The Jodi Arias Trial--Fatal Attraction – The Murder of Travis Alexander

[heartbreaker6713]

It's my understanding that surrebuttal is a component of the process, but I don't think surrebuttal witnesses are used commonly. They're controversial because some see them as giving the defense an unfair second chance to try to change up/fix their failures in the trial as the case draws closer to jury deliberation. I would think a judge would be more inclined to grant a surrebuttal witness request in a death penalty case because the stakes are so high. This is all just to the best of my understanding, which is limited.

I think the judge has done a fair job in hearing everything out and making a record of it as stated by others to preserve the record for appeals sake but i don't think there will be much for appeals.

does anyone see reason for appeal?

There is an automatic appeals process for death penalty convictions; there are almost always a lot of issues in the appeal docs (that doesn't many any of them are valid).

I agree that the judge has been doing a good job of addressing defense motions/issues in a manner that will minimize those issues being successfully argued in favor of appeal; the appellate judge will see that the issues were appropriately handled and resolved by the trial judge and don't merit overturning the verdict or granting a new trial.


TODAY'S REBUTTAL WITNESSES:

Love that Martinez called Travis's friend Jacob Mefford and showed, via Jacob's videos/photos and witness account, how very public Jodi and Travis were in terms of public affection at PPL events; no secret. (My mom and sister are here for a visit; we unanimously voted him our favorite witness so far. Direct, quick, and kinda cute).

So far, the Salinas Walmart clerk is doing a good job demonstrating that it's highly unlikely Arias could have returned the third gas can without it being reflected in the Walmart records.

I apologize that i wasn't more clear. I was aware that there is an automatic appeal process. I guess what i am not clear on or don't understand is that since there is an automatic appeal process, does that mean she is automatically granted that appeal or does there need to be a reason. Meaning does she get a new trial, i guess not because that would mean every person gets two trials on death row. How does that work? can someone explain that process possibly in an easy way?

Would the judge be so careful with all her decisions if it weren't a death penalty case? It is interesting to look back at the decisions and see she is being very open with time and hearing a lot of motions and taking many things in chambers. I wonder if she feels that this will go towards a death penalty and maybe she is crossing her t's and dotting her i's to be sure. Has anyone looked into her past cases to see if she is always this careful?

On the Walmart witness i was definitely pleased with this witness. i do have a couple comments on this. I was surprised that the defense didn't cross on at least something. And that leads me to the second comment that someone didn't at least ask the process of what is the return process if you don't have the receipt with you. Because yes the receipt is in evidence but what if she tried to return the gas can claiming she didn't have a receipt.

I guess i expected the defense to cross but if she is caught in a lie then she is caught in a lie, again. But the point i made about no receipt could have been asked to cause at least some doubt perhaps and that wasn't asked. And then it wasn't asked by the prosecution to erase any doubt because as i watched i was thinking to myself what about with no receipt why aren't you talking about that. Maybe the didn't talk about it because the receipt is there but given that it is proven she lies and is manipulative i would cover every base i could if it meant only a couple more questions.

I have returned things to Walmart without a receipt and while the process is somewhat similar it is possible to return it without a receipt and there would be no circles or lines or initials on there. There would be documentation if it was done correctly on Walmarts part. However the difference i encountered was that i was informed that i could only return things to Walmart a total of three times in a time of 12 months without a receipt as was there policy and i needed to use my i.d. You also didn't get cash back it was put back on a gift card from Walmart. and not returned on your debit card or any other form. Another little piece of information if you don't have your receipt the price they give you is the lowest price of that item that they've had as an ad i believe they had in the last so many days, i think it was 90 days because without a receipt they have no idea how much you paid for the item even with a price tag on it, the price tag won't ring up if it was on sale.

I will say when i went to a different store called Kohls' and i had a return for something i bought 6 months, packed because i moved threw it into storage unpacked and lost a ton of weight so it didn't fit with tags still on it so i wanted to see if i could return it because honestly no one i know would be able to wear it. They actually were able to swipe my debit card and find the purchase on my debit card. I was able to choose whether i wanted it back on my debit card or cash. Now i am sure that stores are different and have different software, etc. so i don't expect each store to be the same but it is definitely interesting how stores can look information up now days.