Nearly three years to the day after the Aurora theater tragedy, a verdict has been reached in James Holmes‘ trial.
Holmes was found guilty of 12 accounts of murder in the first degree, as well as multiple accounts of attempted murder. Holmes stood emotionless for nearly an hour as the verdicts for each account were read by Judge Carlos Samour Jr.
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The jury must now decide if Holmes will face the death penalty or a lifetime prison sentence. Although Holmes denied to testify during the first phase of the trial, he may testify now that he faces the potential of a death sentence.
The shooting took place at a midnight showing of “The Dark Knight Rises” July 20, 2012, at the Century 16 Theater in Aurora.
The jurors deliberated for about 13 hours and ultimately rejected the defense’s argument of insanity, according to 9 News Denver. Two of the jurors were connected to the Columbine shooting, while others had connections to mental health issues.
Two psychiatrists testified that Holmes was mentally ill but legally sane during the shooting.
Holmes’ trial began April 27, 2015.
Collegian Managing Editor Katie Schmidt can be reached at news@collegian.com or on Twitter @KatieDSchmidt.
Tommyboy • Jul 16, 2015 at 5:16 pm
Ironically it occurred on the same day that another mass shooting was carried out.