Thread: James Holmes to plead not guilty by reason of insanity

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Colorado theater shooting suspect James Holmes' attorneys file intent for him to plead not guilty by reason of insanity.

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Attorneys: Holmes plans insanity plea in Aurora shootings

By CNN Staff
updated 5:41 PM EDT, Tue May 7, 2013

(CNN) -- Attorneys for Colorado movie theater shooting suspect James Holmes on Tuesday filed their intent to enter a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity on behalf of their client.

Holmes faces charges in the July 20, 2012, shooting spree that took the lives of 12 people and wounded dozens more at the premiere in Aurora of the Batman movie "The Dark Knight Rises."

Federal agents have said the 25-year-old former University of Colorado doctoral student planned the attack for months.

His trial is scheduled to begin next February. If convicted, Holmes faces the death penalty.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/07/justic...ial/index.html

AP/ May 7, 2013, 5:35 PM

Colo. movie theater shooting suspect to enter insanity plea

DENVER Lawyers for the man accused of killing 12 people and injuring 70 in a Colorado movie theater said Tuesday he wants to change his plea to not guilty by reason of insanity.


Attorneys for James Holmes said in a court filing they plan to formally ask for the change of plea at a May 13 hearing.


A judge in the case previously entered a standard not guilty plea for Holmes. If the judge accepts the insanity plea, Holmes would be sent to the state mental hospital, where doctors would determine whether he was insane at the time of the July 20 shootings.

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If the doctors do determine that Holmes was insane, a jury could still find him guilty.


The insanity plea was widely expected given the compelling evidence against Holmes. He is charged with multiple counts of murder and attempted murder. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.

Holmes' attorneys have said in court hearings and written in court documents that Holmes is mentally ill. He was being seen by a psychiatrist before the attack on a midnight screening of the latest Batman movie that killed 12 people and injured 70.


Prosecutors say Holmes spent months buying guns and thousands of rounds of ammunition, donned police-style body armor and opened fire in a crowded Aurora theater during a midnight showing of the latest Batman movie on July 20. Twelve people were killed and 70 injured


Holmes could be executed if he's convicted of more than 160 counts of murder and attempted murder.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-...insanity-plea/