PHOENIX (AP) – The long-running effort by prosecutors to punish Jodi Arias for killing her lover nearly seven years ago is drawing to a close.
The jury deciding whether she should be sentenced to life in prison or death row is expected to begin deliberations Wednesday after closing arguments after a lawyer for Arias makes a final plea to the jury.
The start of closing arguments Tuesday featured dueling images from the defense and prosecution that portrayed the case in much different lights. The defense showed happy photos of Arias from her childhood and time with victim Travis Alexander. The prosecutor showed gruesome crime-scene photos of the victim’s slit throat.
Prosecutor Juan Martinez called Arias dishonest, questioned her claim that she’s remorseful for having killed her boyfriend, and tried to minimize the role her psychological problems played in the case.
“It doesn’t provide an excuse,” said Martinez, who later asked jurors to sentence Arias to death.