Options are limited when someone is accused of murder. Total denial (“I know nothing about it”); deflecting the blame (“I was there, but someone else did it”) or self-defense (“I did it to save myself”) are all decent strategies – but not simultaneously. Jodi Arias, currently on trial for the murder of her ex-boyfriend Travis Alexander, has tried all three.
When she was initially suspected of killing Alexander, in June 2008, Arias told police she wasn’t anywhere near the crime scene in Mesa, Arizona, when Alexander was killed. Then, she changed her story. Oops – she was there, but two burglars broke in and murdered Alexander, and she escaped with her life, she said.
Finally, she arrived at a third story, the one she’s telling at her high profile murder trial happening now:
Arias admits she killed Alexander, but claims it was in self-defense.
“Mark my words, no jury will convict me,” Arias told the TV show Inside Edition before her trial began last month. (Like many criminal defendants, she had the right to remain silent, but not the ability.)
Photos of Arias and Alexander having sex, and of Alexander’s dead body, have been introduced in court, and the media has jumped on the salacious, graphic testimony at the trial so far. Alexander’s ex-girlfriend testified that Alexander had cheated on her. Jodi Arias herself has taken the witness stand and described the “Bill Clinton” sex she says she and Alexander engaged in, which she claims Alexander said would not violate his Mormon oath of chastity.
I’ve analyzed this case on various television shows, and my view is that the titillating details have distracted us all from the most outrageous aspect of the case: based on the testimony so far, Jodi Arias appears to be lying about being a battered woman. As I write, she is still on the stand, and there remains a possibility that she will have some surprise, earth-shattering testimony or evidence to back up her current story, that Alexander attacked her and she killed him only to save her own life. But so far, a month into the trial, not a scintilla of evidence has been introduced to support that claim.
Domestic violence is a real, urgent problem in America. Victim’s rights and women’s advocates have struggled for decades to raise consciousness on the issue. And every time someone lies about being a battered woman, that work is undermined. Faking victimhood is shameful, a slap in the face to true victims.
Jodi Arias could face the death penalty if convicted, so I’m willing to wait until all the evidence is in and the jury has spoken before reaching to any conclusions. She’s entitled to put on a full and fair defense.
But so far, she has yet to prove her central claim in the case – the one it took her three stories to tell to the police.
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not necessarily those of Avvo.com.
10 comments
Dekester1
I recall that Jodi Arius was answering a jurors question, or at least talking to the jury in answer to an attorney's question, that she received training in how to answer questions as a part of her job training or education. Somehow, that statement by her never received any attention by HLN commentators or anyone else. See if you can find her statement and shine a light on it.
Dekester1a in Webster
Sharon
I do not believe Jodi Arias was a "battered woman" in the true definition of the word. I believe that she MAY have been kicked or slapped. I am not saying that's okay but it doesn't equate to "battered woman syndrome" in my book. I don't believe Jodi Arias for one major reason. Anyone who commits a crime could panic and make up a story. When the story: I wasn't there...I don't know anything about this etc. doesn't work, someone who was truly afraid for their life, who defended themselves would not just make up another story...they would just tell the truth.
Taffeta
I am an ex emotionally battered girlfriend. At 19 years old, I believed that no one would believe me even if I went to someone. I had a broken collar from being thrown on a bed stand, I had a black eye from being backhanded for looking at a waiter, and
had a swollen face from being caught trying to call the front desk while at a
hotel. I told NO ONE! The fear was so bad I thought I had to love him because I
was the only one that could give him what he needed. I lied to cover all the bruises for 6 YEARS! Had I had a chance one night I would probably killed this man in his sleep so I could get away from his emotional kidnapping is what I call it. My mother saw what was happening but hekept me from family members and made friends with those that I worked for. I was poor, he was rich. I finally broke free by causing him enough grief that he stopped trying to keep me.I'm lucky I didn't die.
