Judge Sherry Stephens on Thursday declared a mistrial in the penalty phase of trial of convicted murderer Jodi Arias, after the jury was unable to come to a unanimous decision on whether to sentence Arias to death or life in prison.
The penalty phase of the trial will be retried with a new jury starting July 18.
After just two hours of deliberation on Wednesday, the jury notified Stephens that the members were deadlocked and unable to render a unanimous verdict. Stephens sent them back to try and work out their differences - but it became apparent on Thursday that the gap could not be bridged.
On Tuesday, Arias had addressed the jury on her behalf as she pleaded for them to decide on a sentence of life in prison instead of execution.
That was in contrast to statements saying that she wanted to die when she was found guilty by the same jury in the murder of her ex-boyfriend, Travis Alexander.
Arias said that while she knew she could never make up for the pain and suffering that she had caused, she could still accomplish some good from behind prison walls.
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