After being convicted for first degree murder charges for the killing of her ex-boyfriend Travis Alexander, Jodi Arias told FOX-10 Phoenix that she prefers the death penalty over a life in prison, the Associated Press reported.
Arias said in the interview that she would "prefer to die sooner than later" and that "death is the ultimate freedom." Arias previously said she considered suicide after killing Alexander. She has been placed under suicide watch.
The 12-person jury, comprised of eight men and four women, took about 15 hours to reach its verdict after four months of testimony. Arias took the stand for 18 days.
The jury returns to the courtroom on Thursday to begin the next phase of the trial, which is expected to decide whether she will receive the death penalty. Prosecutors will argue if the killing was committed in an especially cruel, heinous and depraved manner, called the "aggravation" phase. Another phase will begin to determine if she should get the death penalty.
Arias' victim, her former lover Alexander, suffered nearly 30 knife wounds, shot in the forehead and had his throat slit before she dragged his body into his shower. Friends found him there about five days later, news reports said. During testimony, Arias said that she had no memory of stabbing him. While taking the witness stand, Arias also described that she had an abusive childhood, worked dead-end jobs, and had cheating boyfriends. Alexander, she said had grown physically abusive with her, as well.
The trial has garnered a media blitz, akin to the O.J. Simpson trial nearly 20 years ago. People flocked to outside the courtroom a few hours before the verdict was read. The huge crowd reportedly screamed and cheered when news hit that Arias had been convicted.
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