Theater shooting trial day 56: 'Phase 2' of the penalty process continues

'Phase 2' of the penalty process continues in the trial of James Holmes for the Aurora movie theater shooting. He was convicted earlier this month on 165 counts and now his defense is presenting mitigating evidence in an attempt to convince the jury his life should be spared.

3rd & 7 37yd

@Matt Agreed, thank you.

by anica.padilla 7/27/2015 9:19:39 PM
Sister is more compelling than all the another taped defense witnesses from Friday combined, but that is not saying much for their case.

by Mr. D. 7/27/2015 9:19:44 PM
This is absolutely heartbreaking.

by Ruby 7/27/2015 9:19:45 PM
@Brenda - it's a mounted camera in the courtroom. The fuzziness is probably due to your feed buffering.

by MyraJ 7/27/2015 9:19:47 PM
this is almost like watching the Menendez Brothers and what wonderful little boys they were until they decided to slaughter their parents.

by Nadine 7/27/2015 9:19:51 PM
JH caused so much misery, pain and sadness...

by Abrandt 7/27/2015 9:19:53 PM
@Ruby you're right

by emma 7/27/2015 9:19:54 PM
- Quote
"I think he loved me very much," Chris Holmes said of her brother.

by anica.padilla 7/27/2015 9:20:12 PM
- Quote
"Growing up, did you ever think he was mentally ill?" Public Defender Rebekka Higgs asked.
"No. But I didn't know anything about mental illness," Chris Holmes said.

by anica.padilla 7/27/2015 9:21:24 PM
- Quote
"I still love him," the gunman's sister testifies.

by anica.padilla 7/27/2015 9:21:41 PM
Please, leave the harsh comments about her feelings for her brother alone. He is her brother, she loves him, unconditionally. She most likely does not condone any of his actions.

by Resa 7/27/2015 9:22:16 PM
I wonder how sad it is for the families of the victims to look at family pictures.....why don't they get to tell their stories.

by JW 7/27/2015 9:22:26 PM
@JW The victims' families will give victim impact statements in the next phase of sentencing hearing.

by anica.padilla 7/27/2015 9:22:52 PM
higgs is showing more emotion for this one girl, than she did for any of the victims or their families.

by happy 7/27/2015 9:23:03 PM
Hi, everyone. I just got back from a funeral. WHo else has testified? This is so sad to watch.

by DocJ 7/27/2015 9:23:06 PM
all I keep thinking about is if I was in her position and how I would feel with my brother and I in this position. I cant even imagine it without feeling sick to my stomach/heartbroken.

by lex 7/27/2015 9:23:08 PM
Yeah, he is one, and there are 12 dead, and 70 injured from him. but that has been hammered by rule 403 by the defense.

by NT8 7/27/2015 9:23:10 PM
- Quote
Jury question: How did [the gunman's] eyes seem different when you visited him in jail?
"They were almost bulging out of his head," Chris Holmes said.

by anica.padilla 7/27/2015 9:24:02 PM
It's really sad to have to sit in front of your ill sibling who's done something so terrible, cruel and horrendous. I couldn't imagine being in any of the victim's situation, but due to him almost making a decision to not do it, or having second thoughts, he took innocent lives instead. His actions are not justified and he killed sisters, daughters, sons, husbands. None of the families will never be the same, but it makes me sick to my stomach to see people praise this man.

by Kels 7/27/2015 9:31:46 PM
@Nadine Lyle and Erik Menedez were both sexually and physically abused by their father for many years. Their mother KNEW it was going on and did nothing about it. JH wasn't abused at all, ever.

by Me 7/27/2015 9:31:52 PM
Nadine this is absolutely nothing like the Menendez brothers except they all killed DP proponents are also going to kill, if they can. Killing is killing. Not in my name, CO

by okx 7/27/2015 9:31:54 PM
Yes its sad that his youngest victims will never get to done what he did. But he was still a kid once and his sister still loves him. What he did was horrible. But we cant ignore the fact that if those kids were in bed instead of at a midnight premier she would be alive. He will pay for what he did. Don't harass his family.

