely be a virtuoso performance as she takes the stand.
Apparently, Jodi has access to social media in prison, and had some words of wisdom:
"Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind." #JodiArias
— Jodi Arias (@Jodi_AnnArias) August 1, 2014
Other Twitter commentary regarding the latest courtroom development:
Dear Nancy Grace, your goat sacrifices worked. MT @Philip_Elliott Judge allows Jodi Arias to represent herself at death penalty trial.
— jon gabriel (@exjon) August 4, 2014
Travis, you'll be happy to know that #jodiarias is digging her own grave. You and your family can rest easily. Justice is coming
— Lauren (@ljohnson2006) August 4, 2014
#JodiArias — If JA acts as her own attorney, how many migraine headaches can she fake???? Public wants to know.
— love2swim1951 (@love2swim1951) August 4, 2014
Arias also set up the JAA Appellate Fund website, which accepts donations to pay for her appeals.
The sentencing trial is scheduled to begin Sept. 8. If the second jury is unable to make a unanimous decision, the death penalty would be off the table. The judge would then sentence Arias to life imprisonment, or to be eligible for release after 25 years.
Image via YouTube