Murder Trial

I’ve been thinking about the Jodi Arias murder trial.  It has been on TV a lot.  The “’talking heads” on TRU TV, Nancy Grace and other shows are having a field day commenting about the trial along with their on-air “experts” who are mostly law enforcement types or attorneys.  Much has been said about Ms. Arias’ response to cross examination by Mr. Martinez, the prosecuting attorney.  She rarely answers a question with a simple “yes or no” answer, often qualifying her answer or commenting on how the question was framed.  I have heard a lot of opinion expressed that she should be forced by the judge (or someone) to answer the questions properly and that she should not be allowed to lie as much as it seems she is doing.

I keep thinking that this is a death penalty case.  What does that mean?  It means that Mr. Martinez is trying his best to convict this person and send her to the death chamber.  If his arguments prevail with the jury, it will result in Ms. Arias losing her life.   So we have on the one side, Ms. Arias and her attorney trying to get her off, or at least to save her life.  And on the other side, the state, through Mr. Martinez, trying to take her life.  Now never mind whether she is guilty or innocent or something in between.  She and her counsel are the only ones trying to save her life.  She is facing questioning from someone who, if successful, will kill her.  So how much truth and cooperation does she owe to a man who wants her killed?   If it was just a matter of avoiding a fine, or even some jail time, yes, maybe she should “fess-up”.   But it is her life we are talking about.  The end of her existence.   It seems to me she is justified to lie, scream, or clam-up if it is necessary to save her life.   Some seem to suggest that she should cooperate with the prosecutor in the name of justice, even to the point of sacrificing her life.  I don’t think so.    If you are in a life or death situation, you do what you can to save your life.  Now I am not talking about those cases where you put your survival ahead of someone else’s or where you might sacrifice yourself to save others.  That is not the case here.  Travis Alexander is already dead.  None of the lawyers or jury members is in danger whether Ms. Arias lives or dies.  She is on trial with her own life and no one else’s at stake.   I say she should use whatever intelligence and cunning she can muster to save her life.  If she pays a price of perjury or jail time or whatever, so be it.   Without a life, none of those things have any significance.  

 

As always, I reserve the right to change my mind later.  8=)