CENTENNIAL, Colorado
Attorneys in the Colorado theater shooting case have one last chance to convince jurors that gunman James Holmes was either a calculating killer or a man in the grips of psychosis.
Closing arguments in the first phase of Holmes’ death penalty trial are scheduled for today. Prosecutors and defense attorneys will have two hours each to make their respective cases. Then jurors will begin deliberating nearly three years to the day after Holmes opened fire on the theater, killing 12 and injuring 70 more.
During nearly three months of testimony, prosecutors argued that Holmes methodically planned and carried out the attack. Two court-appointed doctors who examined him said he was mentally ill but legally sane.
Defense attorneys said Holmes suffers schizophrenia and was in the grips of a psychotic episode that rendered him unable to tell right from wrong. Two defense witnesses testified that Holmes was legally insane.
The Times Record Sustaining Sponsor
We believe a community must be informed to thrive. bowdoin.edu
Comments are not available on this story. Read more about why we allow commenting on some stories and not on others.
We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others.
We do not enable comments on everything — exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion.
You can read more here about our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is also found on our FAQs.
Show less