Aurora movie theater shooting day 54: Prosecution hopes to move to next sentencing phase

Day 54 in the Aurora movie theater shooting trial – People vs. James Eagan Holmes. Today, prosecutors hope to move on to the second phase of the sentencing hearing. The jury found Holmes, the admitted gunman, was sane when he went into the midnight premiere of the Dark Knight Rises in an Aurora, Colorado, movie theater and opened fire on the audience, killing 12 and wounding 70. 7NEWS and TheDenverChannel.com will have gavel to gavel coverage of the trial starting at 8:15 a.m. (MST) everyday and ending around 5:30 p.m. (MST) Watch new live video on our YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/7NewsDenver/live Additional resources:LIVE VIDEO & BLOG: http://bit.ly/theatertrialTIMELINE of the case: http://bit.ly/theatertimelineJURY PROFILE: http://bit.ly/theaterjury CONTINUING COVERAGE: http://bit.ly/theatercoverage

3rd & 7 37yd

Ok, how IS everyone adding a avi?????

by FMM 7/23/2015 5:12:21 PM
@Frank - Thank you for your comments and insight. They are a beacon on a stormy night!

by Just Thinkin 7/23/2015 5:12:30 PM
@Anica, Thats ok, I'm sure we will sruvive

by NT8 7/23/2015 5:12:32 PM
@Anica - I think the judge described each video late yesterday while they were discussing how to proceed with the request

by colo 7/23/2015 5:12:42 PM
Thanks Phil & Edy-that explanation makes sense and brings me some RELIEF!!! Have a good day, friends...Pop an Alka seltzer for me (ha-I need one after this).

by fascinated 7/23/2015 5:12:47 PM
FMM-signed in through FB

by Michelle Schack 7/23/2015 5:13:15 PM
channel 7 will you send out an alert when the jury comes back on this one?

by Happy 7/23/2015 5:16:26 PM
@Happy - I'll ask Phil about sending an alert, since some of us are waiting so anxiously...

by anica.padilla 7/23/2015 5:17:14 PM
I also am not a troll and have been here every day. I believe that everyone is entitled to their opinion and we are all entitled to disagree or agree. I like the opinions that people share on here. It doesnt matter what we may have done or not done in this situation the fact that it happened is the FACTS. Veronica was there and she wanted to be there. She did not want to be murdered but she was. JH I believe was insane and still is insane but my opinion is that he is going to get the death penalty and then everyone here can watch the next 40 years of news on updates on how the State of Colorado wont actually kill him.

by Stacie 7/23/2015 5:17:31 PM
LJM, he told Dr. Reid after he was medicated that he didn't care if he was killed, but his parents want him to live so he wants to live for them. I believe he's had more contact with them mostly through mail since being in prison and he's found that he likes it, IMO.

by Tammy Garrison 7/23/2015 5:18:32 PM
I think I was just overruled on one of my comments. Ha-ha! It's all good :) Tough job Judge Anica . . .tough job!

by Just Thinkin 7/23/2015 5:24:51 PM
@Tammy - It seems like mail is the primary form of contact yes. Also all of his admirers which is apparent from the pictures he has in his cell (extremely disturbing to me). I can imagine he likes the attention he is getting without actually having direct social contact. This has probably been answered, but does anyone know if he gets life in prison if he will remain solitary have to interact more with other inmates?

by LjM 7/23/2015 5:25:06 PM
Add an Avi: Go to where you add a comment and click Sign Out, click the plus sign by photo and add existing photos and type your login name.

by Kristle 7/23/2015 5:25:12 PM
Thank you anica

by Happy 7/23/2015 5:25:14 PM
Would like to hear your thoughts on JH attentiveness Wednesday when attorney and judges going over instructions he seemed to be very "engaged" in conversations and also reading documents. When jury is present he is looking off to lala land ?

by Dianne Hughs 7/23/2015 5:25:15 PM
Same here Just Thinkin!

by Loz 7/23/2015 5:25:26 PM
That's why i think she should changer her picture to a gavel. COMMENT OVERRULED :)

by Loz 7/23/2015 5:29:39 PM
Exactly what I've been thinking LJM, and yes, he'll get solitary, which again, is what he wants.

by Tammy Garrison 7/23/2015 5:29:47 PM
All part of his Plot Dianne! Just proves how planned out this entire thing is. Now he is working on his jailhouse lawyer degree.

by NT8 7/23/2015 5:30:34 PM
Dianne, I don't think anybody said this, but I just thought he was following along on a copy of the jury instructions as they went over them. Just my opinion.

by Tammy Garrison 7/23/2015 5:30:40 PM
I just think that JH doesn't want to appear to be 'normal'. I think he is trying to sway the jury into thinking he is a nut job so he won't get DP

by vt 7/23/2015 5:31:38 PM
I thought his "performance" on Wednesday was disgusting. Bring the jury back in and all of a sudden all he can do is spin in his chair. Interesting.

