Theater shooting trial day 53: Start of the penalty process

Day 53 in the Aurora movie theater shooting trial – People vs. James Eagan Holmes. Today, the penalty phase of the case begins. The jury found Holmes to be legally sane and therefore guilty 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.

3rd & 7 37yd

Another question: Do we have to complete Phase I before any witnesses take the stand to let us know what a stand-up guy JH is?

by Nadine 7/22/2015 9:32:02 PM
@Nadine - I don't think revealing a juror's name is cause for a mistrial.

by anica.padilla 7/22/2015 9:32:35 PM
Considering they only had to prove 1 aggravating, I'm reeling...

by fascinated 7/22/2015 9:32:37 PM
I am surprised it is taking so long for them to decide this issue. I guess it's just me, but it seemed like a no-brainer.

by Jennifer 7/22/2015 9:32:39 PM
@LG I found the Newsweek tweet and looked through his twitter, facebook and linkedin.
@MR.D You don't think someone completely opposed to the death penalty would make a simple lie to save a life?

by polisalwaysright 7/22/2015 9:32:44 PM
Doesn't look like we'll get to Phase 2 today despite both the DT and PT estimating Phase1 would only take a couple of hours. Even if the jury arrives at a decision today, there's a delay before its read in court. I always thought the sentencing phase would be the more difficult part of the trial vs the jury reaching a verdict in guilt.

by Edy 7/22/2015 9:32:49 PM
I just came home from work and have no idea where we are in the process - is phase 1 done? what's next?

by wendy 7/22/2015 9:32:51 PM
Litprof-I agree totally. I wouldn't want that kind of scrutiny-the foreperson's voice was tremoring when he spoke to the judge. We can't emulate Newsweek. 'Respect. :)

by fascinated 7/22/2015 9:32:53 PM
i think they have the surveillance videos from inside the theater that night

by David Ford 7/22/2015 9:32:55 PM
excellent, thank you 7

by dragonfish000 7/22/2015 9:32:56 PM
@ Tammy- I can't remember all of the videos honestly, but I believe they stated earlier that Reid's videos wouldnt be allowed... I could be wrong!

by colo 7/22/2015 9:32:58 PM
Ohhh that's right... they do have the video of the theater from the CSI I think.... maybe that's it? Curious!

by colo 7/22/2015 9:36:16 PM
Wendy, we are waiting for the jury to decided on Phase 1

by happy 7/22/2015 9:36:18 PM
things keep bouncing back and forth with recorded video - again - where are we in the sentencing phase - is it over for the day

by wendy 7/22/2015 9:36:20 PM
thank you

by wendy 7/22/2015 9:40:35 PM
really glad jh is chained down to the floor, and gets to act human, I really pity him, I think he should get a halfway house after he is on his meds.

by Orange bowl fan 7/22/2015 9:40:40 PM
A brilliant mind is a terrible thing to waste.

by Orange bowl fan 7/22/2015 9:40:44 PM
I thought they were on a 15min break....this is a long break.

by Kristle 7/22/2015 9:40:46 PM
@Lynn thank you I'll remember that. :-)

by Aly 7/22/2015 9:40:47 PM
no..its not over for the day yet

by David Ford 7/22/2015 9:40:49 PM
We are back....whew.

by Kristle 7/22/2015 9:40:51 PM
thanks happy - how long has the jury been out?

by wendy 7/22/2015 9:40:53 PM
@polisalwaysright - you assume way to much. Especially considering the entire jury has been unanimous to date.

by Mark 7/22/2015 9:40:57 PM
What the hey is going on here? It should have taken that jury only long enough to fill out the forms to find aggravating circumstances! Then on to phase 2, and a month's worth of testimony for mitigation. What gives here?

by Frank 7/22/2015 9:42:45 PM
think all have to do with Veronica Moser - killing of a child

by mandi 7/22/2015 9:42:48 PM
Damn, I got excited and read Anica's post by saying they have an answer to the sentence, as opposed to the DVD player...gah!

by Kels 7/22/2015 9:42:53 PM
Wow. This jury is lost!

by Frank 7/22/2015 9:42:56 PM
Do you have surveillance camera's inside the actual theatres in America. If not, will they now be installed? please and thank you.

by Aly 7/22/2015 9:56:03 PM
fascinated. You think it is okay about the foreman? Out of 9,000 people interviewed there are 2 jurors that had some relationship with Columbine. Good for fairness, right? Or good for something else? Not really surprised, but really, really a bad sign. there was no need to bring someone with that baggage. I hope international news and . legal journals, say "what" and "can you even believe" this, when letters pouring in. Not saying the person is not okay, since I don't know them, but why do something like this? Looks very prejudical.

by okx 7/22/2015 9:56:21 PM
how did he get back in at the exit door ?...just wondering

by David Ford 7/22/2015 9:56:25 PM
Which detective is sitting at the back table of the PT? Gumdinger or Apple?

by Kristle 7/22/2015 9:56:30 PM
This is so interesting....Very very surprised. I thought it was SO CLEAR that they proved at least 1 aggravating factor. Maybe AC should have gone back up after all...? What do others think? Anyone else surprised?

by fascinated 7/22/2015 9:56:40 PM
I think it is good that they are doing their due diligence in this case... good for the jury.

by colo 7/22/2015 9:56:45 PM
@Nadine-No

by FPsych 7/22/2015 9:56:47 PM
Sounds like the jury is being very deliberate and thorough. Guess they want to be confident with this phase - makes sense given a chance to think about this since Phase 2 is about weighing mitigating factors against aggravating factors.

by Edy 7/22/2015 9:56:53 PM
Do you think jury could POSSIBLY think that ALL aggravating factors have to be met??? They do have an attorney deliberating...

by fascinated 7/22/2015 9:56:59 PM
The defendant clearly killed more than two people. Struggling to understand the jury's confusion.

by FPsych 7/22/2015 9:57:10 PM
2 hrs to go?

by Orange bowl fan 7/22/2015 9:57:12 PM
The defense didn't even argue! They conceded the aggravators. What is WRONG with this jury? This is very disheartening.

by Frank 7/22/2015 9:57:16 PM
I tuned out during instructions today. Does anyone else think it's at all possible that the jury thinks ALL AGGRAVATORS must be met, rather than only one??? Holy schikes!!?!

by fascinated 7/22/2015 9:57:21 PM
Did Spengler spill her drink? She's wiping up something with that tissue.

by Kristle 7/22/2015 9:57:24 PM
What is going on right now?

by Nadine 7/22/2015 9:57:26 PM
is this new?

by wendy 7/22/2015 9:57:27 PM
Ban Newsweek---doesn't anyone else find that out of supposedly 9000 people pool 2 chosen who had to do with Columbine? Come on, really, good thing for the mob that its not federal. This is something that could have been kept clean---Easily. Surely, it is being overlooked for some reason. Feels backwards in every kind of way. Why hide something that is so relevant to jury choices? Embarassed for CO.

by okx 7/22/2015 9:57:41 PM
@ Kristle - I think it's Apple

by colo 7/22/2015 9:57:48 PM