More than a year after it began, the end is in sight for trial against Jodi Arias.
A Phoenix judge has set March 17 as the date for the new penalty phase for the trial of the woman who was convicted of murdering her ex-boyfriend.
The jury in the original trial, which began in December 2012, found Arias guilty of the first-degree murder of Travis Alexander, and found her eligible for the death penalty.
But when they were unable to agree on whether to sentence her to death, they were dismissed and a new penalty phase ordered.
Judge Sherry Stephens has, over the past few months, denied motions from the defense to move the trial out of Phoenix and monitor the Twitter handles of the jurors. She also banned live television coverage of the proceedings, hoping to reduce the circus-like atmosphere that dominated the four-month trial last year.
Stephens also denied a motion from Arias to dismiss her attorney, Kirk Nurmi.
The new jury will be asked to determine if Arias should be sentenced to death. The decision must be unanimous, and if the jury does not come to a decision, Arias will automatically receive a life sentence. Stephens will then decide if she is eligible for parole after 25 years.
[CBS]
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