It is looking increasingly likely that the Jodi Arias penalty retrial will end with a hung jury, the same as the first trial.
Monica Lindstrom writes:
“It’s possible the jury could still reach a unanimous decision, although I think it’s unlikely. If they were deadlocked before the instruction I doubt that instruction did little to unlock them.”
Whatever the outcome, there are several factual issues that suggest the original guilt verdict will not stand:
1. Well informed trial observers (including Beth Karas) mostly agree the gunshot was first. Some say it doesn’t matter, but if the jurors believed Dr Horn the Medical examiner, they must have concluded Jodi’s testimony was false, a strong reason to believe she was guilty. If it was first, that would corroborate Jodi’s testimony, instead of contradicting it.
2. A witness implied Jodi lied about returning a gas can to Walmart, since she could not find a record of the return. However in the retrial, she testified she didn’t know if the records were intact after the store relocated in 2010. Why didn’t she check, or ask someone who knew?
3. A state witness testified there was no virus or pornography on Travis’ laptop computer. That would mean Jodi’s testimony was a lie, a fabricated story to make Travis look bad. However, we now know Jodi didn’t lie about this, Travis did access pornographic videos using his laptop, and there was a computer virus. This would have supported Jodi’s testimony, instead of contradicting it.
4. The jury were told of a gun stolen in Yreka a week before, which could have been the gun that shot Travis. However there was no proof Jodi stole it, this is very prejudicial, people might think it was too much of a coincidence.
5. It was not explained clearly to the jury that the ammunition stolen was hollow point – whereas the bullet that shot Travis was not. This is evidence that casts doubt on the stolen gun being the one that shot Travis.
Given these issues, the paradoxical nature of the State’s case, and the lack of any solid evidence to show that Arias’ testimony was false, the original verdict of 1st degree murder looks very likely to be overturned on appeal, especially if the defense can show Travis owned a gun, and Jodi did buy gas as she testified.
Many independent supporters believe that Jodi Arias was wrongly convicted.
[ Article based on a note first published here ]