Who is paying for the jodi arias trial

The body of Travis Alexander, 30, was found in a shower at his home. He had been stabbed 27 times, his throat was cut, and he had been shot in the face.

Arias says she acted in self-defense, but prosecutors said she murdered him in a jealous rage. The new jury of eight women and four men started hearing the sentencing phase retrial in October, then began six days of deliberations last week.

Under state statute, Stephens then had no choice but to sentence Arias to life in prison. She opted for natural life rather than life with possibility of release after 25 years. Facebook Twitter Email. Michael Kiefer The Republic azcentral. Share your feedback to help improve our site!

Trial is set for March The former waitress and aspiring photographer has been held in jail in Maricopa County awaiting her fate while her legal bills continue to mount. Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery has refused to provide a tally of how much it has cost to prosecute the case, citing a court order that attorneys not discuss Arias-related matters.

Arias admitted she killed her boyfriend, Travis Alexander, in at his suburban Phoenix home but claimed it was self-defense. He suffered nearly 30 knife wounds, had his throat slit and was shot in the forehead in what prosecutors argued was premeditated murder carried out in a jealous rage when Alexander wanted to end their affair. The case captured headlines worldwide and became a cable television staple with its tales of sex, lies and a brutal killing while every minute of the trial was broadcast live.

This time around, the judge will be limiting media coverage in hopes of avoiding the same publicity. There will be no live video coverage of the second penalty phase, and electronic devices will be banned, meaning reporters won't be able to provide real-time updates via Twitter as occurred during her first trial.

Under Arizona law, while her murder conviction stands, prosecutors have the option of putting on a second penalty phase with a new jury. If the second panel fails to reach a unanimous decision, the death penalty will automatically be removed from consideration, and the judge will sentence Arias to spend her entire life behind bars or be eligible for release after 25 years. Copyright The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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