Brett Seacat Guilty Of First-Degree Murder, Kansas Seeks 'Hard 50' Sentence

I realize that there are always the chance for a fluke to occur. Yet at the same time in my opinion the fact that this woman exhibited an apparent sincere desire to get on with her life following an understandable period of depression that normally follows the realization that your marriage is over gives me cause to believe that this was a homicide and not a suicide.



That coupled with the fact that according to some psychologists and criminologists suicidal women tend to kill themselves by medical overdose, poison or slitting their wrists in the bathtub to prevent someone else from having to clean up after them. Additionally, it also very rare that these women would either one: include their children in the suicide or two: endanger them by burning down the house.



Historically women with children who have reached the point where suicide is the answer will customarily take their children to the home of a relative or close friend because they don't want their children to be the ones who discover their body.



I do believe that this jury reached the appropriate verdict.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Skylar Neese Murdered Because Teen Girls 'Didn't Want To Be Friends Anymore': Dad (VIDEO)

I'm not sure if you actually believe that or just trying to get a rise out of folks. Either way it is an ill though out statement. My father was so abusive I thanked God the day my Mother walked away from him. I know many families where the Father's are missing for one reason or another and the children have grown into some fine adults. Instead of zeroing in on one single factor, perhaps you should also consider the environment where these youths spend far more of their time than they do at home and that is school. I would think that with the ever growing number of teachers, both male and female being arrested for sex related crimes involving students tells a great deal about the type of bad influences today's children are facing. There is so much more to these types of tragic events than single Mom's struggling in the world today.
About Video
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Supreme Court: DNA Samples Can Be Taken From Arrestees Without Warrant

I must say as appealing as this process may be [even to me] there are many pros and cons. First and foremost in my mind is that there are far too many cases where law enforcement has operated through tunnel vision thus the resulting need to overturn [faulty] convictions. This is the exact same reason that I personally have mixed emotions on the death penalty. Forensic science has thankfully come a long way and has been an immeasurable tool but it is ONLY a tool that like any other tool in the tool box can be misused. The taking of DNA following an arrest is something I could support provided there were additional considerations such as it is a felony arrest and there exists equally substantiating evidence supporting the idea that the individual is truly a viable suspect for the crime.



Personally I believe that DNA is very compelling evidence however, I also believe that it should be further substantiated with additional physical evidence. I feel that we have reached a point in time where jurors have not only come to expect forensic evidence as part of the process, but they also demand that the presentation of this evidence provide a clear connection between the suspect and the crime. As a criminal justice student I naturally support whatever helps solve crimes, but not to the detriment our constitutional rights.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Marsha Blackburn: Women 'Don't Want' Equal Pay Laws

Somehow her little mind just can't wrap itself around the idea that women actually demand both of those options! We want to get hired because the company knows and believes we are the most qualified applicant for the position and can do the job AND we want to get paid the same as any man out there doing the same job. Quite frankly I just don't get it, these two issues go hand in hand, period.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Jodi Arias Denied Case Review By Arizona Supreme Court

I totally agree that there is a definite problem within the system but not with the system. The problem is the very real fact that there are far too many people that do not believe a young, female of small stature or who is pretty, or any combination there of is capable of committing such heinous acts. News flash to those individuals - it has been going on since the early 1600's. The justice system would work if all emotions and/or personal opinions were removed. However, that is impossible since the weakest link is the human link. As for my take on what has been revealed in this trial even without all the media commentary, it meets all the requirements as a death penalty case, I totally agree with the murder 1 conviction and think she should get the death penalty. While information has revealed that the breakdown as 8-4 for death, I think if the jury had the option of LWOP, they could have reached a unanimous decision.
About Jodi Arias
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

William Zervakos, Jodi Arias' Jury Foreman, Says 'System Is Flawed,' Death Decision Unfair