by Kate 7/27/2015 9:32:00 PM
Maybe this has already been pointed out, but JH was soooo good at getting EVERYTHING-Gas masks, road strips, such random things. Is it inconceivable that he could have gotten his hands on eye dilation drops?? They're not that hard to acquire. A neuropsych student with the ability to get all the ammo, throat guard, etc.- I'm SURE could get dialation drops. He'd only need access to them one time in like 8-12 hours...they stay dialated a long time once you get them dialated at the optometrist. 'Just a thought. Sort of "out there". But if he studied the symptoms, & found that dialated pupils might've indicated a neurological issue or defect, I have no doubt he would have found a way to aqcuire drops, administer them, even put them in an over the counter, regular eye drop container (like Visine)-which I suspect he'd be allowed when in custody (but don't know for sure...)... 'ANYTHING to raise eyebrows once he was caught. 'Wild concept...I know- but he planned EVERY little detail...

by LarsandtheRealGirl 7/27/2015 9:32:10 PM
this only makes me sorry for her, not him

by Tiki Torch 7/27/2015 9:32:12 PM
@JW--I think the families of the victims will get their chance to speak later in the trial.

by flip 7/27/2015 9:32:15 PM
So sad to see so many comments about the sister. She didn't do this, she didn't make these choices but now she, just like the victim's and their families, has to deal with the reality of decisions. I still think JH deserves the DP but his sister and family will bear the brunt of his sentencing. It is a different sadness for her over those he injured and killed but a sadness nevertheless.

by Just Thinkin 7/27/2015 9:32:22 PM
I agree, Resa. She'll be affected forever by what he did...always be "the gunman's sister." The brother she loved isn't the one that did this. What angst she must have trying to reconcile all this and knowing that people would say harsh things about her for loving her brother. You can't blame a sister for wanting her brother's life spared. Also, if she didn't do this, would that decision haunt her too?

by ms 7/27/2015 9:32:32 PM
I do feel bad for her. I couldnt imagine being in that position, related to someone that did something like this. I don't feel bad enough that it changes my opinion about this case or the gunman...

by colo 7/27/2015 9:32:36 PM
i still don't understand why he got a public defender. his family has money. make them pay

by wonderbread 7/27/2015 9:33:00 PM
Nelson making nice with Holmes after Chris Holmes leaves the stand. ugh

by flip 7/27/2015 9:33:02 PM
Hmmm- maybe enough to sway jury to LWOP?

by TLR 7/27/2015 9:33:08 PM
I guess I picked a bad time to go to the DMV..I missed the whole thing.

by vt 7/27/2015 9:33:09 PM
Wow, a little light hearted smile and laugh between attorneys and JH after sister left. One of them (Higgs?) even touched his arm. That was weird.

by Ann 7/27/2015 9:33:11 PM
Personally I think his family is the worst off out of everyone. They have to live with the guilt that their son/brother committed one of the most heinous acts in our history, they will probably be ostracized by the community by people who can't tell the difference between them and their son, (which has already started here) plus they have to deal with the fact that he will probably be put to death and they'll have many long years of waiting that out and all of the terror that just one phone call will be the end of his life. His family didn't commit these murders, HE did. It's not fair or right to be so judgemental about his family. Please, have some compassion.

by Ruby 7/27/2015 9:33:39 PM
@lex -- I think it's obvious the sister is truly heartbroken. He caused them a huge amount of pain as well.

by Lynn 7/27/2015 9:33:41 PM
Thank you Anica - I will have sympathy then.

by JW 7/27/2015 9:33:46 PM
I hope all can agree that the loss that everyone has experienced is sad. Everyone lost a family member or had their life changed in some way.

by trl2 7/27/2015 9:33:57 PM
so, here's my question. Why is her testimony supposed to be more heart-wrenching than Ashley Moser's?

by Nadine 7/27/2015 9:34:06 PM
Shame on the state of CO for seeking to continue killing and then speak of how horrible it is to kill. It is a barbaric state of mind.

by okx 7/27/2015 9:34:08 PM
@wonderbread - This has already been discussed. He is of legal age and his family is not responsible for the cost of his legal council

by Just Thinkin 7/27/2015 9:34:40 PM
@lynn I totally agree

by lex 7/27/2015 9:59:40 PM
@okc....you don't think you would feel different if YOU were Ashley Moser or her mom? Or any of the victims parents?

by TammyC 7/27/2015 9:59:43 PM
@7 Maybe time for a poll? Did the sister's testimony sway anyone? I dont think it did however... I'd be curious to see

by colo 7/27/2015 9:59:46 PM
okx, it is obvious how you feel. So why do you continue. We all know how you feel about the DP, this is not the forum to fix what you feel is wrong. Run for office or something.

by Steve 7/27/2015 9:59:57 PM
@Nadine - It is not "more or less" heart-wrenching . .. it just simply sadness

by Just Thinkin 7/27/2015 9:59:59 PM