Jodi Arias Trial Update: Death Penalty Phase Cut Short Monday; Why Are Arias' Lawyers Refusing To Continue Defending Her?

During the much anticipated sentencing proceedings for convicted murderer Jodi Arias, a somewhat unforeseen roadblock interrupted the court session. As the Latin Times previously reported, Arias' friends were to testify as character witnesses on her behalf, and pieces of art Arias created were going to reportedly be shown to the court.

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However, lead defense attorney Kirk Nurmi petitioned for a mistrial soon after the proceedings commenced, throwing the entire court session a curveball. Judge Sherry Stephens paused the proceedings and adjourned the session following Nurmi's request. Nurmi and Arias' other defense attorney, Jennifer Willmott, also asked to withdraw from the case. Speculation over Arias' previously declared wish for death over life in prison reportedly led Nurmi and Willmott to be therefore engaged in a "conflict of interest."

A defense attorney in this role is supposed to successfully litigate for a life term over death. When a defendant goes against that sentiment, the proceedings may become difficult for the attorneys.

Part of Nurmi's outburst was reportedly in regard to a would-be witness for Jodi Arias named Patricia Womack. Womack was reportedly receiving death threats after it was discovered she would speak on the convicted murderer's behalf.

Nurmi said that prosecutor Juan Martinez was at fault for intimidating Womack sometime prior to her decision not to appear, saying that Martinez had allegedly been acting in a similar way for the entirety of the proceedings.

"When you have a prosecutor that this court allows to personally attack witnesses and counsel, it breeds this sort of environment...[which] has been happening throughout [the] trial," Nurmi said.

On Friday, Arias and a number of those in the court broke down in tears as the family of victim Travis Alexander described what the loss of their brother at the hands of Jodi Arias has done to them.

According to USA Today, Nurmi said Arias will speak to the jury when court reconvenes on Tuesday in Phoenix.