The Arizona attorney prosecuting Jodi Arias in her first-degree murder trial attacked the credibility of test results that a psychologist claims show Arias suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder.
Maricopa County Prosecutor Juan Martinez was cross-examining psychologist Richard Samuels, the defense's first expert witness, Tuesday when he brought into question Samuels opinion that Arias has PTSD and dissociative amnesia.
How, Martinez wanted to know, could the diagnosis be accurate when Arias later admitted she had lied about her role in the killing of her ex-boyfriend, Travis Alexander.
"They can lie to about 10, 15, 20, 30, 50 things that you consider irrelevant ... and that still would not affect your opinion in this case, right?" Martinez asked.
"If there were 50, 60 points, yes, of course, it would raise an alarm to me," Samuels replied.
During Monday's cross-examination, Martinez pointed out Arias was given the test for PTSD before she admitted killing her ex-boyfriend, Travis Alexander. At the time the test was given, in January 2010, Arias was claiming two unknown intruders had killed Alexander.
Arias at first vehemently denied any involvement in killing Alexander. His body was discovered June 8, 2008, in his Mesa, Ariz., apartment. An autopsy revealed he had been shot in the head, stabbed 27 times, his throat cut from ear to ear.
After DNA pinned Arias to the crime scene, she changed her story, claiming there had been a home invasion by two unknown killers. She later admitted to killing Alexander, but claimed it was in self-defense. The prosecution contends she murdered Alexander in a jealous rage over his new love interest.
Arias' lies, according to Samuels, were not relevant to his diagnosis because her answers to the post-traumatic stress test reflected how she was feeling at the time she took it.
"The results of the [test] do not reflect whether someone is telling one story or another. What it does reflect is the internal state of the individual. She experienced the trauma even though she was telling a story that was different from what actually happened. So this test reflects her internal struggle, her internal emotional state and, in my opinion, is perfectly valid," Samuels said.
The expert added, "It's not critical to the outcome of the test."
When Martinez pointed out that Samuels could only speculate about how Arias' lies would impact her diagnosis, the defense expert admitted that was what he was doing.
"I'm speculating," Samuels said.
The response sparked an immediate and pointed response by Martinez.
"Right, made it up right now. Speculating," Martinez shouted.
"No, clinical judgment, sir," Samuels snapped back.
Later, Martinez pointed out that Samuels' report on Arias only mentions that she met two of the criteria for PTSD, when the guidelines require three criteria for a diagnosis. Samuels said there was a typographical error in the report.
"Isn't it true that – it's a counting kind of thing – three are required to be found in order for there to be PTSD, correct?" asked Martinez.
"That’s correct," Samuels replied.
"You only listed two, right?" asked Martinez.
"That was a typographical issue," Samuels said.
"Is that yes or no?" asked Martinez.
"Yes, it is," responded Samuels.
"Sir, with regard to this, you're getting paid. How much are you getting paid per hour?" asked Martinez.
"I get paid per hour, $250," Samuels said.
"And for $250 an hour you're saying that you weren't paying enough attention to put whatever else was needed?" asked Martinez.
"I reviewed the report numerous times and I must admit I missed it," Samuels said.
Martinez then ended his cross-examination of the witness, prompting the defense to again go over the PTSD results with their expert witness.
During redirect, Samuels said Arias scored very high on the test. Her answers, his interviews with her and the evidence he has reviewed all support his diagnosis for PTSD, he said.
The defense is expected to continue their redirect of Samuels on Wednesday, when the trial resumes at 4 p.m. ET.
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