Now in the penalty phase of the trial for Jodi Arais, convicted of the murder of boyfriend Travis Alexander, Arais pleaded to the jury for a life sentence, despite previous requests for the death penalty.
The Los Angeles Times she begged jurors, explaining that begged jurors she “lacked perspective” when she said in an interview that she preferred execution to spending ‘the rest of her days in jail.’
While Arias has admitted to the murder and shown remorse for her actions, today the jury heard a tearful and emotional presentation as the defendant displayed family photographs and discussed her regret and mortification.
In discussing her previous statements of the death penalty as “the ultimate freedom, Arias said today, “Though I meant it, I lacked perspective. To me life in prison was the most unappealing outcome.… But as I stand here now, I cannot in good conscience ask you to sentence me to death because of them,” as she directed attention to her family members.
Still, the jury will have their work cut out for them in the this decision, as prosecutor Juan Martinez came back with a strong defense for the execution of Arias, displaying and describing the gruesome autopsy photo of Alexander's slit throat and reminding jurors “the cruelty of the crime,” according to USA Today.
Photo Courtesy of Twitpic