The opening statements begin in the Aurora, Colorado, Movie theater shooting.
James Holmes, 27, allegedly killed 12 innocent people and injured 70 others in the 2012 rampage at a midnight showing of ‘The Dark Knight Rises.’ He is currently charged with 166 felonies and has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. Prosecutors reveal that two psychiatrists who conducted 50 hours of interviews with Holmes concluded that he was sane at the time of the shooting. In addition, Holmes’ notebook, details both his personal life as well as plans to attack the movie theater. Holmes’ defense attorney suggests that he was in the middle of a psychotic episode and should be found not guilty. However, if he is found guilty, jurors must decie if he deserves the death penalty.
From Buzzfeed:
Defense attorney Daniel King described how James Holmes’ paternal grandfather suffered from mental health conditions and was diagnosed with atypical psychosis. King also described an aunt who suffers from schizophrenic affective disorder.
King said in the opening statements that Holmes began to have mental health problems at a young age and attempted suicide at the age of 11.
She describes Holmes as unique because he is genetically gifted with a high IQ, while being cursed with a history of mental illness.
Spengler said Holmes wanted to study neuroscience to find a way to fix his brain. She outlined how his mental issues increased once he arrived at the University of Colorado for a selective Ph.D. program when he was 23-years-old, and said he experienced a break from reality soon after he turned 24.
James Holmes’ defense attorney will attempt to prove that he was not only insane at the time of the shooting, but he had been suffering several mental health conditions leading up to the movie theater massacre.
What do you think? Is James Holmes’ guilty? Share with us your thoughts in the comments below!
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