The long-running effort by prosecutors to punish Jodi Arias for killing her lover nearly seven years ago is drawing to a close.
The jury deciding whether she should be sentenced to life in prison or death row is expected to begin deliberations Wednesday after closing arguments after a lawyer for Arias makes a final plea to the jury.
The start of closing arguments Tuesday featured dueling images from the defense and prosecution that portrayed the case in much different lights. The defense showed happy photos of Arias from her childhood and time with victim Travis Alexander. The prosecutor showed gruesome crime-scene photos of the victim’s slit throat.
–
A higher court halted the testimony on its second day amid complaints from news organizations.
The sentencing retrial revealed few new details about the crime and was more subdued than Arias’ first trial, which turned into a media circus. At the retrial, the judge barred the broadcast of footage from the proceedings until after a verdict is reached. She did, however, agree to allow live broadcast coverage of the sentencing verdict.
Arias passed up a chance Monday to address the jury, saying she wanted to make such comments but insisting the courtroom be cleared. She said she wouldn’t make any remarks if she could be seen and heard from a remote viewing room.
