Monthly Archives: June 2013

Transcript re: Sex Tape

Here are some of the more interesting points from this transcript. (The link to the entire transcript is at the bottom). (Thanks, NancyB!)

1. Here’s one thing we can all be thankful for: According to a comment by Willmott on page 12 there were 2 other recordings that weren’t played in court- they were Jodi singing.

 

2. Regarding the penis and breast pictures from her phone, (p. 6) Martinez: said: “Quite frankly I don’t think he (the expert witness) can distinguish those, to whose penis those are or whose breasts those are.” As we know now those pictures were allowed into the trial.

 

3. The bulk of this transcript is about the argument that what is in the tape will be asserted as fact. The defense argues it is not, but if you recall the trial all the fantasies Travis described in that tape were actually presented as fact- like the 12 year old comment, which was actually Travis describing Jodi’s voice sounding like a 12 year old, and the ‘tie you to a tree…’ comment- was said over and over and over again by both Nurmi and Willmott as if it was a fact. Here is the way the defense actually said they would present this evidence:

On page 6 is the first time Willmott asserts: “None of it (the sex tape) is for the truth of the matter asserted, we’re talking about the particular statements. So the statement that he’s going to come and stick it up wherever is not for the truth of whether he was actually going to do that. They’re not assertions.” On page 10 Martinez makes the comment: “In terms of the sexual knowledge, they’re offering it for the truth of the matter asserted. And their experts rely on it as truthful. Also they are being offered as to how Travis broke down Jodi’s boundaries sexually.”

On page 11- Willmott says: “So as it was with the ‘3 hole wonder’ conversation, we’re not putting it in evidence to prove or disprove that Ms. Arias was a quote, unquote ‘3 hole wonder.’ On page 12 Martinez continues to argue that the tape is being offered for the truth of the matter asserted. That regarding the things said on the tape ‘that’s what they want to do.’ Martinez goes on to say: “I don’t see how they can then make the argument later on and say, well, none of this was true. Their argument would then have to be, they never had anal intercourse. They never did any of that.” On page 13 Nurmi says that while Travis said those things “We’re not attempting to prove that he was going to do those things.” On page 14 Nurmi reiterates: “…we’re not using it to prove that he was going to actually do the things on the tape.”

Martinez then goes into the testimony of Dr. Samuels and how he asserts that Travis was ‘the only individual who had anal sex with the defendant. And this is proof of that. It is offered for the truth of the matter. Willmott counters with ‘Dr. Samuels is not considering whether  or not Travis was actually going to take Ms. Arias to the forest or whether he did take Ms. Arias to the forest.”

On page 17 Martinez Says Travis wasn’t going past her boundaries. “No he’s not. What he’s doing is he’s responding to her. And so it is being offered for the truth of the matter asserted. He’s not the aggressor, she is.” Both Wilmott and Nurmi respond: “That’s all for cross.” Martinez argues who can he cross? Ms. Arias or Travis? “Neither of which I have access to.” Willmott suggests he cross the doctors. Martinez: “I don’t want to cross the doctors. I want to cross the declarants which is what the rule is designed to allow me to do.”

Next (page 19) Martinez says Travis did not know he was being recorded. He and Nurmi argue the point.

“She (Jodi) can introduce it when she takes the stand.” On page 22 Nurmi says: “This is distinct form of self defense. And how he treated her is germane to that and not hearsay, not being offered for the truth of the matter asserted.”

Finally the judge decides she will have to listen to the tape to see whether or not it should be admitted.

4. Other arguments from the defense as to why the tape should be admitted were:

– On page 9 Nurmi argues the tape goes to ‘The way he treated her’, …degrades her opinion’ – showing a pattern of abuse.

– Willmott adds it ‘goes to his sexual knowledge.’

– On page14 Nurmi claims this is proof that while he was calling her a stalker he was having phone sex with her.

Link to entire transcript: http://www.azcentral.com/ic/pdf/0607arias-sex-tape-proceeding.pdf Thanks again, NancyB!

