Jodi Arias Trial Update News 2015: Prosecution Rests Its Case in Death Penalty Trial, Arias Will Be Able to Directly Plea for Life to Jury
The prosecution in the Jodi Arias death penalty sentencing retrial rested its case on Thursday, signaling that an end to the high profile trial may soon be near.
Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Sherry Stephens told jurors to expect to continue reporting to the courthouse until the end of February since there could be testimony from rebuttal witnesses as late as Feb. 26, according to The Associated Press.
Judge Stephens also launched an investigation to explore allegations that three court watchers racially taunted an expert on the Arias defense team, reports KPHO.
On Wednesday, defense attorney Kirk Nurmi told the judge that three people began singing the popular Mexican song "La Cucaracha" while their mitigation specialist Maria De La Rosa walked by them on Monday.
The sentencing retrial, which is currently in the mitigation stage, is set to resume on Wednesday. During this phase, the defense team will have another opportunity to persuade the jury not to sentence the convicted killer to death due to different mitigating factors, reports USA Today.
The defense will also bring back two psychologists who have already testified in the trial about the relationship Arias had with the victim, Travis Alexander. In addition, they will likely bring back computer experts to testify about the pornography found on Alexander's computer.
Following the last witnesses, Arias will be allowed to address the jury directly and offer a plea for her life. Both sides will then end with a closing argument before the jury begins deliberating a life in prison or death sentence.
Although Arias was found guilty of first-degree murder in May 2013 in the death of her ex-boyfriend, jurors failed to reach a unanimous decision on her sentencing. As a result, the retrial will determine whether she should be sentenced to death, life in prison or life with a chance of release after serving 25 years.
According to medical examiners, Arias stabbed Alexander 27 times, primarily in the back, torso and heart in his Phoenix home. She also slit Alexander's throat from ear to ear, nearly decapitating him, and she shot him in the face before she dragged his bloodied corpse to the shower and took pictures of him.
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