Jury selection for Jodi Arias’ sentencing retrial phase will begin Sept. 8, 2014, announced Judge Sherry Stephens on Monday, March 17.
Arias was found guilty of first-degree murder in May, 2013, for the 2008 murder of her boyfriend, Travis Alexander. The jury failed to reach a unanimous decision on whether or not Arias should face the death penalty or life in prison for her crimes, and, under Arizona law, another jury must be selected for a sentencing retrial.
Jury selection for this sentencing retrial was originally scheduled to begin March 17, but was postponed due to a scheduling conflict. Prosecutor in the case, Juan Martinez, has another death-penalty case, that of Bryan Hulsey, going to trial on May 12. It was decided that Arias’ trial be postponed in a hearing presided by Criminal Judge Joseph Welty at Maricopa County Superior Court, the court that convicted Arias. The Hulsey capital murder case was reportedly given priority, as it is the oldest one awaiting trial.
In December, Judge Stephens banned all media from the sentencing retrial, declaring that the courtroom will be a Twitter-free zone and an electronic-free zone for the media. Arias’ trial was televised and watched my millions, creating a cultural phenomenon that captivated many. The sentencing retrial will be decidedly less present in the media; however, CNN has filed a motion to allow cameras in the courtroom. The motion will be considered at an upcoming hearing.
Should the retrial jury be unable to come to a unanimous decision, the death penalty will be ruled out completely and Judge Stephens will be left with the decision to sentence Arias to either life in prison or a natural life sentence with the option of release after 25 years.
– Olivia Truffaut-Wong
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