Last month, the killer had been convicted on 12 counts of murder in the first degree and scores more charges, including murder, attempted murder and explosives possession. The sentence will be announced at 7 p.m. Some had a grim face.
Advertisement
The jury had since been considering what sentence to pass. Families of the victims left the courtroom as Judge Carlos Samour delivered the verdict which spared him execution.
The jurors returned the sentence Friday.
One juror, who only wanted to be identified as “juror 17”, talks with the media in the parking lot of the courthouse after the conclusion of the trial. When they asked if he had an accomplice, he replied: “No, it’s just me”.
“She felt that life [in prison] was appropriate and she would not be swayed”.
Jury fails to agree on capital punishment, meaning James Holmes will serve life in prison without parole for 12 murders. She sagged into him and he held her up.
MARKUS: Victims’ families were split on the death penalty.
Holmes was not immediately remanded to prison. He choked up when he read the name of the youngest victim, Veronica Moser-Sullivan, 6. Seventy people were also wounded. “No, I’m sorry”, Sullivan said. But it was not unanimous on the death penalty. Holmes repeatedly declined to testify during the trial, and did not make a statement during the penalty phase. Brauchler said he did so because the defense refused to let Holmes be examined by a state psychiatrist and produce the notebook in which he explained the attack.
Sandy Phillips wore an emerald green pashmina shawl that belonged to her slain daughter. He apologized to the families of the victims, although they said they appreciated his efforts and that they knew he did every he could to ensure a death sentence.
Nine jurors were in favor of the death penalty, a member of the panel said later.
“What we have to remember is we could not have gotten through any of this without the kind words and love and support of everyone”, he said. “But the jury chose another way and we have to accept that”.
“That’s not justice”, he said angrily. “He’s living. He’s breathing and our loved ones are gone”.
The shooting occurred during a midnight showing of a Batman movie, “The Dark Knight Rises“, when Holmes burst into the theater through a rear door and opened fire.
In closing arguments Thursday, public defender Tamara Brady said the assault was a “tragedy” born of disease, not choice. The jury said that they were unable to come to a unanimous verdict on whether to impose the penalty, meaning that he would receive a life sentence without parole.
The prosecutors, however, spoke of the months of planning Holmes put into the attack and had even booby trapped his apartment knowing police would visit it after the shooting. Kindness and hope were more on his mind than justice or vengeance.
He had pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. They were called upon to do things that a lot of people wouldn’t do.
In July 2012, Holmes burst into the Century Aurora movie complex dressed in head-to-toe body armor and fired 76 shots, killing 10 people.
Advertisement
A tear gas canister exploded in the theater, then gunfire rained from an AR-15 rifle, a 12-gauge shotgun and at least one. The police arrested Holmes outside.
