There is a settlement hearing scheduled for October 24th where a retired judge and the attorneys from both sides will sit and discuss a settlement. This could be the end of the case. I have a link to a short video with Jeff Gold, an attorney who has been in Arizona on this case, going over the possibilities. Very interesting.
Yes, judge Stephens has postponed this coming Monday’s pretrial hearing until October 4. Will this ever end?
Thanks @WitchyTweets for the link:
Photo of Nurmi and Arias- courtesy ABC News
Today the defense filed yet another motion to move the trial out of Phoenix. They said a fair and Impartial jury can’t be found in Maricopa County due to the “plethora of unrestrained and bombastic coverage of the previous proceedings.” Sounds like Kirk Nurmi is on a mission to add more ‘pennies to his kettle’ (Juan Martinez quote). Other recent motions include wanting the Twitter account info of the jurors and restricting cameras in the court. Hopefully these motions, and the date of the retrial of the penalty phase will be addressed on September 16. I won’t hold my breathe.
Link to article: http://www.azcentral.com/community/mesa/articles/20130827jodi-arias-change-venue-motion-brk.html
In court this morning judge Stephens once again pushed back the date to set a retrial for the penalty phase- it is now set for September 16th. Apparently the judge wants to read over the motions first. The motions are about getting the Twitter handles of the jurors and not allowing cameras in the courtroom. According to Jeffrey Gold, esq., the Twitter request may be allowed but to eliminate the cameras would “Be acknowledging error.” As usual we will have to wait and see.
(Thanks to Twitter- @jeffgoldesq and @WildAboutTrial for the info)
Jodi’s Defense Attorneys have filed more motions regarding keeping cameras out of the courtroom. They cite the death threats aimed at their witnesses as the problem. (Though, if you recall, the lovely ‘Pot-Head Patti’ admitted there were no death threats.). They also want to get the twitter addresses of the jurors to make sure they are not manipulated by media- they imply that the alternate juror, Tara K., was on Twitter during the trial. From what I saw of her account I believe she started it AFTER the trial. She was new to Twitter. (Of course, as we all know Jodi is on Twitter). Oh, and of course, they still want to delay the rest of this trial. Will it ever end? Stay tuned–we have her in court this coming Monday morning at 8:30 a.m. Arizona time! Here is a link to the article, provided by my favorite Twitter source- @WitchyTweets (thanks!): http://www.kpho.com/story/22848146/judge-sets-another-hearing-before-penalty-phase-of-jodi-arias-trial
Today Andrea Sneiderman was convicted of 9 out of 13 charges including hindering the apprehension of a criminal and perjury. Sneiderman was initially charged with the murder of her husband, but those charges were dropped. Judge Adams will sentence her tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. She may serve anywhere from 1- 60 + years in prison.
Link to article: http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Latest-News-Wires/2013/0819/Andrea-Sneiderman-guilty-of-perjury-in-preschool-murder-case
Today Judge Stephens denied the motion to toss the Death Penalty in the Arias murder case. Remember the defense had a problem with the language ‘especially cruel?’ Well, it didn’t work. We are now waiting on the August 26th hearing to set a start date for the penalty phase of the trial. Arias has already been convicted of first degree murder in the brutal killing of Travis Alexander. That jury was unable to reach a verdict on her penalty. In the following link (article from Arizona paper) they mention the judge wants to begin the Penalty Phase in September. I hope she sticks to it!
Thanks to @WitchyTweets (on twitter) for the heads up and the link!
Josh Young’s father (Big Josh) made an appearance in court today. He was defiant and swore throughout his testimony. He justified the brutal murder of 14 year old Trey Zwicker saying that it was like in the bible (an eye for an eye) as Trey’s mother had aborted his child. He also said that he had no help in the murder, implying that his son, Little Josh, had nothing to do with it. Of course this is another story as he said before that Little Josh had indeed participated, in fact he said Little Josh had said he hated his stepbrother and after the murder ‘slept just fine.’ Little Josh admitted to killing Trey to at least two people. Big Josh is serving life in prison for the crime.
Today the judge in the Brett Seacat trial sentenced him to 31 years and 3 months for the murder of his wife, Vashti. Seacat had a few things to say:
He blamed Vashti’s father for her ‘suicide.’
“You are going to hell for what you have done in this case.” (To the judge).
“I will step aside and let you have your day, you purchased it with your soul.” (To judge).
The judge responded:
“You live in some bizarre alternate reality.”
“You didn’t even show remorse that Vashti is no longer n this earth.”
“I don’t intend to show any mercy; you didn’t show Vashti any mercy.”
When the house was burning down around her body (set by Brett) he did manage to get the two young boys (and himself) out alive.
For more go to: http://www.ksn.com/2013/08/05/brett-seacat-sentenced-in-wifes-death/
Jury selection is underway in the Trial of Andrea Sneiderman. Unfortunately all the serious charges have been dropped. She was originally charged with the murder of her husband, Rusty. Her boss at the time, Hemy Neuman shot and killed Rusty at his child’s day care center. The theory was that she was having an affair with Newman (she denies this) and wanted Rusty dead. Newman is in jail for his murder, but after claiming Barry White and Olivia Newton John told him to kill Rusty he has been found not competent to be involved in this trial. The really interesting part to me is once her husband was dead and Newman in jail, Andrea got together with her other lover, Joseph Dell. She also stands to get $2 mil from insurance. I have a link for more information if you are interested:
mixedbagblogdotcom 