Dr. Samuels vs. Juan Martinez

1. JM brought up the different scores the Dr. had on his PDS. Test. He says he re-did the scoring while he was in Palm Springs and he did not have the original score sheet with him and this was not intended for publishing. (The scores were different). JM calls him ‘sloppy’ the Dr. syas the criteria was met either way.
2. JM asks if he re-scored the MCMI also- he says: “No”.  Then JM brings out another test and the Dr. has to agree there was a second scoring.
3. JM brings up the criteria for PTSD, the D section.  He points out PTSD means Post or after the event.  D1 is about difficulty sleeping. D2 is about anger/outbursts.  JM points out JA (Jodi Arias) has had these before the event, and the Dr. is basing this upon a few phone calls to her Mom also based on just her word.  However JM gets in that she was very angry with her mom in her teens and hit and kicked her Mom for no reason. The Dr.says it got worse after the event (again based on JA’s word, JM points out she is a proven liar).
4.  D3- difficulty concentrating- apparently reading was one example- but JM points out she read the Book of Mormon cover to cover the Dr. says he wasn’t privy to that testimony. Again JM points out this is based on her word. JM points out she also re-read her Journals beginning to end…and does that call this into doubt- Dr. says No. The second example from the Dr. is her trouble with staying on images when she is trying to relax. He does say something about it being difficult because she is in (a loud) jail and JM jumps on this, as it would not then be related to the trauma. JM points out that she had no trouble sleeping though. (Plays a recording with the Dr. actually saying this).
5. D4-hypervigilance-Dr. says she had trouble sleeping. He does say something about it being difficult because she is in (a loud) jail and JM jumps on this, as it would not then be related to the trauma. JM points out that she had no trouble sleeping though. (Plays a recording with the Dr. actually saying this). Also she felt her personal space was invaded and the sounds and lights were intensified. JM pointed out that could be because it’s her first time in jail. The Dr. admits she had no startle response, but based on his opinion she still meets the criteria.
6. C7- foreshortened future.  Dr. bases this on her talking to him about suicidal thoughts, though he adds she never had a plan. JM points out according to her Journals she was suicidal three other times- in High School, with Matt and in 2007, all before June 4^th.JM also gets the Dr. to admit she has never been on suicide watch and this is all based on her word.
7. C6- flat affect. Dr. based this on his conversations with her, that when talking about emotional charged events she lacked the corresponding emotions.JM points out in many of her interview- like with the detective and 48hrs she was smiling, laughing and giggling.  The Dr. said it was when describing the crime she had a flat affect. He brings up she made up an alternate universe during the interviews and JM pointed out an ‘alternate universe’ is just another lie. The Dr. said: “in your words”.  The Dr. maintains this universe was a psychological way to dis-associate from the truth.
8. C5- detachment from others. The Dr. says she is not tuned in to to what’s around her. JM asks about personal relationships. He says she was detached from other cellmates and people in the jail. JM points out this could be as it is her first time in jail. The Dr. says that is ‘your conclusion.’
9. JM brings up the original report submitted that did not have enough criteria to establish PTSD.  The Dr. claims the omissions are just a typo.

10. C3- inability to recall an important aspect of the trauma.  The Dr. points to the amnesia. JM asks if the fog restricts her recall and the Dr. says yes. JM brings up the Dr.’s meteorite/crater explanation (the meteorite being the stressor and the crater being the PTSD) and points out Jodi has no ‘crater’ that can be measured- no way to see inside her brain to find something wrong. The Dr. argues a bit and finally admits it can’t be measured.

Afternoon Session:

1. C2- JA did not have.
2. C1- persistent avoidance of anything associated with the trauma.

JM asks what efforts she took to avoid.  The Dr. says her story (ninjas) was an avoidance technique. JM points out that it was a lie.  The Dr. says it’s a defense mechanism. JM asks: “It is a story?” Dr. “Yes.” JM list the following a as things which show she did not avoid the trauma: The 20 irises to the Grandma, went on 48 hrs twice to discuss the crime, talked with Leslie about her and Travis’s kids playing together, sent a letter to the family, e-m’s to Travis right after the death writing about Travis over and over in her Journal up til the arrest, attending the memorial, driving by the crime scene (I can’t believe he got that in!).  The Dr. fought him on every point saying she was in denial that she did it so she was acting like she didn’t do it.

