By The Associated Press
Jodi Arias’ attorneys have tried motions for mistrials, allegations of prosecutorial misconduct, appeals to higher courts, even efforts to quit the case entirely.
Now, after losing every time inside the courtroom, this week they took their case to the court of public opinion as prosecutors consider whether to continue to pursue the death penalty.
“It is solely for them to determine if continuing to pursue a death sentence upon Ms. Arias, who is already facing a mandatory life sentence, is a good and proper use of taxpayer resources,” defense attorneys Kirk Nurmi and Jennifer Willmott wrote in a statement provided only to The Arizona Republic.
Jerry Cobb, a spokesman for the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, declined to comment Wednesday on the defense lawyers’ statement, and said no decision had yet been made on how to proceed.
However, San Francisco-area criminal defense lawyer Michael Cardoza said the move by Arias’ attorneys to reach out to the public, specifically through Arizona’ largest newspaper, was strategic and canny.
