While the start date for the sentencing retrial of convicted killer Jodi Arias has yet to be determined defense attorneys for Arias have been filing motions that will shape how the retrial is conducted once it begins; the most recent motion filed requested that the jury of the retrial be sequestered, according to the Huffington Post.

Arias was convicted of first-degree murder for the gruesome killing of her former boyfriend Travis Alexander in May. Alexander was stabbed close to 30 times, had his throat slit and was shot in the head. While a jury was able to determine that the crime was severe enough to warrant the death penalty they were not able to agree if Arias should be given that penalty. Under Arizona state law the state is allowed to attempt a second penalty phase of the trial; the verdict cannot be overturned in the retrial, all that can be decided is whether or not Arias spends life in prison or if she will go to death row.

Judge Sherry Stephens had initially hoped to start the retrial by September but as more motions get filed and there is not another hearing until Sept. 16 a September start date appears increasingly unlikely. Judge Stephens has still not announced a ruling on a defense motion to have the Twitter accounts of potential jurors monitored or on a change of venue motion.

After the initial trial received an inordinate amount of media coverage, both the violent nature of the crime and the sexually explicit details of the trial contributed to America's fascination with the case, the defense has focused on limiting the media exposure for the retrial, including an attempt to bar cameras from the courtroom.

In their motion seeking sequestration the defense argues that the media coverage, including books about the trial and a TV movie, could sway a jury, according to the Huffington Post.

"This integrity is in the most danger of being compromised when the process is contaminated by outside influences," the motion said. "Given what took place in the last trial and the propensity for history to repeat itself, it is certainly beyond legitimate dispute that the threat to integrity of the retrial is severe."

It is expected that Judge Stephens will announce a start date and a ruling on this motion and others when court resumes on Sept. 16.