An Arizona woman who allegedly used a hammer to kill her husband is being compared to Jodi Arias, who was found guilty of murdering her former lover.
36-year-old Marissa DeVault pleaded not guilty to allegations that she killed Dale Harrell. According to ABC News, the mother of three children said she acted in self-defense during initial court proceedings this week.
Law enforcement officials have accused DeVault of striking Harrell on the head with a hammer while he slept in their suburban Phoenix home. About a month after the attack, 34-year-old Harrell died.
In her testimony, DeVault said her husband abused her, both physically and sexually, for years.
But according to the prosecution, DeVault was a cunning killer who felt little remorse for her alleged actions. A videotape of DeVault's interrogation showed the Arizona resident chuckling nervously while recounting the episode.
"Um, I saw a hammer go into Darrell's head," she said.
Prosecutors are reportedly trying to paint DeVault as a murderer, focusing on photos of her manicure and slight bruising as evidence for minimal struggle. Some legal representatives said the 36-year-old woman was looking to claim a life insurance package to pay back debts she allegedly owed to a former boyfriend.
ABC News reported on Monday that she borrowed around $300,000 from her ex-lover.
"The cold, hard truth is the defendant planned to kill Dale, and she did it," prosecuting attorney Eric Basta announced in his closing statement. "The motive was money."
Like Arias, DeVault could be sentenced to death if she's found guilty.
"If the jury finds the claims of abuse credible, that could lead it to arrive at a compromise verdict, and avert a first-degree murder conviction," ABC News Chief Legal Affairs Anchor Dan Abrams said, adding that he thinks the jury will convict DeVault of second-degree murder at the very least.
Arias shot, stabbed and slit the throat of ex Travis Alexander, but a jury couldn't come to a unanimous decision on her sentencing. She's scheduled to stand trial in September.
ABC News reported that DeVault and Arias made friends while in jail.
