Tuesday, July 14, 2015

Closing Arguments Begin In Trial Of Colorado Theater Shooter James Holmes

Marc Piscotty / Getty Images

AURORA, Colorado — The incredible scope of the Aurora, Colorado, movie theater massacre in 2012 was made painfully clear as the charges against the shooter, James Holmes, were read aloud in court Tuesday.

Holmes is facing 165 counts of murder and attempted murder, including 24 charges related to the 12 people who died in the shooting.

With closing arguments set to begin, Arapahoe County Judge Carlos A. Samour Jr. read through each of the victim's names, multiple times Tuesday. The reading and other parts of the jury instruction lasted much of the morning. Holmes, who has been swiveling slightly in his chair, stared straight ahead, motionless.

Just feet away, the families of victims filled the rows of benches. As the judge read the names, a woman patted the back of man with gray hair who had his head bowed slightly. A few rows ahead, a couple clasped hands.

Handout / Getty Images

Attorneys were expected to make their closing arguments later in the day after 11 weeks of testimony from hundreds of witnesses. District Attorney George Brauchler faces the burden of proof — that Holmes had the mental capacity to know right from wrong, to form the intent to murder, when he entered the theater on June 20, 2012, and opened fire.

State-appointed psychiatrists have testified that Holmes was legally sane at the time of the shooting, though he suffers from severe mental illness. A defense expert — a psychiatrist who specializes in schizophrenia — instead testified that Holmes was trapped in psychotic delusions in the weeks leading up to the shooting and could not be held responsible for his actions.

If the jury finds Holmes not guilty by reason of insanity, he will be confined to a state mental hospital indefinitely. If he is found guilty, a second phase of the trial will begin to determine whether he should receive the death penalty or life in prison.