Ariz. woman charged in lover's slaying describes abusive childhood
PHOENIX (AP) - The woman at the center of a sensational murder trial in Phoenix took the witness stand Monday, telling jurors how she endured an abusive childhood at the hands of her parents and contemplated suicide after the killing.
The decision by defense lawyers to put Jodi Arias, 32, on the stand was a surprise move in a case that has become a daily fixture on cable news with its story of sex, betrayal and violence.
Arias is charged with killing her lover in 2008 in what prosecutors describe as a jealous rage as she stabbed and slashed Travis Alexander 27 times and shot him in the head. Arias claims it was self-defense against an abusive boyfriend.
In a soft-spoken voice, Arias calmly described how an idyllic childhood in California turned abusive when she was about 7 years old. She said her parents beat her with belts and wooden spoons, and the abuse later escalated into shoving her into furniture and slapping her in the face for misdeeds such as sneaking out of the house.
Her mother sat in the front row of the courtroom and showed no emotion as Arias described her childhood.
She also said she made false statements early in the investigation about not being at the scene of the crime because she planned to commit suicide and never have a trial.
"At the time, I had plans to commit suicide. So I was extremely confident that no jury would convict me because I didn't expect any of you to be here," Arias said. "I planned to be dead."
The decision by defense lawyers to put Jodi Arias, 32, on the stand was a surprise move in a case that has become a daily fixture on cable news with its story of sex, betrayal and violence.
Arias is charged with killing her lover in 2008 in what prosecutors describe as a jealous rage as she stabbed and slashed Travis Alexander 27 times and shot him in the head. Arias claims it was self-defense against an abusive boyfriend.
In a soft-spoken voice, Arias calmly described how an idyllic childhood in California turned abusive when she was about 7 years old. She said her parents beat her with belts and wooden spoons, and the abuse later escalated into shoving her into furniture and slapping her in the face for misdeeds such as sneaking out of the house.
Her mother sat in the front row of the courtroom and showed no emotion as Arias described her childhood.
She also said she made false statements early in the investigation about not being at the scene of the crime because she planned to commit suicide and never have a trial.
"At the time, I had plans to commit suicide. So I was extremely confident that no jury would convict me because I didn't expect any of you to be here," Arias said. "I planned to be dead."
Is she legal? got to ask every one with last name thats spanish sneak over like rats.
Psychopath and liar. Other than what can be proven by others, I just wouldn't believe most of what she says. Guess this friend with benefits didn't work out so well.
@Pollywannacracker Unfortunately, I have to agree. I can understand, but not condone, a "crime of passion", but she's lied so often about this situation that it's hard to take anything she says without about a pound of salt. No, what we have here is a nice, straightforward first-degree murder, with a significant amount of pre- and post-planning. At the least, she needs to be in prison for the rest of her natural life, so that the rest of society can breathe just a little bit easier. The death penalty? Perhaps, but that's a whole 'nother can of worms - I'm not averse to it, however.
....... I took a fair amount of abuse as a kid too, so what!!?? I don't go about killing people over it! Know what I did? The exact opposite of what my parents did. My kids are happy, healthy, normal kids. If you're being abused by, say, a husband and were still IN that situation, I could see killing them is the abuse is so heavy you can't take it anymore, but that is a crime of passion. You would still deserve time unless your life was threatened. What a loser! She's not ugly, so I remind the younger men on here to remember to be careful!! Never know what psycho you'll end up with!Â
 @PhunkyMunky She is extremely ugly underneath her skin.
 @Furd Not arguing that. But... Looks can deceive. A cute gal you met at the club/wherever could very well turn out to be psycho, and often does for many. It's just that most of them don't kill over it, instead they slash your tires, call you all hours of the night 3 years after you dumped her, etc.Â
@PhunkyMunky @Furd It is pretty simple. How a gir/lady/woman treats her friends and other woman is how she'll treat you.
I am yet another that was slapped, belted, hit, kicked and otherwise physically abused as a child but also have never killed anyone. We are not a minority of people in our age group and even younger. People need to be held accountable for their actions, she needs to be convicted.
I had much worse abuse than that as a child, and didn't grow up to murder anyone. I knew what was done to me was wrong, but I also know what it still wrong - and murder is!Â
Abuse? Belts & wooden spoons? Slapping her in the face? That wasn't called abuse when I was young, it was called discipline. Let me tell you what... I deserved it too. I have never killed anyone, nor would I use those instances as an excuse.
I've been watching the news on this story somewhat. This girl is a straight up liar. She changed her story multiple times. First, she told the cops she didn't kill Alexander. 2 robbers supposedly entered his house and held her at gunpoint while they killed him. Then, she changed her story and said she did kill Alexander but out of self-defense. After reports came back, they found that Alexander had tried to fight back. After he was shot in the head, he was still alive so Arias slashed his throat from ear to ear and stabbed him 27 times.
Self defense? Are you freakin kidding me? If she was defending herself for some reason, why didn't she escape the house after she shot him in the head and he was immobilized?
Also, these two were not a couple at the time. They were ex's. Arias found out that Alexander was going to Mexico with his new girlfriend. She got jealous, killed him, and honestly she deserves the death penalty. Being jealous is one thing but to kill someone brutally because of it?
If you watch her on TV, she's very deceptive and comes across as a sweet, attractive woman. I really hope they don't let her off because of her 'act'.
@Koreanman012 They were both stupid to continue sleeping together. Unless she was a prostitute, most women are not sleeping with a man for the heck of it.
Dang this one could F%$# you up if you picked her up at a bar. Not too bad on the eyes but then she is stabbing you and shooting you. Hey, not what I signed up for!!! This one needs to be taken out of the public. She has the looks that can kill, the knife that can kill and the gun that can kill.
"...she stabbed and slashed Travis Alexander 27 times and shot him in the head. Arias claims it was self-defense against an abusive boyfriend."
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I could maybe believe this was self defense if she herself was grievously injured afterwards. If not, what exactly was she defending herself against that she had to stab him 27 times and shoot him in the head? As for being abused by her parents (and I love the fact that her mother was sitting right there), what did the murder victim have to do with any of that?
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I don't think much of her chances for acquittal.
Oh please. Being abused as a child is no excuse for MURDERING someone, much less someone whom you are in a relationship with. And if what is described is her example of abuse, then there are those much more abused who never abuse themselves. She "planned to commit suicide"....what a sham. She didn't, because she's still sitting in the courtroom. She wants to get off on a murder charge because she knows the "battered woman defense" is worth more than its weight in gold. She's a liar and a killer and she should be locked away so no other people have to suffer at her hands.
@dg54321 I not saying they are all like this, but many defense attorneys coach their clients in exactly what to say to sway a jury.
@dg54321 Well said and I completely agree.