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

CU Photo of Katherine Spengler

by Denver7 4/27/2015 10:33:29 PM
Defense attorney Katherine Spengler takes over opening statement from public defender Dan King.

by anica.padilla 4/27/2015 10:33:09 PM
"You should not assume this is the way he looked/acted before he was medicated" Defense says thedenverchannel.com/news/movie-the… http://pbs.twimg.com/media/CDocKKOWEAEko-e.jpg

by Phil Tenser via twitter 4/27/2015 10:30:14 PM
Defense describes Holmes' family history of mental illness.

by anica.padilla 4/27/2015 10:29:19 PM
This is ridiculous. With his intelligence, and the fact that he studied mental illness, he would know how to mock schizophrenia. He's not stupid, he knew when his trial would begin, and to methodically put on shows.

by Megan J. 4/27/2015 10:28:11 PM
Have they took in Consideration that all the psychosis is happening to Holmes, because to crime he committed while still sane. Personally maybe the sight of what he just did, Created this NEW psychosis

by Keven Kuzara 4/27/2015 10:27:58 PM
schizophrenia is a dreadful, dreadful disease. His family had to know there was something wrong, The mentally ill have more rights than the average person, so I guess there wasn't much they could do.

by Rebecca Kennedy 4/27/2015 10:27:50 PM
Defense: "This is not the conscious choice of a rational mind. This is about a brain disease."
#theatershooting http://pbs.twimg.com/media/CDobOhvXIAEK0aE.jpg

by Anica Padilla via twitter 4/27/2015 10:25:34 PM
Holmes appears distracted and aloof in court due to the medications he is taking, the public defender says.

by anica.padilla 4/27/2015 10:25:23 PM
Public defender: Holmes is taking anti-psychotic medications and has improved. But, "It does not cure schizophrenia."

by anica.padilla 4/27/2015 10:24:31 PM
Holmes was hearing up to 8 voices at a time when he was transferred from jail to Denver General, public defender says.

by anica.padilla 4/27/2015 10:19:42 PM
Public defender: In jail, James Holmes repeatedly talked about seeing "shadows" and smeared feces on himself. He was send to Denver General after running head-first into a wall.

by anica.padilla 4/27/2015 10:18:59 PM
My mother had schizophrenia. This is not what people with schizophrenia do. This was an elaborate premeditated attack. Yes, he was mentally ill but NOT insane.

by Chenell Young 4/27/2015 10:16:41 PM
Public defender: In jail, James Holmes did sommersaults with a cup balanced on his penis.
#theatershooting
bit.ly/theatercoverage

by Anica Padilla via twitter 4/27/2015 10:16:11 PM
Public defender: In jail, Holmes ate lunch meat between two flattened cups and licked the walls.

by anica.padilla 4/27/2015 10:15:56 PM
Public defender: When asked why he fell off a bed in jail, Holmes told the deputy "I don't know if you are real."

by anica.padilla 4/27/2015 10:13:06 PM
Public defender: In jail after the shooting, Holmes thought President Obama was communicating to him through the TV.
#theatershooting

by Anica Padilla via twitter 4/27/2015 10:12:29 PM
Public defender: Holmes has been medicated for 2 years.

by anica.padilla 4/27/2015 10:09:42 PM
Public defender plays audio of police talking to Holmes after they bagged his hands to protect gun residue. When asked what he thought the bags were for, Holmes answered "Popcorn."

by anica.padilla 4/27/2015 10:06:36 PM
Public defender says officers described James Holmes as sweaty, disoriented and staring into space as they arrested him. He did not resist.

by anica.padilla 4/27/2015 10:05:24 PM
- New Information
Public defender Dan King says "he now regrets what took place in the theater"

by Denver7 4/27/2015 10:02:07 PM
"People don't choose their mental illness,"'said Holmes public defender in #TheaterShooting trial opening. @DenverChannel

by Marc Stewart Denver7 via twitter 4/27/2015 10:01:48 PM
Public defender:Psychiatrist Dr. Metzner described Holmes' notebook as a "whole lot of crazy."
#theatershooting
bit.ly/theatertrial

by Anica Padilla via twitter 4/27/2015 10:01:22 PM
About Dr. Jeffrey Metzner: He was the first doctor assigned to conduct a sanity evaluation of James Holmes at the Colorado Mental Health Institute at Pueblo. Prosecutors argued that at least one aspect of the examination was unfair, "Because Dr. [Jeffrey] Metzner had an 'unfair bias.'"

