Arias: Surrebuttal 5/1

As typical in this trial, court begins late.  Thinking back to the Casey Anthony trial, I remember what admiration I had for Judge Belvin Perry.  That man knew how to run a courtroom.  He had respect for the lives of the jurors.  Last week the judge in this case, Sherry K. Stephens, decided all testimony will conclude today, no matter how long it takes.  Closing arguments begin tomorrow at 9:30am PT.

Deanna Reid, Chris and Sky Hughes and Grandma Allen are all spotted in the public gallery.

Closeups of Jodi's left hand reveal reddened knuckles. Hmmm. I didn't notice it until during the testimony of  Dr. Jill Hayes (comments on her testimony tomorrow).

---

Dr. Robert Geffner, PhD - Cliff Notes:

• Has a Diplomate in Clinical Neuropsychology and one in Family Psychology.
• Demeanor is affable (laughs a lot); mostly non-combative; nervous or just clumsy (spilled his water twice); gassy (belched into the mic).  
• Is a friend of Alyce LaViolette (edited her book). 
• Claims to have testified in a hundred criminal trials (not all in states where he was licensed). Licensed in California and Texas, not in Arizona.  Testimony not found credible in a few cases cited.  Clearly skilled in presenting criminal court testimony.
• Knows nothing about the Jodi Arias case although originally retained in November 2012 solely to critique the reports of other expert witnesses (Horn, Samuels and DeMarte).  Did not interview anyone in connection with this trial, including Arias.  Did not review supplemental documentation (only reports and tests).  Neither he nor his staff has seen any trial coverage or reporting. [Yeah, right.]
• Has never attended an autopsy.  Can't determine wound track of the bullet based on Dr. Horn's autopsy report yet is positive frontal lobe damage wouldn't incapacitate without passing through the motor strips. 
• Doesn't find DeMarte's BPD diagnosis credible.  Finds indicators of stress and anxiety probative.  Can't make a psychological diagnosis.  
• Doesn't seem to think deception or exaggeration on psychological tests is particularly troubling.  He found indicators of possible exaggeration and/or malingering for secondary gain on the MCMI and MMPI tests.  Was not concerned with the primary lie Arias gave on the PDS test.

---

Defense points scored:  -5 for presenting this witness then drawing out the testimony beyond its usefulness and for excess objections, on cross, not sustained.

Prosecution points scored:  +5 for effectively discrediting this witness as a hired gun willing to critique other experts without having all the facts or, in the case of the gunshot wound testimony, the requisite expertise.