It took months before I would tell my story. To this day, people say he was so funny and
kind and generous NO, HE Was not! He was very intelligent. Just like Travis. He had a skill. Thats how he got high in Pre Paid legal's Pyramid.
Jodi was a dreamer. A hoper. "If I only did this the way that would make him happy, or if I only didn't do this he wouldn't get mad." The games got worse and Jodi got scared. I think she will hold steadfast with the prosecuting attorney. The truth will come out. Even if it takes the rest of the summer.
I could not give Jodi the death sentence. I don’t even know if I would give her a life sentence. Her life was taken long before Travis’s was. She was his sex slave. And he had an addiction that got him into trouble, as all addictions eventually do. Had he been hurt and not killed, do you think he would have continued seeing Jodi? I think
so.....
Crystal Sourceint
Blah, blah, blah, blah. Get over yourself. This woman BRUTALLY STABBED
(29 TIMES), SLASHED (from ear-to-ear) AND SHOT (IN THE HEAD) Travis
Alexander. How do you explain the OVER-KILL???? This was nothing more or
less than a JEALOUS RAGE on the part of Jodi Arias. 'Abuse Victim' my
@ss. You demented "victims" need to stop showing up at each other's
contrived, self-indulgent pity parties with cake!
Mark
In a nutshell: She is trying to save face. Period.
Jan Marra
She's trying to save another portion of her anatomy.
Diane
It's a shame that both Travis Alexander and Jodi Arias won't be able to look back at the decisions they made at an earlier time. and learn from their mistakes. Travis because he is deceased, and Jodi because her life will be spent in prison, or worse. Personally, I made many stupid decisions when I was younger. But I don't understand the rationale of lying about being a victim now. It brings to mind those who claim to have cancer for personal gain. My husband fights cancer everyday of his life and I am certain victims of domestic violence can relate.
Nenna Olumba
She changed her story how many times? Are you sure this is not an episode of Law & Order? Wait, and she's boasting about her acquittal...BEFORE the trial even began? This chit thinks she's getting a reality show.
On second thought, if she got one, I wouldn't be surprised.
michael
what is so disturbing is the 24 hour coverage and all the talking head experts who venture to opine about every detail of her testimony. Ms. grace from HLN seemed to be perplexed that the Judge was allowing the defendant to get up on the stand and say whatever she wanted and the D.A. was not objecting, nor was the defendant producing evidence to support her her new and yet again embellished version of this tragic crime. Even though it is very obvious that this defendant is a pathological prevaricator, she has the right to testify and her testimony is in fact evidence. Her defense team has the difficult and unenviable tasks of attempting to lay the foundation for whatever experts they intend to call to explain the one of many theories they intend to pitch to this jury. Now as a former prosecutor with 25 years of experience trying murder cases, I find it difficult to listen to each new lie that this defendant excretes, but I do know that the prosecutor will capitalize on each lie and cross her bringing out before that jury that every thing she says is based upon a foundation of lies, but he can't as many of the experts have suggested object to the defendant testifying. That's our system and it is too bad that so much of the daily coverage is focused on this case as if it is a drama series and they are hanging on the defendant's every word, her appearance, her body language, what she is wearing, etc.....She killed him, she planned to kill him, she got caught due to good police work and now she is is lying to save her skin; enough already.
Carolyn Pilewski
Jodi Arias attempted today to produce that scintilla of physical evidence she needed to corroborate her allegation of physical abuse to support her argument for battery by alleging that Travis Alexander kicked her hand, broke her ring finger on her left hand, and ultimately left her finger disfigured and crooked. Watch this video of interogation at 43:20http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FoUB2UzWjtI Where's the broken and crooked finger she held up today and this interview was 30 days after the killing? Her finger is straight, but she points to her left ring finger and blames the female intruder for cutting her there. Had Jodi sliced her own finger there while wielding the knife, she likely cut her tendon which would result in a contracture of that finger over time. However, had her finger actually been broken when she said it was, it would have promptly become crooked and would have appeared crooked in the interview. Martinez can use that interview and a doctor to prove her lie from today.