A psychologist's professional opinion that Jodi Arias suffers from borderline personality disorder and does not show signs of domestic abuse, or have post traumatic stress disorder, took center stage in court Thursday as the defense scrambled to prove her assessment was incorrect.
A 32-year-old photographer from California, Arias is charged with the grisly first-degree murder of her ex-boyfriend Travis Alexander in June 2008, when she stabbed the 30-year-old man 27 times, primarily in the back, shot him in the face, slit his throat from ear to ear with so much force it almost decapitated him, and left his bloodied corpse crumpled over in the bathroom shower of his home - all in the course of 106 seconds. Arias' guilt is not up for debate - but her mental state at the time of the killing is. Arias' future depends on whether the jury believes she killed Alexander in self-defense, or was actually a jilted lover exacting jealous revenge.
With the defense having finally rested its case after roughly 12 weeks of testimony, prosecutor Juan Martinez has entered the state's rebuttal phase with its first expert witness, Arizona clinical psychologist Janeen DeMarte. Intent to prove the defense's experts were inaccurate in their claims and could not be trusted, Martinez has set up DeMarte as a consummate professional, and an objective contrast to the defense's numerous lapses of ethics and judgement.
During her first days on the stand DeMarte easily poked holes in the credibility of the defense's experts, psychotherapist Alyce LaViolette, and psychologist Richard Samuels. Based on her review of the psychotherapist's notes, DeMarte said she did not believe LaViolette had conducted a thorough evaluation. DeMarte said that she believed Arias was afflicted with borderline personality disorder (BPD), not PTSD, or memory problems, and said she showed no signs of domestic abuse, all arguments the defense has repeatedly hammered.
Defense attorney Jennifer Willmott focussed much of her attentions Thursday on portraying DeMarte's diagnosis of Arias with borderline personality disorder as inaccurate. Willmott began the day by arguing with DeMarte about the fact that there is no formal license to designate someone as an expert on domestic violence.
Seemingly trying to mimic prosecutor Martinez's sharp edged, scrutinizing tone, Willmott next ran the psychologist through a cycle of redundant questions regarding the tests administered to Arias by the defense's experts. Wilmott showed DeMarte Arias' scores on the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory test and on the MMPI test — tests the psychologist chose not to use in her examination.
Wilmott asked DeMarte if the tests indicated a pattern of domestic abuse.
"There was not a pattern that suggested she was a victim of abuse," DeMarte testified.
As Wilmott asked DeMarte why she didn't give Arias the same tests and questioned her diagnosis of BPD, DeMarte snapped back that she didn't use scales on the computer to spit out Arias' personality test.
Wilmott asked if Arias' MCMI test scores showed a pattern of anxiety and low self-esteem.
"No, I don't see that," DeMarte said.
Noting DeMarte had only spent 12 hours examining Arias, Willmott attempted to show that DeMarte had a limited understanding of the defendant's past. The line of questioning was an attack on statements made earlier by DeMarte, that in her opinion it was "extreme" for a psychologist to examine a client for 40 hours or more, roughly the same amount of time LaViolette claimed to have evaluated Arias. DeMarte had also argued that no one was capable of going beyond the "written word," seemingly also a jab at LaViolette basing her assertions on her opinions of Arias' journal entries.
After Willmott finished her cross examination, prosecuting attorney Martinez had DeMarte explain once again the differences between PTSD and borderline personality disorder. The clinical psychologist testified that Arias met seven out of nine traits of the disorder including: "efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment, unstable and intense interpersonal relationships, Identity disturbance, suicidal behavior, affective instability, chronic feelings of emptiness, and inappropriate, intense anger."
She also explained in graphic detail exactly how Arias did not meet traits of PTSD related to avoiding anything concerning a trauma or re-experience of trauma, like ceasing to engage with the world, detachment from others, or trouble sleeping.
Court ended with a series of jury questions, mainly focussing on the tests DeMarte gave Arias and whether or not she believed Arias had organized and cleaned the crime scene.
Juror: "Why didn't you give Arias the same tests the defense experts did?"
DeMarte: "I gave four different tests ... I felt the tests I gave, gave the answers I needed and it wasn't necessary to administer the other tests."
Juror: "Do you think deleting pictures and washing the camera was an attempt to destroy evidence?"
DeMarte: "That's the impression it gives."
Arias faces the death penalty if convicted. The trial resumes Tuesday at 12:30 p.m. EST.
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