Juror dismissed, no mistrial for Arias

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PHOENIX, April 2 (UPI) -- One juror in the Phoenix murder trial of Jodi Arias was dismissed Tuesday after a request by Arias' attorney, but the judge denied a motion for a mistrial.

Arias, 32, is charged with first-degree murder in the 2008 death of Travis Alexander. Her trial in Maricopa County, Ariz., Superior Court began Jan. 2.

The dismissal of the "Juror 5" -- identified only as a woman -- came after complaints Monday from Arias' attorney, Kirk Nurmi, who wrote in a brief the juror made statements "in front of her fellow jurors [amounting] to misconduct that inserted partiality in what is supposed to be an impartial body. In this regard it is even more obvious that Juror 5 is neither fair nor impartial."

The exact nature of the alleged statements is under seal by Judge Sherry Stephens. The actions of Juror 5 also prompted Nurmi to move for a mistrial, which the judge denied Tuesday, the report said.