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

but for this mental illness....

by Tammy Garrison 7/27/2015 4:28:11 PM
Dr. Metzner keeps saying, "As I previously testified..."
Here is a recap of that testimony from June 8: bit.ly

by anica.padilla 7/27/2015 4:29:02 PM
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Dr. Metzner: "The breakup of his girlfriend did not cause him to do this."

by anica.padilla 7/27/2015 4:29:30 PM
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"The realization that going to graduate school wasn't going to fix his brain," may have been a factor that triggered a psychotic break, or it could have nothing to do with it, Dr. Metzner said.

by anica.padilla 7/27/2015 4:31:11 PM
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Dr. Metzner agreed "the psychosis caused the shooting."

by anica.padilla 7/27/2015 4:31:59 PM
But for his actions of July 20, 2012, we wouldn't be having this trial!

by Suzi Lewis 7/27/2015 4:32:02 PM
he does not deserve death...he would have been a brilliant scientist/

by Sunrise7 7/27/2015 4:32:09 PM
very much looking forward to pt cross exam

by JG 7/27/2015 4:32:10 PM
AC is bored to tears

by caz 7/27/2015 4:33:59 PM
Anyone this Metzner is hostile towards the PT?

by Victoria 7/27/2015 4:34:00 PM
@Sunrise That's a interesting statement care to give details as to why?

by LG 7/27/2015 4:34:03 PM
get zoloft off the market!!

by okx 7/27/2015 4:34:24 PM
Honest question. How can they say the psychosis caused the shooting?

by Suzi Lewis 7/27/2015 4:34:27 PM
@Suzi The defense claims that the shooting would not have happened if not for the gunman's mental illness. This is another attempt to make that point.

by anica.padilla 7/27/2015 4:35:16 PM
If he couldn’t convince the jury of JH's mental illness the first time around, what makes them think he can convince them this now?

by FMM 7/27/2015 4:35:18 PM
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Dr. Metzner said he thinks the gunman went to graduate school because he sensed something was wrong with his brain and he hoped to study it and fix it. Says the mental illness was very "disturbing and distressing to him."

by anica.padilla 7/27/2015 4:36:47 PM
But Gur can show someone else's brain scans and say they're similar and yet Brady is calling Metzner out on not showing the exact symptoms...? Interesting.

by Kels 7/27/2015 4:36:48 PM
his research...I saw his scientific presentation on Youtube...he was researching time dilation

by Sunrise7 7/27/2015 4:36:50 PM
Suzi, it was a breakdown from reality into the delusion

by okx 7/27/2015 4:36:51 PM
FMM- Mental illness is different than insanity. They didn't convince the jury he was insane, but that doesn't mean he isn't mentally ill, which is a mitigating factor.

by CSP 7/27/2015 4:36:53 PM
Aren't they just retrying the insanity portion of the trial?

by Suzi Lewis 7/27/2015 4:36:55 PM
@FMM, the insanity plea is despite mental illness or defect. They denied his insanity, but there's no doubt he's mentally ill, but what legally stands is he knew it was legally wrong.

by Kels 7/27/2015 4:37:37 PM
@CSP, thank you!

by Kels 7/27/2015 4:38:34 PM
This is a complete waste of time for the jury.

by Tjq 7/27/2015 4:38:36 PM
Psychotic planning: driven by the delusion..sometimes extreme (no stone left unturned). The planning was aimed at the event (delusion) and ignored other viewpoints.
Sorry Kate that you feel that regardless of any illness death is appropriate. People don't want to be mentally ill. It is very distressing.

by trl2 7/27/2015 4:38:37 PM
@Victoria -- yes. Metzner felt betrayed as his report was considered biased and incomplete by the judge on behalf of the PT

by mandi 7/27/2015 4:38:38 PM
Sunrise7- I don't recall any evidence of him being brilliant, not that it has any relevancy. Smart, yes, but so are thousands of other scientists and academics-doesn't make them all brilliant.

by Mr.D. 7/27/2015 4:38:46 PM
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Dr. Metzner: "I think his actions on July 20, 2012 were a direct [result] of his mental illness."

by anica.padilla 7/27/2015 4:39:07 PM
Do you think there will be a cross examination?

by Nadine 7/27/2015 4:39:29 PM
In my opinion it seems that nearly everyone is mentally ill to some degree in this age

by Loz 7/27/2015 4:39:37 PM
She just quoted (4)(b) in Section 18 for Sentencing in Class one felonies: "appreciate wrongfulness of the defendant's conduct"

by Kels 7/27/2015 4:39:39 PM
Being extremely mentally ill currently would probably preclude him from the DP

by MyraJ 7/27/2015 4:39:40 PM
ok then..he is not brilliant...sorry

by Sunrise7 7/27/2015 4:40:32 PM
I'll be surprised if he gets the dp.

by Tjq 7/27/2015 4:41:35 PM
he was found mentally competent to stand trial... now trying to claim that he is too mentally ill to be held accountable for his actions

by mandi 7/27/2015 4:41:38 PM
I believe they are humanizing him. This Dr. is a great witness for both sides. Not sure how they can even fight for the DP at this point. A brilliant mind twisted with mental illness and did such a horrific crime against humanity.....And he was somewhat aware of his declining/progressing mental illness .....how horrible...

by A.L. 7/27/2015 4:41:44 PM
Higgs: "We don't kill sick people."

by Tammy Garrison 7/27/2015 4:41:45 PM
Most criminals think that "It won't happen to me" Otherwise, they wouldn't commit the offense.

by Suzi Lewis 7/27/2015 4:41:47 PM
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Dr. Metzner: "I can come up with no other explanation for what he did... his mental illness impacted his judgment."

by anica.padilla 7/27/2015 4:42:52 PM
These days it seems that many get life with no parole

by Tjq 7/27/2015 4:42:53 PM
I hope the PT calls back Dr. Reid.

by Abrandt 7/27/2015 4:42:55 PM
Good analogy !

by trl2 7/27/2015 4:42:55 PM
AL, that's the plan.

by Tammy Garrison 7/27/2015 4:42:57 PM
Perhaps the reason he did what he did was to thumb his nose at the rest of the world

by Suzi Lewis 7/27/2015 4:44:33 PM
Dr. Metzner: "I can come up with no other explanation for what he did... his mental illness impacted his judgment.” #theatershooting

by Anica Padilla via twitter 7/27/2015 4:44:56 PM