Opening Statements: Theater Shooting Trial Day 1

Opening statements in the theater shooting trial – People vs. James Eagan Holmes. Prosecutors will argue that Holmes, the admitted gunman, was sane when he went into the midnight premiere of the Dark Knight Rises and opened fire on the audience, killing 12 and wounding 70. His defense attorneys will try to spare Holmes’ life by arguing that he was insane. Other resources:LIVE BLOG and analysis: http://bit.ly/theatertrialCASE TIMELINE: http://bit.ly/theatertimelineJURY INFORMATION: http://bit.ly/theaterjuryCONTINUING COVERAGE: http://bit.ly/theatercoverage

3rd & 7 37yd

Defense attorney: James Holmes "lost his mind to a disease called 'schizophrenia.'"

by anica.padilla 4/27/2015 9:35:42 PM
Defense attorney: "When James Holmes walked into that theater on July 20, he was insane."
#theatershooting

by Anica Padilla via twitter 4/27/2015 9:32:24 PM
Thank you Channel 7 for airing this trial. This should bring us all to our knees in tears.....words fail me. In the end, we can only rely on our laws and our courts to carry them out.

by cece 4/27/2015 9:31:24 PM
Defense Attorney Dan King begins opening statement by holding up James Holmes' notebook.

by anica.padilla 4/27/2015 9:27:13 PM
by Denver7 4/27/2015 9:23:09 PM
This photo is of the jury box, showing the view the attorneys are seeing as they deliver their opening statements

by Denver7 4/27/2015 9:19:48 PM
This is what the courtroom would look like if you were seated behind the defense

by Denver7 4/27/2015 9:19:39 PM
@Javajeff: There are multiple screens around the courtroom. I'll upload a photo in a moment

by Denver7 4/27/2015 9:18:42 PM
Can the defense see an identical screen to the one behind them? Are they purposely ignoring the pictures / slide show? He seems so emotionless when his victim's pictures appear.

by Javajeff 4/27/2015 9:18:26 PM
District attorney: Shooter left the theater during the previews to get dressed in his "kill suit."

by anica.padilla 4/27/2015 9:16:04 PM
District attorney: "By the time he gets into that theater on July 20, there is not a millimeter of flesh that isn't covered by some protective armor or piece of clothing."

by anica.padilla 4/27/2015 9:11:27 PM
District attorney: Shooter practiced at range in Byers, 2 1/2 hours away - because it was "not suspicious" and unsupervised. Also practiced shooting with gloves on.

by anica.padilla 4/27/2015 9:07:43 PM
Programming note: We will return to the courtroom video feed in approximately 20 minutes for the Defense team's opening statements

by Denver7 4/27/2015 9:03:48 PM
Judge Samour calls 20 minute break after repeating instructions that jurors must "resist the temptation" to talk about the case.

by anica.padilla 4/27/2015 9:03:30 PM
District attorney: 6-year-old Veronica Moser-Sullivan was shot 4 times. "I won't show the picture again."

by anica.padilla 4/27/2015 9:02:08 PM
DA is making this hard to watch by describing, showing pictures, and talking of victims. I don't think there is anyway to turn this around and plead not guilty by plead of insanity. I could not imagine how hard it would be to be one of those 24 jurors selected.

by Hector Solis 4/27/2015 8:59:40 PM
District attorney describes Caleb Medley being shot in the face. He lost an eye. His 9-months-pregnant wife thought he was dying. She delivered the baby while he was going through surgery.

by anica.padilla 4/27/2015 8:58:08 PM
Prosecutor talks about how Jonathan Blunk shielded his friend with his body.

by anica.padilla 4/27/2015 8:56:32 PM
by Denver7 4/27/2015 8:56:04 PM
Prosecutor: Holmes told psychiatrist he shot at people trying to get away to make sure others wouldn't follow.

by anica.padilla 4/27/2015 8:55:00 PM
District attorney begins showing photos of deceased victims to jurors - saying "BOOM" before describing how each died.

