Jodi Arias trial jurors have already been shown everything from raunchy texts to recorded phone sex conversations and nude photos, but there are some pieces of evidence even too controversial for the jury's eyes. A police report filed by Arias' ex-boyfriend a mere four months prior to his murder suggests she may have slashed his tires, and was stalking him as some have testified in court.
A 32-year-old photographer from California, Arias is charged with the grisly first-degree murder of her ex, Travis Alexander, in June 2008. Arias has admitted to killing her former lover, so her guilt isn't up for debate - but her mental state at the time of the killing is. Arias' future depends on whether the jury believes she killed Alexander in self-defense, or was actually a jilted lover exacting jealous revenge. Medical examiners found that Arias stabbed Alexander 27 times, primarily in the back, shot him in the head, slit his throat from ear to ear with so much force it almost decapitated him, and left his bloodied corpse crumpled over in the bathroom shower of his home - all in the course of 106 seconds.
In documents obtained by ABC News, Alexander apparently reported "criminal damage" to his car to the Mesa Police Department on Feb. 2, 2008, listing his Mesa, Ariz. Address. However, for whatever reason, Alexander declined to mention who he believed was responsible for the act.
While various witnesses have testified about Arias' stalker-like behavior and random incidents involving tire slashing throughout the trial, the evidence will likely not be shown in court.
Arias' lawyers have portrayed her as an innocent, naive, devout Mormon who was sexually exploited by an often sadistic and abusive Alexander. Much of the defense's case rests on this version of Alexander. Arias has testified throughout the trial about her lover's supposed double life: a pious virgin on the surface, but a "sexually deviant" violent control freak underneath. Alexander's friends contend the defense's portrait of him is nothing like the man they knew, and have said Arias was stalking him and was "possessive and jealous." However, Arias has consistently claimed the couple had a volatile relationship, and that Alexander was possibly a pedophile who was "emotionally detached."
Earlier in the trial, prosecuting attorney Juan Martinez got an expert witness for the defense, psychotherapist Alyce LaViolette to admit Alexander had been afraid of Arias due to her stalker-like tendencies.
"Isn't it true that Mr. Alexander was extremely afraid of the defendant, Jodi Arais, based on her stalking behavior?" prosecuting attorney Juan Martinez asked Alyce LaViolette, a domestic abuse expert for the defense.
"He was afraid of her, yes," LaViolette acknowledged.
"Because of her stalking behavior, correct?" asked Martinez.
"Correct," said LaViolette.
While LaViolette made the concession to Martinez, she eventually backtracked under further questioning to say she wasn't convinced Arias had been stalking Alexander.
Martinez noted other similar examples of obsessive behavior during his cross-examination of LaViolette, flipping the defense's portrayal of Arias as the victim and Alexander as the perpetrator. He drew attention to an instance when Arias spied on Alexander with another woman at his home after they had broken up and then later confronted him about it. Martinez also brought up an instant message Alexander had sent to a friend where he had described Arias as a stalker.
One of Alexander's former girlfriends, Marie "Mimi" Hall, also claimed earlier in the trial that he had told her someone was stalking him, that his car's tires had been slashed, and that he thought Arias had once followed the two while they were on a date.
Just what Alexander planned to do after making the police report is uncertain. He failed to call back authorities when officers followed up on the report.
Arias has already admitted to lying about Alexander's death to just about everyone. She first claimed she was never at Alexander's home the day he was killed. Then, when a bloody handprint on the wall confirmed she was there through DNA evidence, she admitted she was there, but said masked intruders killed him. Finally, years later she backtracked to admit she killed the victim, but now claims it was in self-defense, saying he attacked her in the shower, forcing her to fight for her life. She claims she lied so often because she was "ashamed" she killed Alexander in self-defense and because she was afraid of revealing the details of their sexual relationship.
Before court closed last week, Judge Sherry Stephens announced the defense would be allowed one final expert witness before closing arguments begin Thursday.
The defense will call Dr. Robert Geffner in an attempt to refute the prosecution's witness Dr. Janeen DeMarte's testimony that Arias was not a victim of domestic abuse and is afflicted with Borderline Personality Disorder, and not Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or acute amnesia as the defense has argued.
Judge Stephens said court will go on as long as Geffner needs to provide testimony.
Arias faces the death penalty if convicted. The trial resumes Wednesday when the jury will hear from Dr. Geffner.
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