According to the Maricopa County Superior Court website, convicted murderer Jodi Arias will hold a settlement conference with prosecutors on Oct. 24, which may be a sign that both sides are willing to forgo a retrial of the sentencing phase of the trial.
Arias was convicted of first-degree murder on May 8 in the ghastly 2008 death of her ex-boyfriend Travis Alexander in his suburban Phoenix home. However, the same jury that found the 33-year-old California native guilty failed to reach a unanimous decision on her sentencing. As a result, it has yet to be determined whether she will be sentenced to death, life in prison or life with a chance of release after serving 25 years.
Maricopa County Attorney spokesman Jerry Cobb said the conference will take place in front of retired Maricopa County Superior Court Judge James Keppel.
"The court asked if the parties would be willing to discuss a potential settlement," said Cobb, reports the Arizona Republic. "Consistent with what the County Attorney has said all along, the State is always willing to discuss possible resolutions to the case. Neither side has presented an outline of an agreement or an official position to the court."
During the settlement conference, it is possible that the two sides may reach an agreement to avoid a retrial. If so, then the state will drop its intent to seek the death penalty and Judge Sherry Stephens will decide to either sentence Arias to life in prison without parole or life in prison with the possibility of parole after 25 years.
The state could ask Arias to waive appeals in exchange for a life sentence, although that would be a bad choice on her part; Arias' attorneys have made a careful record alleging court and prosecutor errors. However, Arias and her defense could offer to accept life in prison in order to avoid another costly trial that would more than likely cause another media circus.
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