Jodi Arias Sentenced To Life Without Parole

Convicted boyfriend killer Jodi Arias has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Arias, 34, narrowly escaped a death sentence in March after jurors split 11-1 in favour of execution at her penalty phase retrial.

The lack of a unanimous verdict forced the judge to declare a mistrial, thus removing the death penalty as an option.

Sentencing then fell to Judge Sherry Stephens who had the option of imprisoning Arias for life or a life term with the possibility of parole in 25 years.

Arias was convicted in 2013 of the brutal killing of her ex-boyfriend Travis Alexander.

She testified at her trial that she acted in self-defence - a claim she stuck to while addressing the judge at her sentencing on Monday.

"When I was on the stand I told the truth," Arias said.

"I do remember the moment the knife went into Travis' throat and he was still conscious. He was still trying to attack me."

Mr Alexander was murdered in his Phoenix-area home in 2008.

His body was found in a shower, and in addition to his throat being cut, he had nearly 30 stab wounds and a gunshot wound to the face.

During the trial, which was broadcast live on television and attracted worldwide attention due to its salacious details, Arias' lawyers attempted to portray Mr Alexander as a sexual deviant who physically and emotionally abused her.

Members of his family fought back tears on Monday as they urged the judge to sentence Arias to life without parole.

Mr Alexander's sister, Hillary Wilcox, described the difficulty she has taking showers because of memories associated with her brother’s death.

Prosecutor Juan Martinez said a natural-life sentence was "appropriate, not because the family is vindictive but because what happened in that bathroom was a butchering".

The family "feels that blade going into them", he said. "Travis' screaming rings in their ears."

Despite sticking to her self-defence claim, Arias said on Monday she was "very sorry for the enormous pain I have caused for the people who loved Travis".

"To this day I can't believe I was capable of doing something that terrible," she added.

"I'm horrified by what I did and I wish there was some way I could take it back."

Arias will begin serving her sentence in a maximum-security unit at the Perryville prison for women, located 30 miles (48km) west of Phoenix.

She could be moved to lower-security units if prison officials deem her behaviour good over time.