Tribute – Remembering Travis Alexander and Family

Goodbye Words – A Time to Heal

A tribute to the family of Travis Alexander for the pain they have endured.  Music – Ernesto Cortazar – Thanks to Life

Bryon Wilson May 5, 2013  

Travis Alexander and Family Finally Get Some Justice

Almost seven years after his exceptionally brutal death, Travis Alexander finally received some justice from the legal system.  Judge Sherry Stephens handed down a sentence to Jodi Arias – “natural life sentence with no possibility of parole.”

To Travis’ beautiful family, multiple friends, and those of you who came to know and love each of them, I wish you peace and comfort.  You are forever in my heart.

It has been such a long and painful journey, but I feel we are all free now!  It is Travis who brought us together and even in death, he continues to teach us so much love, understanding, and kindness.  God bless.

Jodi Arias Sentencing Phase

On May 15, the jury found that the aggravating factor, ESPECIALLY CRUEL has been PROVEN!  Jodi Arias was convicted of the brutal murder of Travis Alexander.

Since then, the defense team has been stumbling around, dragging their feet, and filing one ridiculous motion after another in an effort to delay sentencing.

The following has been posted by Travis’ brother Steven on FaceBook:

From Steven Alexander – Letting everybody know, the trial isn’t due to start until mid February. We believe this is a tactic to try and get us to throw in the towel. We will not! I say again it won’t happen. Our family will come together and see it through until it is finished. There is a monster that haunts us, but once the correct sentence is given, it’s her who will be haunted until the most the most humane punishment comes to her. Nothing compared to the sentence she gave to a good man. Anyhow, the entire Alexander family thanks all of you. Thank you for having our backs.

So, hopefully the family will finally see Justice For Travis!

Jodi Arias Continuing Saga and News About Martin Mac Neill Murder Trial

What can ya say about the continuing crazy in the Jodi Arias case?  It seems we are beginning to see a flurry of activity.

Dr. Kristina Randall posted Movement in the Jodi Arias Case? on her blog.  She says a reporter for an Arizona newspaper noticed, “the Maricopa County Superior docket shows a settlement conference set for Jodi Arias at 10:30 am on October 24, 2013.”  He went on to say that settlement conferences are used to reach a plea agreement.

Dr. Randall did not name the reporter or newspaper, so I went digging and this is what I found on the court calendar relating to Arias:

9/27/2013 14:30
Evidentiary Hearing

10/4/2013 8:30
Oral Argument

10/24/2013 10:00
Settlement Conference

So, is Judge Stephens trying to force the two sides to reach an agreement?  Oh, and just because the settlement conference is listed, doesn’t mean it will or has to happen.

It should also be noted, Maricopa County Attorney’s Office – Adult Criminal Trial Process,

SETTLEMENT CONFERENCE
In some cases, the trial Judge assigned to a case will order the parties to meet with another Judge to discuss possible resolutions to a case short of trial. At the conference there is an exchange of views, and the Court will typically suggest ideas to attempt a resolution. The victim has a right to be present and express his/her views whenever the defendant is present. The trial Judge can only participate in such discussions with the consent of both parties.

What it boils down to is, we don’t know what the hearing on the 27 is, we think we know what is supposed to happen on the 4th, and we can only guess about the settlement conference.

Will any of this be streamed?  We can only hope!

Another huge trial is slated to begin October 15.  This time from Provo Utah.  Martin MacNeill is accused of drugging and killing his wife in April, 2007 because of an extramarital affair. MacNeill has pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder and obstruction of justice.

Michele MacNeill was found dead in a bathtub in the family’s Pleasant Grove, Utah, home on April 11, 2007. Medical examiners found a powerful cocktail of drugs — including Valium, Percocet, Phenergan, and Ambien — in her system.

Martin MacNeill talked Michele into getting a face lift. He is both an attorney and a doctor and had the knowledge and access to the prescription drugs.  By the way, both of MacNeill’s degrees are bogus!

This is going to be a blockbuster!

For great background on the case go to After Wife’s Death, Dark Secrets of Utah Doctor Revealed  Be sure to watch the included videos!

Jodi Arias Murder Trial – Delay, Delay, Delay Again

In what was another disappointment for the Alexander family, yesterday, Judge Sherry Stephens postponed the hearing until September 16.  The postponement is to allow prosecutors to respond to the two motions Nurmi filed last week.

One motion asks that the court not allow cameras in court or if they are allowed, the penalty phase not be shown live.  Nurmi argues because the first trial was shown it created public outrage against Alyce LaViolette to the point she received death threats.  He also claims Patty Womack, who was to be a mitigation witness was also threatened…all due to cameras in the court!  Both now refuse to testify in round two.

The second motion requests the Twitter accounts and handles of jurors so they can be monitored during retrial.  It is unclear why the motion only addresses Twitter or who would be monitoring the accounts.

In my opinion, neither motion will stand.  If LaViolette, Womack, Nurmi, and Willmott did indeed receive threats, that is wrong and unacceptable.  Dislike them as much as you want, but threats are ridiculous.  Nurmi claims Arias can’t get a fair trial because the defense witnesses have been intimidated.  Cameras are not the problem; it’s people.

The Twitter motion is just nuts.  That would open up all kinds of personal information about the jurors for which they deserve their privacy protected.

I strongly suspect Nurmi intentionally files motions so late in order to get hearings postponed and continue to drag the proceeding out.

The one positive from yesterday was both sides were given some 1500 pages of the court transcript.

Want to bet Nurmi will ask for a continuance because of the volume of the transcript and they need more time to review them?  Any takers?

Jodi Arias – Death Penalty Still An Option

Arias’ lawyers attempted to have the jury’s finding that Arias killed Travis Alexander in an “especially cruel” manner eleminated. That element of so-called aggravating factors allowed the jury to consider the death penalty.

Her attorneys argued that the definition of “especially cruel” is too vague for jurors to determine what makes one killing more cruel or heinous than another.

First, I don’t find “especially cruel” vague at all and second, that implies the jury is stupid!

Judge Sherry Stephens denied the motion in a ruling made public Wednesday.

A hearing is set for Aug. 26.  Judge Stephens previously indicated she wanted to set a new trial date for September.

CBS News

Jodi Arias Murder Trial – Waiting Game

Disappointed, but no surprise, Judge Stephens still can’t set a firm penalty phase date.

Nurmi and Willmott requested the mini trial begin in January 2014.

Stephens stated she wants to begin jury selection in late September and indicates that pending motions and additional motions she expects will be filed can be resolved prior to September.

The next case management meeting is slated for August 26.

The only good thing was Arias appeared in prison stripes!

Jodi Arias Murder Trial – While We’re Waiting, 5

Justice for Travis!