Is Jodi Arias a victim of domestic violence or a jealous ex-girlfriend?
That question comes more into focus as the trial winds down. Testimony is expected to resume Thursday with the defense cross-examining a prosecution psychologist who casts doubt that Arias was abused or suffered from from post-traumatic stress disorder.
Defense attorney Jennifer Willmott began her second day of cross-examination of Dr. Janeen DeMarte on Wednesday. Willmott repeatedly questioned DeMarte about her education and qualifications, in an apparent attempt to show she lacks experience in her field. Willmott also suggested DeMarte was not qualified to offer an opinion on domestic violence.
"You don't consider yourself an expert in domestic violence, do you?" Willmott asked.
"I’ve had a lot of experience in domestic violence ... It depends on how you define expert," DeMarte said.
"Do you define yourself as an expert of domestic violence?" Willmott asked.
"I would not call myself an expert in domestic violence specifically ... I have a lot of experience with it but I wouldn't put that term on it because I think it's an important term -- very specific," DeMarte said.
Defense lawyers say Arias was physically and emotionally battered by Travis Alexander and feared for her life when she shot him, stabbed him nearly 30 times, and cut his throat from ear to ear in his Mesa, Ariz., home on June 4, 2008.
During her 18 days on the stand, Arias told jurors she killed Alexander in self-defense after he attacked her for dropping his camera. Prosecutors say the murder was premeditated and fueled by jealously.
Willmott's questioning of DeMarte on Wednesday was supposed to continue after the afternoon recess, but court was canceled. Arias was reportedly suffering from a severe migraine.
The trial is set to resume at about 12:30 p.m. Eastern time, when Willmott is expected to continue her cross-examination of DeMarte.
Read below for minute-by-minute updates from court Thursday:
The Huffington Post is live blogging Thursday's testimony. Check back here for updates.
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