Jodi Arias Murder Trial – While We’re Waiting, 3

Still waiting….

Christian/Newsom Murders – The Final Chapter

It’s been a long, painful journey to finally reach the end.  The jury recommend life with parole for George Thomas – a sentence that will see Thomas eligible for parole at age 75.

Today, he will formally be sentenced and all that is left is for Judge Kurtz to pronounce the additional sentence for Thomas’ additional crimes.

All families in court…

Thomas brought in…

Judge Kurtz takes the bench at 1:01pm.

Kurtz says sentencing memos from the 2010 will be entered as exhibits.

Leland Price calls Mary Newsom for additional impact statement.

She says Thomas chose to live with the crime.

Chris’ friends and family have lost a loving, happy person.

She had never should have had to face his naked, charred body.

I have to live with the knowledge of his being beaten, raped and murdered.

Hugh Newsom called.

How Chris died has left scares.

I saw the hurt in your mother’s eyes at trial.  I know she did the best in raising you.

This is the most brutal I’ve seen the families been on impact.  Kurtz is allowing them a great deal of leeway, including allowing them to mention the statements of Coleman, Davidson, and Cobbins.  He does however rule them off record due to judicial issues.

We’ll go home knowing justice has been served, but Chris’ room will always been empty.

I never want to see another family to go though what my family and the Christian’s have gone through.

Your honor, I beg you to sentence in the maximum.

Andrea Bowers called.  Chris’ sister.

Chris was my little brother.

Justice for the victims is that long and hard road.  Our system is all about the defendants and it needs to be fixed!

This happens over and over again.

Why can’t the truth speak for itself!

Enough is enough.  Let’s take some steps to tip the scales in the right direction.

Andrea has so nailed the problems with our system!!!!

She tells Thomas, in the end, he has to face the almighty!

Andrea also asks the judge to never let Thomas out of jail.

Deena Christian up.

She was only 21 when you killed her.

The thought of what you did to her still haunts me.

The hate you must have in your heart to rape, beat, torture, and murder, these two kids is pure evil.

Gary and I regret our failure to protect our daughter.

Channon and Chris were the victims…you gave them no mercy and you shouldn’t receive any.

Deena asks for the maximum.

Gary Christian called.

Gary says the letters you wrote to Cobbins about brotherhood made me want to throw-up.

If you think that this court should give you mercy, you’ve been smoking too many blunts.

You were a coward….you could have left that house and gotten help, but you didn’t.

What you and your friends did changed me.  To my wife and my son, I apologize because I am not the man I used to be because you taught me to hate.

You don’t get to hurt anybody else, not today, not tomorrow.

Thomas showing no emotion, whatsoever.

State asks for the max sentencing.  Exceptional cruelty exhibited in all the charges.

Not being funny here…how much does this hearing really mean?  The judge made up his mind before coming into to this.

Defense says how the factors apply to Thomas should be considered.  He was not the principal actor in the crime.

Kurtz seems to be having trouble with this.

Your statement says he’s remorseful.  I don’t see anything in the record that shows that!

Kurtz ain’t buying the defense!!!

Kurtz chewing and spitting out the defense argument!

Defense doesn’t wants consecutive sentencing; Thomas doesn’t have a long criminal record.

Kurtz says Chris lived up to 5 hours, Channon maybe 24. “Your client has the opportunity to totally digest what was going on here.”

Kurtz says considerable enhancements here and Thomas needs to be responsible.

Enhancement, far outweighs the mitigating factors!

Kurtz going to slam the hammer down on the cruelty and brutality of the crimes.

Consecutive life sentences.

Life, plus life, plus 25, plus another 25!

Dead man walking!

Never let your hearts, minds, and souls forget Channon and Chris – their tragic endings were beyond brutal, they were depravity at it’s worst!

God bless the families and may they finally begin to heal!

Jodi Arias Murder Trial – While We’re Waiting, 2

And still we wait for justice for Travis!

Jodi Arias Murder Trial – While We’re Waiting

This is about Justice For Travis, nothing more, nothing less.

Saddened to see how far off-track this is getting.  Stoking the flames serves no purpose.

I do try to give folks the benefit of the doubt…I give a great deal of leeway.  Heck, I’m even guilty of jumping the gun!  I’ve tried nicely to let folks have their say, even if, of a dissenting opinion.

To keep harping on one poster who has apparently disappeared for the time being is futile and they will be banned on next confrontation.

The job is hard enough; don’t make it harder.

This is about Justice For Travis, nothing more, nothing less.

Jodi Arias Murder Trial – Still Waiting

While Arias is cooling her heels in Estrella jail, the State is deciding whether or not to pursue round two of the penalty phase on July 18.  Where do they find another jury after all the publicity that surrounds this case?

I’m still baffled how swiftly they jury reached Murder 1, but then split 8 to 4 on the penalty.  This was not a death qualified jury and there must have been some heavy fudging during voir dire!

Another thing that stumped me was listening to the jury foreperson say, we didn’t know that not reaching a unanimous decision would result in a mistrial, we thought the judge would decide if we couldn’t!

I mean seriously?

I was just gobsmacked!

My thoughts and prayers are with Travis and his family.

Jodi Arias Murder Trial – Moving Forward

I took some ‘me’ time for a bit, trying to process the past 6 years and last 5 months in court.  As sad as the hung jury was, I take strength in we got premeditated, and cruel and heinous…we got M1!!!  That truly is HUGE folks!

The hung verdict just shows how important jury selection is.  How do you arrive at M1 and go to 8-4?  In my opinion, this was NOT a death qualified jury or we would have seen a different verdict.  I can only liken it to the Phil Spector hung jury, first go-round.  But, we got him the second time!!!

My understanding is 3 parties are on-board to have-at-it.  The family, and I assume, Juan and Esteban.

So, my fellow warriors, dig deep, gather your strength, and prepare to battle!

The Travis train is about to pull out of the station for a victorious arrival at Justice Station!

FYI!

katiecoolady, are we not supposed to use the Paypal/gmail address for donations any more? I will donate to Travis’ foundation at a later date, but right now I would like to continue donating to the family for their upcoming travel expenses.Thanks!

I texted Samantha again today to get just that clarification as many people are initiating fund raisers and first she sent the paypal address (which is still good) but a few min later wrote again saying she thinks everything should just go through that site at this point. I did specifically state that people are wanting to start gathering funds to support them through the next phase. I’ve always gone with her direction on this and I do ask her to write it for me so, I know I”m getting it exactly how she wants it. So that’s what I got. I do know she’s been managing the funds and I trust her so that’s what I’m sharing.

Samantha said the main donations clearinghouse is http://www.travisalexander.org now, so at least that part is settled.

They are smartly keeping all above boards!  You can mark your donation for family and travel, living expenses.  And, yes, by all means, for those who have asked, feel free to say you are a member of Calls For Justice,  It’s your site!

Jodi Arias Murder Trial – Jury Hung, Where To Next?

So, we got the worst of the worst news.  What next and how do we support the family and Juan and Estaban?

Painful, but it ain’t over til the fat lady sings!

Don’t give up now folks…the family still needs us, more than ever!

Much thx,

donchais