ARIZONA NEWS

Arizona appeals court upholds Jodi Arias’ murder conviction, sentence

Mar 24, 2020, 10:56 AM

Jodi Arias...

FILE- In this April 13, 2015, file pool photo, Jodi Arias, left, looks on next to her attorney, Jennifer Willmott, during her sentencing in Maricopa County Superior Court in Phoenix. (Mark Henle/The Arizona Republic via AP, Pool, File)

(Mark Henle/The Arizona Republic via AP, Pool, File)

PHOENIX – An Arizona appeals court on Tuesday upheld Jodi Arias’ conviction and sentence in her high-profile first-degree murder case.

In 2013, Arias was convicted of stabbing former boyfriend Travis Alexander 27 times at his home in Mesa in 2008.

After juries deadlocked over sentencing twice, a judge sentenced her to life in prison in 2015.

Arias appealed the conviction and sentence on multiple grounds, including alleged misconduct by prosecutor Juan Martinez.

Arias’ lawyers said Martinez improperly questioned witnesses, courted journalists and disregarded court rulings by repeating questions after the judge had overruled them.

The appeals court condemned Martinez’s behavior but ultimately decided his misconduct did not affect how the jury assessed Arias’ “overwhelming evidence” of guilt.

The ruling was issued in two files, one focused on Martinez’s behavior and another on other technical issues raised by Arias’ defense team.

The Martinez court document concludes as follows:

While I am comforted by the fact that the jury, presented with the evidence and properly instructed, was able to see past the sickening, childish conduct of the State’s attorney, perform their duties as sworn, and apply their common sense and understanding to the task at hand, this is no substitute for the professional responsibility each lawyer must exercise when appearing in any Arizona court. With the issue of the propriety of Arias’ conviction now having been put to rest, and the conduct of the prosecutor having been reported, I am hopeful that the viability and enforceability of our Rules of Professional Conduct will be reasserted and legitimized such that we, Arizona’s attorneys, judges, and courts, can be back about the business of pursuing justice in the manner Arizonans have a right to expect.

After Arias’ attorney filed the appeal, new complaints were made against Martinez, though none of those were raised in the appeal.

This summer, a judge who handles disciplinary cases against attorneys threw out allegations that Martinez made sexually inappropriate comments to female law clerks in his office and had inappropriate contact with a woman who had been dismissed from Arias’ jury and later texted nude photos of herself to the prosecutor.

The remaining allegations against Martinez in the attorney disciplinary case included claims that the prosecutor leaked another juror’s identity to a blogger with whom Martinez was having a sexual relationship.

The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office moved to fire Martinez this year after suspending him.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Pass it along to the KTAR News team here.

Comments

Comment guidelines: No name-calling, personal attacks, profanity, or insults. Please keep the conversation civil and help us moderate comments by reporting abuse.
comments powered by Disqus

Arizona News

Election Day lawsuit expected to be resolved before 7 p.m....

Serena O'Sullivan

Judge rules to extend hours of polling places in Apache County after voting issues cause disruption

The Navajo Nation won its Election Day lawsuit, which means several polling locations in Apache County will now be open until 9 p.m.

1 hour ago

Falcon Field...

KTAR.com

5 dead after plane crashes near Falcon Field in Mesa, strikes vehicle

Five people onboard a plane died after it crashed near Falcon Field and hit a vehicle in Mesa on Tuesday afternoon, authorities said.

2 hours ago

Election Day bomb threats...

Serena O'Sullivan

Bomb threats that may have come from Russia target 4 Arizona polling locations

Four polling locations in Navajo County were targeted by Election Day bomb threats from Russian email domains, according to the FBI.

4 hours ago

...

KTAR Video

Video: LIVE: Election Day Coverage 2024 with KTAR News’ Chris & Joe Show

LIVE: Election Day 2024 coverage with KTAR News’ Chris & Joe Show

6 hours ago

A Silver Alert was issued for Timothy Roberts on Nov. 5, 2024....

KTAR.com

Silver Alert issued for missing Phoenix man with cognitive condition

Authorities issued a Silver Alert on Tuesday for a missing Phoenix man who suffers from a cognitive condition.

7 hours ago

Shooting involving police in Phoenix...

KTAR.com

Suspect ‘down’ after shooting involving police in central Phoenix

A suspect was "down" after a midday shooting involving police in central Phoenix on Tuesday, authorities said.

8 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

...

Midwestern University

Midwestern University Clinics – Providing Comprehensive, Thorough and Unrushed Healthcare to the Valley Community

With so many options for healthcare in the Valley, why should you choose a clinic that has graduate medical students integrated into the patient experience?

...

Bright Wealth Management

Here’s how to save money on retirement planning

PHOENIX -- With inflation still going on, people planning on retiring still face many issues on when they can retire and how much money they need to achieve it.

...

Day & Night Air Conditioning, Heating and Plumbing

It wouldn’t hurt to get your AC checked after Arizona’s excruciating heat wave

A well-maintained air conditioning unit is vital to living a comfortable life inside, away from triple-digit heat in Arizona.

Arizona appeals court upholds Jodi Arias’ murder conviction, sentence