[yorkietalkjilly]

The defense probably would have been wiser to have chosen a forensic psychologist, one who at least wasn't so obviously tainting her every answer with her biased advocacy. One who could speak to Arias' own psychological problems and her role in the relationship with a man who was apparently psychologically damaged and unstable himself; but as a defense witness, could still say that doesn't mean she didn't fear for her life when the man "attacked" her. But if Alyce LaViolette isn't credible, can't see the things about Jodi that led to her murdering a man when he rejected her, then her whole testimony isn't ultimately helpful to the defense and just cost those citizens in that jury and all the other Arizona taxpayers a good chunk of money for nothing. She seems unfair and narrow-minded in her blame of only Travis Alexander as being the only abuser in that relationship. Arias comes across as every bit as poisonous in her own right but Alyce never accepts that. I think the defense needed an expert to testify Arias was emotionally abused at times but also recognize, at least when asked, that she was not the sole victim in that relationship. Would have at least made their testimony appear analytical and objective as a so-called expert witness..

I would think that any reasonable person can see she's not fairly assessing Arias' calculating behavior in constantly luring Travis back to her using his own weaknesses and preying on him almost relentlessly. Further, AL is even dismissive of any suggestion that Arias has such a pattern of lying since her youth, that she could just as easily be lying about an "attack" by Travis in that bathroom and that her off-the-grid trip to Mesa was for one thing - to either win him back or murder him so he can have no other woman but her.

From the way that Travis talked to Jodi at times, it's almost as if he was trying to humiliate her so she would go away and leave him be, as he seems so co-dependent he appears powerless to fend her off for good - but Arrogant Alyce doesn't see that - all she sees is her poor little Jodi being "battered" by the bad man. It seems pretty obvious to me that both Travis and Jodi seem stuck in a vicious cycle of kinky and degrading interactions but Travis didn't know he actually had a tiger by the tail. I don't think he had any idea he was seriously in actual physical danger until the end. I simply cannot see Arias as the only victim in that relationship and feel that she well understood she had power over Travis Alexander by being his emotional and sexual slave and preying on his own psychological disorders. She seems to qualify as a true emotional predator after learning more about her but apparently Alyce sees none of that. I think AL hurt their case by perhaps angering some of those jurors with her stubborn bias.