Jodi Arias had only one answer for jurors when she stood before them in trial on Thursday: She cannot remember.
The alleged murderer of ex-partner Travis Alexander answered about 220 questions over the course of 48 hours, under an uncommon law that allows jurors to quiz defendants through written questions read aloud by the judge -- a law only observed in three states, Arizona among them.
When asked about stabbing her ex-boyfriend, she said she could not remember how it happened. She claimed the same memory lull when asked how she slit his throat or covered the scene, explaining that everything "happened so fast" and that it was "the most traumatic day" of her life.
However, 32-year-old Arias could recall with accuracy sexual encounters with Alexander as well as with previous partners, to the detail of the day of the week. One frustrated juror asked her how she could retain such clear recollection of her sexual escapades but not of killing Alexander on June 4, 2008. Another one enquired if she had ever seen a doctor about her memory problems.
Arias replied that her memory had always been "excellent," and that the day Alexander died was an "anomaly."
"I don't know how the mind works necessarily, as far as what happened on June 4," she explained.
Another aspect brought up by the jury in numerous occasions was the fact that Arias changed her story three times since the investigation began in June 9, 2008, the day Alexander's body was discovered in a shower in his apartment.
When Arias was first contacted as a potential witness, she claimed she had not seen Alexander for months. She was collaborative with the investigation, giving her fingerprints voluntarily and repeatedly offering assistance.
Evidence was later discovered that she had indeed been with Alexander in the early hours of June 4, as proved by pictures of both of them in Alexander's damaged camera and Arias' DNA found around the house. Arias continued to deny that she had been in the house that morning.
When called to trial, she changed her story and told that two intruders had broken into Alexander's home, murdered him and attacked her. Finally, she stated that she killed Alexander in self-defense when he had a rage spur about her dropping his camera.
The jury, made up by 11 men and seven women who have sat through more than 30 days since the trial started on Jan. 2, are hesitant to take her word now: "Why should anybody believe you now? That is the ultimate question, Jodi. Why should we believe you now?" they asked, as read by attorney Kirk Nurmi, who is representing her.
Arias replied that lying is not something she usually does, but she did in this case to "protect [Alexander's] reputation] and herself."
Arias and Alexander dated for a year between 2006 and 2007, and later continued to have a physical relationship after they broke up. Arias claims that she loved him, but that he was sexually abusive and that she grew worried when she allegedly saw him masturbating to photos of children.
The prosecutors claim that Arias planned to kill Alexander, who was driven by jealousy, and are seeking death penalty. Arias will be back on the witness stand next Wednesday.
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