Colorado movie theater gunman, James Holmes, will be sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole.
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The conviction was reached after several weeks of testimony from some 200 witnesses – the judge ultimately concluding that Holmes was sane when he planned for several weeks to carry out the deadly attack, which began with the shooter tossing smoke grenades into the theater and firing a shotgun, a semi-automatic rifle and a pistol into the crowd.
At least 100 victims and witnesses are expected to testify about the crime’s impact.
State corrections officials will determine where Holmes will be incarcerated after an evaluation that includes his mental health.
The attack left 12 people dead, 70 injured and left scars on all of the families and friends.
The sentencing hearing is expected to last three days as dozens of victims and family members testify, as is allowed under Colorado law. Samour said Monday, addressing a shooting victim’s mother in open court after she complained Holmes didn’t receive the death penalty.
Tom Teves, whose son Alex was killed, called Holmes an evil coward and also denounced the defense attorneys as “agents of evil” who were trying to advance their own careers.
Before Judge Carlos Samour Jr hands down the formal sentence, the victims are given an opportunity to address the court but not Holmes directly.
The formal sentencing hearing will also decide Holmes’ punishment for all other charges related to the crime – including 140 counts of attempted murder. “The past haunts you to the point of exhaustion”, said Greg Medek, who cried as pictures of his daughter, Micayla, 23, were displayed on a courtroom television screen.
Michael Dailey spoke of the psychological challenges that he and his colleagues faced in the aftermath of the shooting, mentioning that many responders have struggled with depression and nightmares since that night.
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Following a trial that introduced almost 3,000 pieces of evidence, Holmes was spared the death penalty because one juror voted against it. I hope that prison is not kind to him.
