Mystery over laptop stolen from psychologist whose testimony in the Jodi Arias murder trial poked holes in the accused murderer's self-defense plea

[Erica Absetz <erica () riskbasedsecurity com>]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2319703/Jodi-Arias-murder-trial-Mystery-laptop-stolen-psychologist-Dr-Janeen-Demarte-weeks-testified.html

The psychologist who testified in the Jodi Arias murder trial had her
laptop stolen in February, just weeks before she was slated to testify
in the highly publicized murder trial, a new report has revealed.

Dr Janeen Demarte told police that the computer contained notes that
pertained to the murder trial.

The clinical psychologist, who graduated from Michigan State
University in 2009, gave expert testimony in April that she did not
believe Jodi Arias has been abused by her slain boyfriend,Travis
Alexander, who was murdered in 2008.

Arias is charged with first-degree murder in the 2008 stabbing and
shooting death of Alexander.

The prosecution claims she planned the attack in a jealous rage but
the Arias' defense team says it was self-defense.

Now information has emerged regarding the theft of the computer that
belonged to the health care professional preparing to give expert
testimony in the Arias trial.

Police arrived at the Phoenix home of Dr Demarte on February 6, after
a home alarm tipped them off to a possible burglary at around 9:30am,
according to KSAZ-TV.

The woman was described as frantic when she realized the computer was
missing because there were notes connected to the case, that were not
password protected and could easily be accessed.

When officials arrived, they found no forced entry and neighbors have
said they didn't see or hear anything unusual.

Investigation: Footage shows Dr Janeen Demarte, speaking to
investigators in February after her laptop was stolen from her home in
Phoenix. The computer contained notes pertaining to the Arias case

The police report notes that though the laptop was stolen, diamond
earrings sitting out in the doctor's bedroom and cash that was stored
in a drawer was not taken.

The police report did not say if investigators felt there could be a
connection to the Arias case.

Demarte, a clinical psychologist, testified in April saying that in
her professional opinion, Arias had not been abused by her boyfriend.

She told the court that the defendant did not exhibit signs of post
traumatic syndrome, which the Arias defense team had claimed was to
blame for the murder.

The psychologist instead said she believe that the accused had a
borderline personality disorder.

The defense team for the woman has alleged that Alexander had grown
physically abusive in the months before she killed him, once even
choking her into unconsciousness, but she kept seeing him because she
was in love.

However, there has been no evidence or testimony during the trial to
corroborate her stories that Alexander was violent or owned a gun -
the very gun she says she used to shoot him.

The defense has portrayed Alexander as a cheating womanizer who used
Arias for sex and abused her physically and emotionally.

Prosecutors have depicted Arias as an obsessed ex-girlfriend who
couldn't come to grips with the ending relationship.

Trial: Closing arguments in the four-month long Jodi Arias murder
trial wrapped up on Friday as a jury now deliberates to determine the
fate of the 32-year-old (pictured right with her slain boyfriend
Travis Alexander)

Alexander suffered nearly 30 knife wounds, was shot in the forehead,
and had his throat slit. Arias' palm print was found in blood at the
scene, along with nude photos of her and the victim from the day of
the killing.

She said she recalls Alexander attacking her in a fury after a day of
sex. She said she ran into his closet to retrieve a gun he kept on a
shelf and fired in self-defense but has no memory of stabbing him.

Closing arguments in the four-month murder trial wrapped up on Friday
as a jury now deliberates to determine the fate of the 32-year-old
Arias.

She could receive the death penalty if she is found guilty.
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