Jodi Arias Trial: Prosecutor questions expert about a "manifesto" supposedly written by murder defendant
(CBS/AP) The Jodi Arias murder trial took another unexpected turn on Monday after prosecutor Juan Martinez questioned a defense witness about a "manifesto" Arias has reportedly written.
PICTURES: Jodi Arias murder trial
Martinez questioned psychotherapist Alyce LaViolette on Monday about Arias having signed the "manifesto," which has not been explained in court and has not officially been entered into evidence, "in case she became famous."
LaViolette has been testifying for more than a week about her conclusion that Arias suffered domestic abuse at the hands of Travis Alexander, the man she is on trial for killing in 2008. Alexander was found in his home with 27 stab wounds, a slit throat, and a gunshot wound to the head. Arias claims she killed him in self defense.
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On Monday, Martinez seized on the multiple lies Arias told authorities in the days and even years after the killing.
"She does have a history of lying, doesn't she?" he asked LaViolette.
"After the killing, yes," LaViolette said.
After continued prodding, LaViolette acknowledged she has no way of knowing whether Arias is telling the truth now.
Martinez then returned to a familiar accusation of bias, one he used on psychologist Richard Samuels, a previous defense witness who diagnosed Arias with post-traumatic stress disorder and amnesia. Martinez accused Samuels of forming a relationship with the defendant that biased his diagnosis. Samuels denied the accusations.
He leveled a similar claim against LaViolette on Monday.
"In this case, you actually are biased in terms of the defendant, aren't you?" Martinez asked, noting how LaViolette apologized to Arias during their first meeting for having gone through her journals and other private materials.
"Do I believe the evidence supports domestic violence? Yes," LaViolette replied. "I don't believe I'm biased."
Arias faces a possible death sentence if convicted of first-degree murder.
Authorities say she planned the attack in a jealous rage. Arias first denied any involvement but later said it was self-defense.
Complete coverage of Jodi Arias on Crimesider
