Defense attorney urges jury to give Jodi Arias a life term



PHOENIX (AP) — The lead defense lawyer for Jodi Arias pleaded with jurors to give the convicted murderer a life sentence.

A Phoenix jury will decide what punishment to give Arias for killing on-again-off-again boyfriend Travis Alexander in 2008 in what prosecutors called a jealous rage. Arias has acknowledged killing Alexander but claimed it was self-defense after he attacked her.

She was convicted nearly two years ago of murder, but the jury deadlocked on what punishment to give her.

As he made his closing argument Tuesday, defense lawyer Kirk Nurmi showed jurors a picture of Arias and Alexander together.

He told jurors the choice before them is life or death.