The family of Travis Alexander have given their testimonies reflecting on how the death of Alexander have affected their lives in the death penalty phase of the trial today.
A decision on whether Jodi Arias will receive the death penalty after she murdered him last year will be given today.
(Check back for updates as the story develops.)
Jodi Arias was found guilty of the first degree murder of ex-boyfriend Travis Alexander by 12 jurors last week. Court reconvened Wednesday when the jury deliberated whether Arias should be eligible for the death penalty.
Alexander was killed on June 4, 2008 at his suburban Phoenix home after a day of sexual activity with Arias. He was found with a bullet wound to the head, as well as 29 stab wounds over his body, and his neck was slit almost from ear to ear.
Prosecutors addressed the jury on Wednesday taking them through a blow by blow account of the injuries Alexander suffered as he was being killed by Arias. A large screen in the court room was also used by prosecutors to show Alexander's horrific wounds.
Family members of the victim were seen weeping as the graphic images were shown, and some jurors could not bear to look up as the horrific nature of Alexander's death was put before them.
Jurors on Wednesday took less than three hours to determine that Arias should be eligible for the death penalty, as they ruled that it was an especially cruel and heinous killing.
On Thursday the penalty phase of the trial will commence, and prosecutors are expected to call family members of the victim as well as other witnesses to speak about the impact the killing has had on their lives, in an attempt to convince jurors that Arias deserves the ultimate punishment.
Analysts have been debating about what Arias could possibly do at this late stage to save herself.
Last week just minutes after the guilty verdict was read out she gave an interview where she stated she wanted the death penalty rather than life in prison. The extraordinary comments are thought to be what sparked an application from the defense team to drop Arias' case – which was made and denied on Thursday morning.
Arias could take to the stand on Thursday and plead for her life, but many analysts who have watched the trial from start to finish have stated that they would be stunned if she were to show her remorse and regret at this stage.
Throughout the trial she has attempted to portray herself as the victim and claimed that Alexander was the aggressor and had physically and emotionally abused her.
Watch the developments of Jodi Arias' death penalty phase in the video provided below:
