Penalty phase in Jodi Arias trial ends in deadlock

May 24, 2013

A mistrial has been declared in the penalty phase of the Jodi Arias trial. The now-dismissed jury says it was hopelessly deadlocked on the issue of whether Arias should spend the rest of her life in prison, or be put to death. 

Phoenix defense attorney Dwane Cates was not surprised by the decision.

"Jennifer Wilmott did a good job in her closing when she looked the jury in the eye and said they are asking you to kill Jodi Arias. I think that had an impact on some of the jurors," he said.

The judge has now set a status conference in the case for next month, with a retrial of the penalty phase to begin in mid-July.  The jury earlier found Arias guilty of first degree murder for killing her ex-boyfriend Travis Alexander.