Arias Trial Transcripts

We are finally getting a glimpse of what was going on behind the scenes in the courtroom. During the testimony of Alyce LaViolette, Willmott was trying to get in an example of Travis telling Jodi he was going to kill himself and Martinez said: ““But the thing is that if Ms. Willmott and I were married, I certainly would say I F’g want to kill myself. That doesn’t mean I want to kill myself. It just means there’s a bad relationship and I want you to leave me alone.” (From an article by Michael Kiefer: http://www.azcentral.com/community/mesa/articles/20130605arias-trial-transcripts-juror-questions-unsealed.html?nclick_check=1z).

In a released transcript during an argument regarding hearsay evidence Martinez tells Willmott: “…maybe you ought to go back to law school.” Nurmi asks the judge to admonish Martinez for his statement about wanting to kill himself if married to Willmott and for the crack about going back to law school. The judge responds: “Council, I know some of this is tongue and cheek, some of it is just the stress of the trial, but let’s try to be as professional as possible when we have these bench conferences.” (Link to transcript: http://www.azcentral.com/ic/pdf/arias-april4-transcript-excerpt.pdf).

Thanks to NancyB for these links!

About Jodi’s Supporters

I am a big fan of Dr. Kristina Randle and would like to share her current post on Jodi’s supporters. I’ll try to entice you to check it out with this one sentence: “By definition, when you believe something to be true in spite of clear evidence to the contrary, you are mentally ill.” You may want to read the comments after the article as well there are several other impressive theories there.

Here’s the link:

http://kristinarandle.com/blog/jodi-arias-trial-how-do-you-explain-the-jodi-arias-supporters/#more-8122

 

Best Article on Jodi

Dr. Tara J. Palmatier has written an article on Arias that puts into words everything I am feeling. My favorite part of the article is about half way down, where she lists the ‘mitigators’ and comments on them- you know like the hair donation, teaching Spanish, recycling, book club…enjoy!

Here is the link:

http://www.shrink4men.com/2013/05/31/wtf-fatigue-jodi-arias/

More From Juror 8

In an article by Dan Schenek of HLN (dismissed) juror 8 recently made some comments regarding Jodi’s allocution. “I thought it was … kind of pathetic – the whole thing,” 52-year-old Daniel Gibb said.  “It was just more words coming out of her mouth — really nothing I guess surprised me too much.”
His reaction to the ‘Survivor’T-shirt? “I guess it went from a circus to a freak show when she held that T-shirt up and it said ‘Survivor’. It kind of made me think that, ‘She’s [the only] survivor in this whole thing.'”
About recycling? Gibb jokingly said, “I’d like to see her business plan on the recycling for the prison. It was all just kind of silly. None of that really carried any weight as far as I’m concerned, considering what she did.”
And on a more serious note: “I don’t know if she was allowed to address directly the Alexander family, but I would have liked to just see her apologize for what she did and take responsibility.”

Link to original article:

http://www.hlntv.com/article/2013/05/21/juror-8-jodis-statement-pathetic?hpt=icym_gr

 

Joran To Marry?

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Joran van der Sloot, twice arrested in the disappearance of Natalie Holloway, the 19 year-old student from Alabama, is said to be wed in June. Currently in a Peruvian jail for the murder of another student, Stephany Flores, Joran is serving a 28 year sentence. He blamed this murder on PTSD from being accused of the murder of Natalie.

His girlfriend, 22 year-ole Leydi Figueroa Uced has been regularly visiting him in Piedras Gordas prison. In October of last year Joran told the Dutch daily ‘De Telegraaf’ that she was pregnant. Apparently conjugal visits are allowed with those registered as ‘common law partners.’ By marrying a Peruvian he can apply for citizenship making it more difficult to extradite him back to America to face any charges.

Link to full article:

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/05/31/wedding-bells-for-natalie-holloway-suspect-joran-van-der-sloot.html

Arias Trial Date Changed?

According to azcentral.com Jennifer Willmott, one of Arias’ defense attorneys has  a conflict with the trial start date of July 18. This means it is likely the date will be pushed back. The Maricopa County Attorney, Bill Montgomery has stated: “Right now we are preparing for for trial…it would be irresponsible not to prepare, regardless of what final decisions are made.” Earlier Montgomery said that he would be willing to discuss options with the defense attorneys regarding resolving this case: “If they were to make an offer of resolution, I think I have an ethical responsibility to consider that.”