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Jodi Arias granted delay in death penalty retrial

Jodi Arias was granted a three-week delay of the start of the penalty phase of her death penalty retrial, set now to begin September 9.

By Gabrielle Levy
odi Arias (R) talks to one of her legal team after hearing the verdict of guilty of first degree murder in Phoenix, Arizona May 8, 2013. The four month trial of Arias resulted from her murdering her lover Travis Alexander in Tempe, Arizona in June of 2008. UPI// Rob Schumacher/Arizona Republic/Pool
odi Arias (R) talks to one of her legal team after hearing the verdict of guilty of first degree murder in Phoenix, Arizona May 8, 2013. The four month trial of Arias resulted from her murdering her lover Travis Alexander in Tempe, Arizona in June of 2008. UPI// Rob Schumacher/Arizona Republic/Pool | License Photo

MARICOPA COUNTY, Ariz., Aug. 22 (UPI) -- A Maricopa County judge granted Jodi Arias a three-week delay to prepare for retrial, more than 15 months after she was convicted of murdering her ex-boyfriend.

Arias was convicted in May 2013 of the murder of Travis Alexander, and while the jury found her eligible for the death penalty, ultimately was unable to decide her sentence.

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Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Sherry Stephens granted Arias, who is representing herself, a three-week delay from September 8 to September 29, when a new jury will begin to decide her fate.

If the new jury is unable to come to agreement, a judge would decide if Arias would get natural life in prison or the possibility of parole in 25 years.

Alexander was found murdered in his shower in a Phoenix suburb in June 2008. He had been stabbed multiple times, shot in the face and his throat deeply slashed. Arias acknowledged killing Alexander, but claimed self-defense.

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A jury agreed with prosecutors that the murder was premeditated, and convicted Arias of first-degree murder.

While Arias is acting as her own attorney for the penalty phase retrial, having split with her legal team due to conflicts over strategy, her lawyers remain on the case as advisors.

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