by Kels 7/23/2015 5:31:52 PM
@Dianne Hughs
JH was going thru stuff with the court as it was going thru it as well that's why he was more engaged as you stated. That was all new information that he's DT would have wanted to go thru so that if he had any questions for them as well as when the Judge spoke to him about he's options of speaking or not speaking during this phase of the trail he would be able to answer correctly and knowing what he was speaking about.. When court is going on he is doing a instructed to do by his DT which is what normally happens during most trails

by LG 7/23/2015 5:31:59 PM
@me i NEVER said god was invalid. i said that argument is invalid because it's 'only god can judge. not 'only god can kill,.' and as far as ugliness goes, i was not ugly to you. i was simply responding to the theories you proposed.. among them, being that the preview shown every five minutes and she knew what it was.

by blue 7/23/2015 5:32:12 PM
Loz, speaking of picture, what is yours?

by Tammy Garrison 7/23/2015 5:32:25 PM
@Despicable Me - I am quite the opposite of a bleeding heart liberal, but I think your comments about kids in the theater are valid. I don't understand that by saying that, that means blame is being placed. To me, it is an avoidance of parental responsibility or any responsibility, really; his case just highlights parental. I was NOT Ashley Mosher's fault. However, if she HAD been one blink more responsible she would be at home with her 6-year-old, pregnant and walking and unfortunately, she will think about that for the rest of her life. But on the flip side of that, I also believe JH's parents played a part in this. If they had come for a very basic welfare check on their son (knowing their own family history and having a call from a psychiatrist raising a red flag) they would have seen what he was up to based on what was already in his apartment.

@Sophiamtn@gmail.com - I didn't read her comment as blame at all, but it seems to be very politically incorrect to say that there might be others factors to look at.

If this society REALLY wants to change things, we are going to have to make some big changes to privacy laws, and further make some uncomfortable changes and it will be a slow process.

There is no need for anyone to now attack me for blaming victims because I am just not doing that. I have said multiple times that NO ONE deserves this on any level, and frankly I believe the jury has been great in their decisions so far so I support whatever decision they come back with. His side of things isn't exactly a happy one either (having your brain deteriorate in front of your face must be terrifying, but now he has to answer for the decisions even a sick mind made). A friend said to me the other night that these sick minds just have no place in our society and although that is a harsh statement, I understand what he is saying.

by Niki C. 7/23/2015 5:34:05 PM
Rebel Alliance insignia - Star Wars geeky stuff :)

by Loz 7/23/2015 5:34:07 PM
I should have known that. We are intense Star Wars geeks at our house, when we aren't Star Trek geeks. : 0)

by Tammy Garrison 7/23/2015 5:36:18 PM
James is a victim of mental illness. Hope he gets help.

by anon 7/23/2015 5:36:20 PM
Thank you Anica...

by A.L. 7/23/2015 5:38:34 PM
Boy I forget how bad that video sound quality was!

by Tammy Garrison 7/23/2015 5:38:36 PM
@Blue TOTALLY agree! I will take it a step further and say I don't understand why a murderer sentenced to death, is even allowed to breath 30-40+ years. Especially heinous crimes to children. I know, I know, it's our legal system but to me that is messed up.

by You are right Blue! 7/23/2015 5:38:51 PM
I think this question got lost, but are the Jury Instructions for Phase 1 posted anywhere?

by Just Thinkin 7/23/2015 5:38:53 PM
Working to get a link to the jury instructions for phase 1...

by anica.padilla 7/23/2015 5:39:53 PM
James Holmes has stated that he will not and does not want to testify. If he, for some reason, changes his mind, will he be allowed to speak?

by Joye Willett 7/23/2015 5:40:05 PM
Wow... this "chat" room appears to have turned into a "Novel" writing room now... LOL

by LG 7/23/2015 5:40:32 PM
Aninca I don't know if this would break any kind of rule, but I am curious as to the ages of folks commenting. Could we do a poll to see the ages of commenters? If not age, countries? I love poll.

by wp 7/23/2015 5:40:39 PM
Whoaaaa @wp... just what I was thinking!

by anica.padilla 7/23/2015 5:40:57 PM
As far as the death penalty, it appears to me that it's not a good sign that the jury is deliberating this long. Agree, or no?

by Nadine 7/23/2015 5:41:08 PM
I don't think one way or another about children being at a movie at midnight, but I think it is mean to blame her mother. God I hope Ashley is not seeing this.

by caz 7/23/2015 5:42:05 PM
I would also prefer to not have a religious debate here, but again, you may state your opinions as long as you are not disrespectful to others.

by anica.padilla 7/23/2015 5:42:08 PM
I am fine with everyone making ONE comment on whether children should have been at a midnight movie - without calling anyone else out by name. I'd like it to end there.

by anica.padilla 7/23/2015 5:42:11 PM
@Lolz I think she's right and you have a dirty mind!

by anica.padilla 7/23/2015 5:43:05 PM
@wp I thought they did a poll like that earlier age range! @Ch7?

by LG 7/23/2015 5:43:32 PM
@LG - I know I'm sorry for making that so long

by Niki C. 7/23/2015 5:43:37 PM