Jodi Arias hearing in Phoenix could decide sentencing retrial date
PHOENIX -- Twitter, the news media and a date for the retrial of the sentencing phase are among the topics up for discussion when an Arizona judge on Monday holds a hearing in Jodi Arias’ case.
Arias was convicted May 8 of first-degree murder in the stabbing and shooting death of boyfriend Travis Alexander in his suburban Phoenix home. About two weeks later, the same jury failed to reach a unanimous decision on her sentence.
A new jury tentatively was to be impaneled sometime in late September to decide whether Jodi Arias should be sentenced to death or life in prison.
Judge Sherry Stephens of Maricopa County could set a date for that sentencing retrial as well as rule on various motions.
Those include a defense request to allow lawyers to monitor the Twitter accounts of new jurors who aren’t supposed to communicate.
The defense also wants to prohibit or limit live media coverage of the sentencing retrial.
Arias claimed the killing was self-defense. Prosecutors argued it was premeditated murder. Joe Arpaio, the Maricopa County sheriff, has said that Arias will remain in his custody at Estrella Jail until the judicial system renders a final determination in her case.
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