The plea by Jodi Arias to be executed rather than spend life in prison could be the "ultimate manipulation'' attempt to sway justice by a scheming killer, civil-rights lawyer Gloria Allred says.
"This is a person who thinks she can control everything,'' Allred told "The Steve Malzberg Show'' on Newsmax TV.
"Jodi, you no longer have control over this.''
Arias, who was found guilty in Arizona on Wednesday of the grisly murder of her ex-boyfriend Travis Alexander, appeared on television hours later and insisted she would "rather get death than life" in prison.
"I believe death is the ultimate freedom, so I'd rather just have my freedom as soon as I can get it," she told KSAZ-TV during a lengthy interview.
"It was completely inappropriate'' to do the interview, said Allred, who added, "Maybe this is the ultimate manipulation.''
Allred — whose clients have included the family of murder victim Nicole Brown Simpson; and Amber Frey, the ex-girlfriend of killer Scott Peterson — said she agreed with the jury's verdict.
"It was definitely justified by the evidence presented in the case,'' she said. "It was overwhelming … just a ridiculous amount of evidence.''
The jury on Thursday began the penalty phase of the trial, debating whether to recommend death by lethal injection or life behind bars without the possibility of parole.
Allred said she believes Arias, who has the right to make a statement in court before she is sentenced, will opt to speak.
"My guess is she's going to want to say something,'' she said.
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The Arias trial mesmerized the nation with jolting testimony about how the aspiring photographer shot Alexander in the face, stabbed him at least 20 times, and slit his throat. She claimed she acted in self-defense.
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