The murder trial of alleged murderer Jodi Arias resumed on Monday with the defense trying to prove that Arias suffers from post traumatic stress disorder. Arias is on trial for the brutal murder of her ex-boyfriend Travis Alexander.
In June 2008, Jodi Arias allegedly stabbed ex-boyfriend Travis Alexander 29 times, slit his throat and shot him in the face. Arias, however, testified repeatedly in the Maricopa County Court that she has “no memory” of butchering Alexander claiming that “June 4 is an anomaly for me.”
Dr. Richard Samuels is a psychologist who is testifying for the defense. He explains how “a certain type of memory loss can be triggered by intense stress as the fight or flight response shuts down parts of the brain where memories are registered.”
Samuels testified that, “The hippocampus is the seat of memory.” He went on to tell the court that any memories that occur when a patient has a blackout can’t be revived.
“If they’re not there they can’t come back.” He went on to describe, dissociative amnesia as “usually associated with criminal behavior or with crimes in which there is a high emotional reaction.”
Jodi Arias has testified to the events of that day up to the minutes the actual murder occurred and her trip to Utah. However, she claims she can’t fill in the blanks regarding the brutal, bloody killing.
Dr. Samuels testified that her testimony was consistent with the condition. “Memories are not formed in many people who are experiencing acute stress, because, chemically, it just doesn’t work.”
Prosecutor Juan Martinez plans on going after the credibility of the doctor. Martinez states that Dr. Samuels is a sex therapist with a PhD.
Martinez is arguing that Samuels “crossed the line” by treating Arias and that because he’s not a medical doctor he’s not as qualified to discuss the effects of stress on the brain.
Juan Martinez is determined to convict Jodi Arias of the heinous murder of Travis Alexander. If he is successful, Arias faces the possible sentence of the death penalty.
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