1. JM went over the idea that the trauma wasn’t different according to the Dr.  between a Cop, a war vet and JA.
2. JM gets in that JA was trying to stage the scene ‘is what she told us.’ The Dr. says that is not what she told me.
3. JM points out that in the e-mail with the ‘3 salacious words’ Travis also said to her he was just a ‘dildo with a heartbeat.’  JM gets the Dr. to agree this sounds like Travis was used for sex.
4. JM gets the Dr. to admit in ‘flight or fight’ after the winner is determined it is over.  (Unlike this case).
5. JM straight out accuses the Dr. of not being objective.  The Dr. says he is trained in empathy. They go back and forth.
6. JM points out that he is supposed to also be trained in accuracy. The Dr. said: “Well absolutely.” But JM brought up all his errors on the test scores- The Dr. still says it was typos.
7. JM ends by saying the Dr. has ‘lost objectivity’ and the Dr. (loudly) states back : “Absolutely not!”

JW (defense) /the Dr.:

1. Goes back to the ‘dildo with a heartbeat’ comment and asks the Dr. after hearing the sex tape if he felt Travis was being abused and he said no.
2. JW goes over the avoidance of things regarding the trauma, like the irises, the Memorial and the nice Journal entries about Travis and the Dr. syas it’s all about avoidance.
3. She goes into the suicides and tries to get in the letters again, and has the Dr. explain at length what happens to someone under a suicide watch in jail. (As a reason JA never told the Dr. about her actual attempts).
4. JW talks about the clip JM played about her ability to fall asleep and now points out she had to take tranquilizers for 6-8 months first.
5. Back to the PDS scoring again…Dr. says despite the different numbers the criteria is still met.

Jury questions: (paraphrased)

1. In your practice do you offer patients books for free?  Yes.
2. Have you viewed any media re: this case? I have avoided any contact.
3. Did JA tell you about buying a gun? No.
4. A plan with a razor? No.
5. What’s the difference between covering up and an alternate universe? Covering up is creating an alibi and an alternate universe is a defense mechanism.

JW (defense)/The Dr:

1. Defense mech. is part of alt universe- yes. Helps with dealing with acute stress. When JA finally told the real story how did she feel? …a weight was lifted.”
2. JW goes into why JA wouldn’t have mentioned the suicide attempts- due to the harsh actions at the jail under suicide watch.
3. Has he given books to patients? Yes…

JM /The Dr:

1. JM takes him to task for all of a sudden knowing so much about what the jail does re-suicides.  He actually corrects the Dr. at one point for having the name of the jail JA is in wrong. He also h=goes back into the Dr. previously saying he gave her the book because she was ‘suicidal’.  The Dr. denies it.
2. They go back and forth over the self help books being therapy or evaluation. JM says: They’re not for assessment?  Dr: “No.”
3. JM says: “Covering up involves not telling the truth?” Dr.…”Yes.”

NEW WITNESS: Dr. Alyce LaViolette (and JW-defense)

Basically going over education and Credentials.  Some ‘highlights’:

1. School in NJ, then AZ, the Ca.  Has a Masters.
2. Worked in a battered women’s shelter and soon started a men’s group (for the batterers)- a new concept at that time.
3. Other work: Volunteer work, training, churches, child custody, Domestic Violence, lawyers, speaking engagements from high school to representing the State Department in several countries.
4. Has her own practice in Ca since 1984 where she counsels singles, couples and groups.
5. Has been a key note speaker many times.
6. Has won several awards, including Lifetime Achievement Award.
7. Published the book: It Could Happen to Anyone” about why women go back to abusers.  This is used as a text in many schools.  She has also written many articles.
8. She has also done a lot of forensic work (in the courts as consultant and as expert witness). She has worked for both the Defense and the Prosecution.
9. She has been involved in legislation.

Court begins again tomorrow at 10:30.