Not dumping, just curious. I’m curious as to just “how heinous of a killing deserves a similar fate?” The question that these jurors appeared to ‘struggle with’ during their deliberations. There are those who feel that she murdered him three times: Stabbed him in the chest [possibly aiming for the heart], slashed his throat [nearly decapitating him and then shot him in the head [just for good measure]. While I give those their opinion, that goes beyond the level warranting the PD in my opinion. Then add all the evidence of premeditation and all the actions taken to cover it up. I think those jurors who did not vote for the DP got caught up in false mitigating circumstances. Everything that could have been considered according to her defense team, she took away from Travis. She gave him no mercy, she cut short a life that already accomplished many positive things. He art, her prison book club, her recycling project are so shallow IMO when compared to what she took. It does not matter which way the jury votes, there are no winners in this case.
About Jodi Arias
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Jodi Arias Says She 'Deserves A Second Chance At Freedom Someday'

“In a surprise jailhouse interview…” What is so surprising about that? This is Jodi Arias. It would have been far more surprising of she had ‘gone quietly’ back to her cell. As we sit and wait, once again on Verdict Watch, I have to say that while I still feel that Martinez has done an outstanding job, I saw two missed opportunities in his closing arguments yesterday. Willmott hammered the jury with the term ‘mercy’ throughout her closing arguments. She also drilled the idea that Jodi has redeeming qualities in the things she wants to accomplish if she is sentenced to Life rather than Death. I waited for Martinez to ask what mercy did Jodi show Travis? I waited to hear him speak of all the positive things that Travis had already accomplished and will not be able to accomplish.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Jodi Arias Death Wish Not Sincere, Travis Alexander's Friends Say

The primary advantage I see in going ahead and sentencing her to Death is that (under normal circumstances) the average stay on Death Row is about 10 – 12 years, while some are longer. Inmates on Death Row do not have the socialization ‘enjoyed’ by the prisons general population. I agree with the sentiments expressed by Travis’ friends in that if Jodi has actually been threatening suicide since high school and has not accomplished it yet then she really has no intentions of taking her own life. By going ahead and sentencing her to Death, she will lose what she craves most in life. Her only contact will be her guards, there will be nobody to manipulate, to tell her wild tales to, or to seek pity from.



Every state runs its’ prisons differently based mostly associated with funding and other cost cutting measures. However, as a criminal justice student I am not only concerned with the process of justice that is carried out within the court system but the eventual end of that process and what it really means in the name of justice, for the victims and our society as a whole. With that in mind I would like to share the following link (supposedly) written by an inmate on Death Row in a Texas prison. Personally (if true) I find it a very fitting outcome for Jodi Arias.



“Life on Death Row: An Inmate’s Perspective” http://voices.yahoo.com/life-death-row-inmates-perspective-1372477.html
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Jodi Arias Trial Is Spectacle On Cable, Twitter And In Person

As a criminal justice student I’ve been following this case since the story first hit the news. I personally find it disheartening that there is so much of it that appears to be such a mockery of justice than a murder trial. I find it sickening that the judge has allowed Arias and her defense team to slander the name of Travis Alexander. They have never proven in any way, shape or form that Arias is or was a victim of domestic violence, she is not a battered woman, therefore there is no justification in what they have done to the character of a man who cannot speak in his own defense. I have spent nearly 30 years volunteering as a Recovery Coach for victims of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault and I am flabbergasted that the defense would even touch this topic based on the nonexistent evidence. My primary concern at this point is that the defense has conducted itself so inappropriately because of the mounting evidence that should result in a first degree felony murder conviction for the purpose of laying the groundwork for a least a hung jury that will result in a mistrial. That is my greatest fear regarding this case. The family and friends of Travis Alexander have waited four years for justice, lets pray that they get it.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Barack Obama: Newtown Shooting 'The Worst Day Of My Presidency'

Thanks, I'm more accustomed to getting bashed on here for my comments [grin]. Not that I actually set out to argue with anyone, it's just that I'm allergic to blanket statements. I'm a criminal justice student working toward my Masters' Degree and have an affinity for statistics. My 'side' as far as this article is concerned is that I support the ban on assault rifles and high capacity magazines among other things. Huff Post doesn't allow enough room to fully state my opinion on this subject.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost