Jodi Arias Trial Update: Will Travis Alexander Murderer Get Death Penalty?

Convicted murderer Jodi Arias is due back in court Friday for the second phase of her death penalty hearing, the Associated Press reported Tuesday. Travis Alexander’s killer, 33, was convicted of first-degree murder in May 2013 for the 2008 slaying of her onetime lover. Though jurors were convinced Arias was guilty of the bloody Arizona crime, they could not reach a decision on a sentence.

Under Arizona law, the murder conviction stands while prosecutors have the option to put on a second penalty phase with a new jury to try and try to secure a death sentence. After her conviction, Arias said she welcomed the death penalty, but when faced with the ultimate sentence, life behind bars didn’t seem as bad to the former waitress and she soon petitioned for life in prison instead.

If the second jury is unable to reach a unanimous decision, the death penalty will be removed from consideration, the AP said. The judge would then sentence Arias to life, possibly to be eligible for release after 25 years.

Arias first lied about Alexander’s death before ultimately claiming she killed him in his suburban Phoenix home in self-defense. Alexander was stabbed 28 times, his throat was slit from ear to ear, and he was shot in the forehead. Prosecutors argued the murder was premeditated and then carried out in a jealous rage after Alexander wanted to end their affair.

The story gained national attention and not long after Arias was convicted Lifetime made a movie based on her story: “Jodi Arias: Dirty Little Secret.” The made for TV movie was released on June 22, 2013.

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