by Denver7 4/27/2015 9:59:17 PM
Public defender says the district attorney left out that Holmes told people what he was thinking, documented it in writing and he sought help.

by anica.padilla 4/27/2015 9:58:39 PM
Public defender plans to describe evidence of mental illness AFTER the shooting, then go back to his childhood.

by anica.padilla 4/27/2015 9:57:26 PM
"He didn't live in the world we live in." Defense claiming #theatershooting suffers from schizophrenia, is insane. http://pbs.twimg.com/media/CDoRJl6WgAEhihu.jpg

by Eric Kahnert via twitter 4/27/2015 9:54:35 PM
What about the victims humanity? That was taken away by him in seconds...no trial, no appeals, no fairness....Our judicial system has become backwards. Killers get more justice and respect then victims. This is a travesty.

by Megan J. 4/27/2015 9:52:45 PM
Public defender: "Accept the reality of mental disease and you can answer all the questions that need answering in this case - including 'Why?'"

by anica.padilla 4/27/2015 9:52:44 PM
Public defender: "There is no evidence [Holmes] is faking anything."

by anica.padilla 4/27/2015 9:51:53 PM
He didn't treat any of his victims fairly. He hasn't treated his family fairly.

by Travis Allison 4/27/2015 9:50:47 PM
Public defender: James Holmes has been treated by more than 20 doctors. "Every single one of them agrees on two things, 1. Mr. Holmes suffers from a severe mental illness that shapes and forms his actions, and 2. Mr. Holmes is not [faking]."

by anica.padilla 4/27/2015 9:49:52 PM
Defense in #theatershooting : "The power of psychotic delusion can take everything away from a person." http://pbs.twimg.com/media/CDoRAZFXIAEae-t.jpg

by Eric Kahnert via twitter 4/27/2015 9:48:35 PM
This hits so close to home #TheaterShooting

by Azucena Gonzalez via twitter 4/27/2015 9:47:52 PM
I am in college and I am a Psych minor and it makes me sick when people use the diagnosis of schizophrenia. Someone who is (which only 1% of the population truly does have) is not dangerous, if anything they are dangerous to themselves and the ones closest to them. Such as their parents or caregivers.

by Brittany Sammons 4/27/2015 9:47:06 PM
by Denver7 4/27/2015 9:46:54 PM
Sometime i wonder how these Defense attorneys sleep at night.

by Keven Kuzara 4/27/2015 9:46:11 PM
Public defender: "People don't choose schizophrenia. It comes in your genes."

by anica.padilla 4/27/2015 9:46:05 PM
Public defender: "Nothing that took place [at the movie theater or at Holmes' apartment] is under dispute... our role here is to insist Mr. Holmes be treated fairly... as a human being suffering from a severe mental illness."

by anica.padilla 4/27/2015 9:44:23 PM
Defense attorney: "They seek the conviction and death of James Holmes and nothing else."

by anica.padilla 4/27/2015 9:42:26 PM
@TravisAllison: I suspect we will find out more about that later, and we know we'll hear from multiple doctors

by Denver7 4/27/2015 9:39:55 PM
Was he diagnoses with schizophrenia?

by Travis Allison 4/27/2015 9:39:38 PM
"You're being asked to set aside fundamental human emotions. I don't know how you're going to do that, but that is your task," Defense atty. Dan King tells the jury

by Denver7 4/27/2015 9:39:34 PM
Defense attorney: Holmes "was compelled to act. There was no choice to be made... he felt as if he was possessed."

by anica.padilla 4/27/2015 9:39:15 PM
Defense attorney: Psychotic delusions controlled Holmes and commanded him to act.

by anica.padilla 4/27/2015 9:37:21 PM