Alyce LaViolette, a psychotherapist who specializes in domestic violence, has been testifying on Tuesday during the Jodi Arias trial, discussing "scientific reasoning" why Arias would stay with an abuser like Travis Alexander even after repeated instances of physical harm, as reported by the Associated Press.
Arias faces possible death penalty if convicted of first degree murder in the June, 2008 killing of Travis Alexander in his suburban Phoenix home.
Prosecutors have sought to paint her as a vindictive and jealous killer. Arias, and her defense team have claimed her actions were a result of self defense. As she took to the witness stand, for 18 days Arias described repeated instances of Alexander abusing her, once he choked her into unconsciousness.
Prosecutor Juan Martinez has had a hard time believing her testimony, or anyone the defense team has brought to the stand, for that matter. He said that Arias never chronicled any events of abuse by Alexander in her detailed journals, nor does she have any witness to corroborate her stories. (Arias, in response called her involvement in an abusive relationship can be attributed to "laws of attraction," modeled from the movie and book, "The Secret.")
Arias' victim Alexander suffered nearly 30 knife wounds, was shot in the head and had his throat slit.
She said she recalled Alexander attacking after a day of sex.
Forensic psychologist Richard Samuels concluded his 6th day of testimony in the murder trial on Monday. Prosecutor Juan Martinez spent much of Monday questioning forensic psychologist Richard Samuels' diagnosis that Arias suffered from dissociative amnesia and acute stress disorder after the killng. Martinez believes she never suffered from any kind of amnesia.
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