PHOENIX — The jury foreman in Jodi Arias’ trial yesterday said the panel just couldn’t decide whether the killing of her boyfriend was enough to merit a death a sentence.
William Zervakos said jurors struggled with what they called a flawed system, explaining that Arias wasn’t “Jeffrey Dahmer or Charles Manson.”
They thought it was unfair that 12 average Americans who aren’t lawyers had to make that crucial decision.
Zervakos, 69, said yesterday the entire panel believed the slaying was no doubt brutal.
But, he said, the jurors had to take into account Arias’ lack of a criminal history or any previous violent behavior.
The same jury on May 8 convicted Arias of murder in Travis Alexander’s death but couldn’t reach a decision on whether she should live or die.
A new penalty phase is set for July.