Jodi Arias Trial Latest Update: Murderess Asks for Secret Testimony Fearing Spectator Threats

Jodi Arias sought to testify in secret during her sentencing retrial last October as she feared threats from spectators.

This was revealed last week after transcripts of in-chamber hearings were released. Arias had said she should be allowed to make her plea in secret as she received threats and hate mail from people who were watching the proceedings of the case as spectators, Latin Post reported. Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Sherry Stephens initially objected but later agreed to it.

Arias also made her case for testifying in secret when she claimed that a disturbed person introduced himself as her attorney at several jails, wanting to see her.

Following Stephens approval to let Arias testify in secret, the courtroom was closed to media and public. Eventually, when a law suit in the Arizona Court of Appeals challenging Stephens's decision was allowed to go through, the court was reopened, USA Today reported. However, Arias and her witnesses refused to testify during the retrial after the court reopened.

Last week's court proceedings had more in store as rebuttals were heard. Questioning qualifications of Dr. Janeen DeMarte, the psychologist who testified for the prosecution, the defense's psychologist Dr. Robert Geffner claimed he is better qualified to deduce Arias's mental state at the time of the Travis Alexander's murder, for which Arias was convicted, reported Christian Today.

Geffner claimed testified that Arias was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder while her boyfriend Alexander was disturbed. The jury in the retrial will decided if Arias should be sentenced to death or life in prison. The trial is expected to end by this month.