After a very emotional day in which Travis Alexander’s brother and younger sister read tearful victim impact statements in the penalty phase of the Jodie Arias trial, Judge Sherry Stephens abruptly dismissed the jury saying, “We are unable to proceed.”
Arias’ defense attorney, Kirk Nurmi opened the death penalty phase by putting forward a number of mitigating factors, reminding the jury that it is their decision alone that will determine whether his client will spend the rest of her life in jail or be sentenced to death. Among them were, Arias, then 27, when she stabbed Alexander to death, had no prior criminal history and that she had been a good friend. He also claimed Arias had suffered abuse and neglect as a child and as an adult, was a talented artist and desired to improve herself throughout her life.
Arias, who was found guilty of first degree murder in the brutal stabbing of Alexander in his home in June 2008, will address the jury, Nurmi said.
It is unclear if Arias would show genuine remorse, apologize to the Alexander family or beg the jury to spare her life.
Prosecutor Juan Martinez moved quickly to shoot down the mitigating factors that Nurmi presented, saying they are flawed, were of no importance and had no connection to Alexander’s murder.
“The defendant was 27-years-old, [but] there is no connection between that and her taking a knife and sticking it into Mr. Alexander’s chest,” said Martinez.
“The fact that she has no prior criminal history, what does this have to do with what happened on June 4, 2008,” Martinez continued.
But perhaps the day belonged to Steven and Samantha Alexander, two of Travis’ siblings who addressed jurors tearfully and with great emotion, through victim impact statements.
Steven told the court that Travis was his big brother and when he heard of his murder he “thought he was dreaming.”
“I thought my brother was bulletproof,” he said. “Who on earth would want to do this to him?” He also said he still has nightmares about someone coming after him with a knife and is now on antidepressants.
“I don’t want to have to see my brother’s murderer anymore,” Steven Alexander said.
Equally powerful and authentic was Samantha when she talked about how her brother’s murder had affected the entire family. She told the court that their grandmother who had raised Travis as a young boy, never recovered from the shock of his death. She passed away during jury selection, prior to the start of the trial, Samantha said.
“This tragedy has forever changed our lives,” she said. “Losing Travis has completely destroyed the overall health of our family.”
Samantha continued, “Travis was our strength, our constant beacon of hope. His presence has been ripped from our lives. Our lives will never be the same. Our lives were shattered when he died. We would give anything to have him back, anything.”
Judge Stephens informed that the penalty phase would resume next Monday, May 20th.