by anica.padilla 4/27/2015 8:52:38 PM
Prosecutor shows video of 6-year-old shooting victim Veronica Moser-Sullivan near concession stand before the movie.

by anica.padilla 4/27/2015 8:50:48 PM
District attorney: Defendant prerecorded 40 minutes of silence then loud music, hoping to draw police to apartment. Neighbor banged on door, kicked it - but didn't open it.

by anica.padilla 4/27/2015 8:49:08 PM
it sure seems he knew what he was doing listening to the DA

by Simon Firth 4/27/2015 8:48:09 PM
We know @erickahnert has questions for our legal expert on opening statements, but do you? Tweet @erickahnert with your questions right now.

by Denver7 News via twitter 4/27/2015 8:45:39 PM
@coloradobecky -- try refreshing the page. You can also try here: www.youtube.com

by kim.ngan.nguyen via YouTube 4/27/2015 8:45:09 PM
Prosecutor shows photo of shooter's apartment floor covered with explosive chemicals, and a fuse leading to 3 jars full of thermite, smokeless gun powder, bullets, then napalm.

by anica.padilla 4/27/2015 8:44:47 PM
I lost the feed!

by colorado becky 4/27/2015 8:44:45 PM
He sure sounds like he was sane when committing those acts of evil

by Hector Solis 4/27/2015 8:40:33 PM
District attorney: Shooter tried buying tickets to movies in Theater 9 multiple times before the July 20 shooting.

by anica.padilla 4/27/2015 8:39:58 PM
District attorney: Holmes last emailed his parents 8 days before shooting.

by anica.padilla 4/27/2015 8:38:01 PM
District attorney: Holmes joined dating sites including HornyMatches.com and AdultFriendFinder.com. Posts "Will you visit me in jail?"

by anica.padilla 4/27/2015 8:35:46 PM
Prosecutor: In July Holmes started buying fuses, ball shells, launch control receiver, more to set up explosives in his apartment.

by anica.padilla 4/27/2015 8:34:52 PM
Prosecutor: Holmes said he dyed his hair orange to stand out. He "thought it would be better than green or blue."

by anica.padilla 4/27/2015 8:32:26 PM
Prosecutor: Holmes bought laser sight, rifle scope, bullet-blocker jacket, thousands of rounds of ammunition, ballistic chaps and more.

by anica.padilla 4/27/2015 8:30:55 PM
District attorney: Dr. Fenton called Holmes' mom about concerns, mother confirmed he had been socially awkward, but had never been violent.

by anica.padilla 4/27/2015 8:27:14 PM
Prosecutor: James Holmes said he was upset that no one tried to talk him out of quitting school after he failed prelim exams.

by anica.padilla 4/27/2015 8:24:29 PM
District attorney shows photo of James Holmes buying AR-15 at Gander Mountain.

by anica.padilla 4/27/2015 8:23:05 PM
Prosecutor says James Holmes told psychiatrist he'd played 100 hours of video games in 2 weeks.

by anica.padilla 4/27/2015 8:21:53 PM
Prosecutor: Lynne Fenton brings in expert Robert Feinstien to talk to James Holmes. Holmes agreed to come back for more counseling - considered a sign of stability.

by anica.padilla 4/27/2015 8:21:25 PM
Prosecutor: James Holmes made multiple purchases online and in person to avoid arousing suspicion.

by anica.padilla 4/27/2015 8:19:28 PM
Prosecutor: Holmes' notebook shows he researched other mass shootings to estimate police response time.

by anica.padilla 4/27/2015 8:14:06 PM
- New Information
Prosecutor: Holmes ranked theaters based on number of exits, avoided theaters with 4 or more exits. Looked for lockable double doors to increase number of victims.

by anica.padilla 4/27/2015 8:12:42 PM
- New Information
District attorney: Holmes considered attack at an airport but didn't want it labeled terrorism. Wanted the message to be "there is no message."

by anica.padilla 4/27/2015 8:11:07 PM
by Denver7 4/27/2015 8:08:19 PM