so....*drumroll*.... are we done here for this phase?

Almost no one would vote death if he was gonna be executed within the year - but this talk of ""it'll be DECADES before it would be carried out "' only makes it easier to impose it,
methinks.

Flip-at first I thought the same way you are expressing, but now I believe the mother has pointed out way too many inconsistencies that someone has to bring out-...WHOAH. Wait a sec-you're right on. 'Good call. But that whole decade-long presentation still drove me crazy...('no pun intended). From jury questions -I think they doubt her credibility -vs- being coached. At least to some extent...her answers are not sounding secure, now that they are spontaneously called for by jury.

Most people have not had their experience. From my own similar experience, I was guided and helped to release angst, anger, pain and the experience created awareness and a deep respect for the all life. It was always in me, but the trauma made me look at many things differently. We all need help to see more clearly and not just settle. JH is part of our future learning.

JH to himself: "Phew! I'm glad that's over".

My conclusion from the testimony: The defendent is a text book schizophrenic whose symptoms don't manifest until late adolescence and later, when they can be misintepreted as typical teenage angst. Holmes was never a bully, never mistreaed animals or other children, was an obedient child who got along with family and other children. People who say he decided to kill all those people because he failed in school and his girlfriend dumped him in no way fits in with his personality OR with the personality of a spoiled brat who, I would think, would have shot Gardi or her new boyfriend or people at the graduate school where he failed. THOSE are he actions of a selfish, self-centered psychopath who have probably acted so during his entire lifetime. Holmes' actions are those of someone horribly mentally ill. If I were on this jury and they voted to kill him, the jury would be hung.

@ fredp I have a feeling that she is

TammyC- What do you expect her to say? She is his mom. She obviously loves him and supports her child. Just as I will always support my children no matter whatnot

"Punishment must fit the crime. Death fits this case." This simple calculus is inadequate to the problem at hand. It may have worked 100 years ago but we've moved way beyond that. There is no place in advanced societies for this kind of primitive ritual. Why must we be the last western democracy to cling to the death penalty, for which we are looked upon as pariahs by the rest of the world?

@Jodie -- do you think that the DT presented enough mitigating facts that outweigh his crimes?

Start of the testimony from the mom I was in tears, I felt her pain but my head ached by the time she got of the stand. Not a good presentation from the DT

@Frank Nailed it.

JodieNJ I agree. I'm more sold than ever than he is mentally ill. It would be barbaric to execute him.

I bet now they are doing the short closings, maybe- and defense wants to end the day with their summation ...that would be their perfect strategy -with no comment available from prosecution whatsoever, due to time constraints(?)

I would be part of a hung jury as well.

anyone who automatically states that because of his mental illness they would never vote for the DP would not have qualified for this jury

@JodieNJ textbook schizophrenic you say? Kindly tell us what you think that means. I work with schizophrenic patients everyday and I don't think Holmes is schizophrenic. He may be on the spectrum, but that is very very different than being schizophrenic

In those agreeing with Frank, what's an appropriate "punishment" for someone whose killed twelve people with the intention of murdering over 300? I mean, I just don't understand any other punishment than him being killed as well. He's no longer innocent. He's mentally ill, but he knew what he was doing. I believe in the power of Justice and it being brought down upon Holmes.