Jodi Arias and the Dilemma of Beautiful Killers: What’s the optimal amount of lipgloss to avoid the electric chair?

Tweetthe Daily Mail, “in the case of a woman claiming self-defense in the killing of an abusive husband, police officers were more likely to regard as innocent defendants who were described as unattractive.

The findings also showed that women perceived as more independent and in charge of their lives were also more likely to be seen as guilty of murder.”  Hm, ladies, maybe you should put away that compact and meekly gaze at your hands.

So what’s a pretty defendant to do?

I think it depends on how strong the case is. If the prosecution is weak, a bombshell might benefit from playing down her looks and reducing the risk of resentment from female jurors.  In Jodi Arias’s case, however, the government’s evidence is strong.  She’s lied so many times, people are highly skeptical of her story now.  In my opinion, she simply cannot be acquitted at trial.  However, she could avoid the electric chair if she got just one juror to take her side.  Since verdicts need to be unanimous, a single holdout could hang the whole case – and save her from hanging.  For that reason, Arias’s better strategy might have been to come to court in full vixen mode, and hope to make one of the jurors fall in love with her.

Of course, we all wish Justice was blind.  But since jurors don’t wear blindfolds, female defendants are wise to consider not only the best lawyer, but just the right shade of lipgloss.