James Holmes during his first court appearance on July 23, 2012.
Pool / Getty Images
James Holmes on Thursday was found guilty of first-degree murder for shooting and killing 12 people inside an Aurora, Colorado, movie theater in 2012. The massacre left 70 others injured.
The verdict came after a nearly three-month trial in which Holmes faced a total 165 charges in connection with the shooting. His defense team never disputed that Holmes was responsible for the killings, arguing instead that he was in the midst of a psychotic episode and was legally insane at the time.
The verdict means the same jury of nine women and three men can now sentence Holmes to death as the trial moves to the penalty phase. He would have been confined indefinitely to a mental hospital had he been found not guilty.
The verdict represents the a major milestone for the dozens of survivors and victims' families since Holmes walked into a screening of The Dark Knight Rises on July 20, 2012, and opened fire. He had over 700 rounds of ammunition with him during the shooting, as well as tear gas, and had spent months meticulously planning out the massacre. Several of those injured in the shooting continue to struggle with disabilities.
Holmes, far left, appears in court on June 16.
Uncredited / ASSOCIATED PRESS
During Holmes' trial, which began in April, a psychiatrist who specializes in schizophrenia testified for the defense that he was trapped in psychotic delusions in the weeks leading up to the shooting and could not be held responsible for his actions.
On Tuesday, during closing arguments, defense attorney Daniel King reiterated that argument, saying Holmes long struggled with mental illness and finally succumbed to it shortly before the massacre.
“Mental illness causes this to happen,” King said. “Only the mental illness caused this to happen and nothing else.”
Prosecutors disagreed.
A courtroom sketch shows prosecutor George Brauchler during Holmes' trial.
Jeff Kandyba / AP
Throughout the case, District Attorney George Brauchler argued that Holmes knew what he was doing. In his final remarks Tuesday, Brauchler added that Holmes' actions were deliberate, rational, and "anything but psychotic."
“That guy was sane beyond a reasonable doubt, and he needs to be held accountable for what he did,” Brauchler added.
Prosecutors called several experts to testify during the trial, including court-appointed psychiatrist Williams Reid, who said Holmes was sane.
“My opinion is that whatever he suffered from, it did not prevent him from forming the intent and knowing what he was doing, and the consequences of what he was doing,” Reid told the court in May.
Numerous victims also took the stand during the trial and recounted the horror of being in the theater when Holmes opened fire. Among them, Katie Medley talked about hearing shots ring out, then seeing that her husband Caleb had been shot in the face.
Katie Medley wheels her husband Caleb Medley out of court Tuesday.
Brennan Linsley / AP
“That’s when I saw blood pouring from his face,” she testified in April. Medley soon was saying “I love you” to Caleb for what she thought would be the last time. Caleb ultimately survived, but is wheelchair-bound and continues to suffer from other severe disabilities.
Prosecutors eventually charged Holmes with 24 counts of murder for the 12 people who died in the shooting. The remaining charges reflect the wounded victims, as well as Holmes' failed attempt to blow up his apartment.
Holmes' sentencing is scheduled for later this year.
LINK: Victims Describe Horror During Aurora Movie Theater Shooting
LINK: Jury Set To Deliberate On Sanity Of Theater Shooter James Holmes
LINK: James Holmes Targeted Theater Because “There’d Be A Lot Of People There”
from BuzzFeed - USNews http://ift.tt/1OhZaGD
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