Jodi Arias doesn’t want the jury in the next part of her trial--the sentencing phase--to know what she thinks about her lawyer or one of her former cellmates.
Two motions filed in the Maricopa County Superior Court asks Judge Sherry Stephens to not reveal information about Arias lawyer Kirk Nurmi or former cellmate Cassandra Collins.
Arias allegedly confided in Collins that she wanted to kill prosecutor Juan Martinez, an allegation that Arias later denied.
The motion notes that no evidence of Collins’ claim has been found, and that Collins “was found criminally incompetent to stand trial and had mental health problems of such severity that she was involuntarily committed to a mental health facility,” reported the Phoenix New Times.
The other motion requests that information about a handwritten motion Arias made for a change of counsel last fall not be revealed.
Arias in the 15-page handwritten letter told the judge that she doesn’t trust defense lawyer Kirk Nurmi, he doesn’t like her, and that he has an “utter poverty of people skills.”
If the jury found out then the members would be unfairly prejudiced, Nurmi said in the motion he filed on behalf of Arias.
“Ms. Arias draws the Court’s attention to this rule because if she claims and/or assertions contained in Ms. Arias’ Motion to Change Counsel are somehow deemed relevant and in turn admissible, both of Ms. Arias’ attorneys would then become witness as they would then have relevant perspective on the claims and/or assertions Ms. Arias’ made in this motion,” the motion states. “Thus...both of Ms. Arias’ attorneys would be ethically bound to withdraw. This withdrawal then would interfere with the rights due Ms. Arias.”
