Jury UNABLE to reach a verdict in Jodi Arias case as Travis Alexander's relatives weep when they hear a new jury will be called to determine the punishment but not until JULY - The jury could not come to a unanimous decision about whether to execute Jodi Arias or to sentence her to life in prison
- They were the group that spent five months listening to graphic details about the 2008 murder of Travis Alexander
- Now a new jury must be called and they will be forced to decide what Jodi Arias' sentence should be for the premeditated murder
- The new jury will not be able to override the guilty verdict
- Move draws out the case longer as the new jury won't be called until July
By Meghan Keneally
PUBLISHED: 00:08 GMT, 24 May 2013 | UPDATED: 01:18 GMT, 24 May 2013
There were dramatic scenes in court today as the judge declared a mistrial over the sentencing of Jodi Arias since the jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict over whether or not she should be executed for murdering her ex-boyfriend.
The jury was dismissed from the courtroom after spending five months on the case, and while they did decide that she was guilty of the premeditated murder of Travis Alexander, but they could not decide whether she should spend life in prison or be put to death.
The next step in the seemingly-unending trial comes on July 18, when an entirely new jury panel is determined and tasked with delivering the final verdict in the case.
A major part of the jury selection process will be the determination of whether or not the individuals say they are morally able to render a death penalty verdict should one be called for.
The scene in the Phoenix, Arizona courtroom on Thursday afternoon- when the jury came back to the judge with their inability to agree- was not one of relief.
Arias herself looked upset and began crying, though not necessarily tears of joy.
Alexander's siblings, who have been a constant presence throughout and have all uprooted their lives in California to focus on the trial, were all crying as well.
One female juror was at least sympathetic to them, and she was seen mouthing the word 'sorry' toward the Alexanders.
Judge Sherry Stephens, who showed some tough love to the jury yesterday, was very complimentary to them today.
'This was not your typical trial. You were asked to perform some very difficult duties,' she said.
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