Updated 06:55 AM EDT, Tue, Mar 19, 2024

Jodi Arias Trial News Update: Retrial Postponed Due to Prosecutor's Scheduling Conflict

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It's been nine months since Jodi Arias was found guilty of the murder of her ex-boyfriend Travis Alexander, and yet, the second phase of her sentencing trial has been postponed once again.

Arias, 33, was convicted of first-degree murder on May 8, 2013 in Alexander's ghastly death in his suburban Phoenix, Ariz. home back in 2008. However, the same jury that found her guilty failed to reach a unanimous decision on her sentencing. As a result, a retrial to determine whether she should be sentenced to death, life in prison or life with a chance of release after serving 25 years was slated for March 17. However, that date has been delayed due to a scheduling conflict with prosecutor Juan Martinez.

According to The Arizona Republic, Martinez is supposed to begin another potential death penalty trial on May 12. At a hearing Tuesday at the Maricopa County Superior Court, Presiding Criminal Judge Joseph Welty ruled that Martinez's other case, which involves a man accused of killing an Arizona police officer in 2007, will take priority since its the oldest capital murder case in the county awaiting trial.

Judge Sherry Stephens will schedule Arias' new trial date, but there is no word on when that will happen.

Last week, Judge Stephens denied a bid to spare the boyfriend killer from the death penalty. According to court papers, defense attorneys argued that the Arizona law allowing a retrial of the penalty phase is unconstitutional, represents considered cruel and unusual punishment and amounts to double jeopardy. However, the Maricopa Superior Court judge rejected the defense motion in a ruling made public last Friday.  

"Arizona's capital scheme has been found to be constitutional by the United States Supreme Court and the Arizona Supreme Court," wrote Judge Stephens, according to the Star Tribune.

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