Theater shooting trial day 58: Arlene Holmes expected to testify

After the father of the convicted Aurora movie theater shooter concludes the testimony he began Tuesday, the gunman's mother is expected to be the next witness to take the stand.

3rd & 7 37yd

@Phil....We are lucky to be seeing this trial by way of stream, since no cable channels show trials anymore.

by Sandy 7/29/2015 4:26:08 PM
This trial isn't going away anytime soon if he gets the DP. The victims, their families, the Holmes family will ALL spend the next 2-3 decades rehashing all this on appeals and costing the state of Colorado a butt load of money that could be spent on things like education.

Lock him up and be done with it. You won't hear anything else.....

by Me 7/29/2015 4:26:21 PM
@ Me Channel 7 is the best in Colorado!

by Suzanne 7/29/2015 4:26:22 PM
@Suzanne: And you're all the best group of watchers on the web

by Phil Tenser 7/29/2015 4:26:33 PM
@Marsha Laurienti
Where are you seeing such photos of GB I follow him on twitter and have for a while but never seen such photo's lol

by LG 7/29/2015 4:26:41 PM
Any live court trial I have watched on TV has been done the same way. One single fixed camera.

by happy 7/29/2015 4:27:16 PM
@Phil...is this first televised trial in CO?

by trl2 7/29/2015 4:27:19 PM
@trl2: Since I've worked here... We've had live coverage from hearings or even opening statements, but not a full trial like this

by Phil Tenser 7/29/2015 4:27:43 PM
To add to what Marsha said, someone doesn't become district attorney without a strong track record for winning cases. Its what a DA does.

by Tammy Garrison 7/29/2015 4:27:50 PM
@LG-Anica reported that his wife had sent the pic to one of her coworkers if I remember correctly. It's not been made public.

by Marsha Laurienti 7/29/2015 4:27:56 PM
@MarshaLaurienti: I think you're right, that was a second-hand anecdote from a source that she mentioned to me too

by Phil Tenser 7/29/2015 4:28:12 PM
Looks like the video we had planned could fall a minute or two short, any questions we could answer for you?

by Phil Tenser 7/29/2015 4:33:32 PM
Judge is back in the room. Here comes the jury

by Phil Tenser 7/29/2015 4:33:38 PM
me he gets those same appeals without the DP.

by happy 7/29/2015 4:33:40 PM
do public defenders make the same money as prosecutors?

by curious 7/29/2015 4:33:41 PM
I second the comments about channel 7 being the best... I grew up Having to watch another channel but once I got out on my own .... it was Channel 7 all the way!!!

by LG 7/29/2015 4:33:42 PM
So Phil, maybe go over what could happen after mitigation rests. I have a short memory and forget.

by Tammy Garrison 7/29/2015 4:33:52 PM
@phil do you know if there is a law forbidding a witness trying to communicate with the defendant? sorry if this was already asked.

by Bill Ward 7/29/2015 4:33:59 PM
Okay thanks good I was being to worry a bit Marsha... hehe :)

by LG 7/29/2015 4:34:04 PM
DT said they would be interested in getting a plea offer from the prosecutors (prior to arraignment in March 2013), but then they never agreed to enter into actual plea negotiations. They refused to share info about JH mental condition, which is necessary part of coming to a plea agreement.

by Sophiamtn@gmail.com 7/29/2015 4:34:10 PM
And maybe a review of whose is the sitting jury. Do we know who was picked or preferred by defense or prosecution?

by Tammy Garrison 7/29/2015 4:34:12 PM
Any idea why JH doesn't want any visitor's in prison?

by Victoria 7/29/2015 4:34:16 PM
@TammyGarrison: Jurors aren't picked, rather the attorneys select potential jurors to eliminate and they are stuck with whatever remains

by Phil Tenser 7/29/2015 4:34:36 PM
@Sandy I agree

@Suzanne I don't live in Colorado (I'm a California girl) but I'll agree with that. Phil and Anica and the rest have all been pretty awesome. They have great coverage.

Also Phil is pretty cute when it seem he doesn't quite know how to address us in the blog when we get a little rowdy, lol He's very polite and professional when you just know he wants to yell at us all. =P

by Me 7/29/2015 4:34:53 PM
What about the John King trial back in 1991 or 1992? Wasn't that trial televised start to finish? I remember watching it.

by Nadine 7/29/2015 4:34:58 PM
I cannot imagine this not going to phase 3. If anything, it seems like it would be a slap in the face to the families of the 12 lost/injured/forever changed victims. They were innocent ('not found guilty by jury of 12 of their peers, as JH was-I think that is sometimes overlooked in this phase, understandably). Those who survived the massacre deserve a chance to express their experiences, pain & impressions, as well. It doesn't mean the jury will go for DP necessarily at all (?) but I do think the jury will allow them to express themselves the way mediation phase has allowed defense team/shooter to express themselves. That's why they qualify jurors for DP, in my understanding. If they don't even consider allowing victims their "day in court", I'll be astonished. They can still choose life for the shooter, but the victims have been waiting, in what must be agony-considering the testimony-for their chance to express themselves, regardless of ultimate sentencing.

by BluesB 7/29/2015 4:35:02 PM
Phil-I am not sure I understand---If there are no mitigating factors---then doesnt that mean he gets the death Penalty? (Please mention me on tv! LOL)

by Tired 7/29/2015 4:35:08 PM
No court Friday

by Trial Lover 7/29/2015 4:35:10 PM
Sorry we didn't get to all the questions, keep asking and I'll keep trying to answer

by Phil Tenser 7/29/2015 4:35:26 PM
Right, well, that's what I meant Phil. You are suppose to read my mind and see what I meant, not exactly what I said! : )

by Tammy Garrison 7/29/2015 4:35:41 PM
@Tired: It is a three phase process and this decision is only about whether they'll move on or not

by Phil Tenser 7/29/2015 4:35:50 PM
I thought they voted to have court Friday

by Sue 7/29/2015 4:36:48 PM
@Sue: Ooops. you're right. I'd forgotten that

by Phil Tenser 7/29/2015 4:36:58 PM
@victoria my guess is because he is mentally ill.

by Me 7/29/2015 4:37:02 PM
who pays for defense witnesses hotel/food while in Colorado

by jdg 7/29/2015 4:37:06 PM
@jdg: Public defender is a state office in Colorado

by Phil Tenser 7/29/2015 4:37:13 PM
@Phil--thanks man! Appreciate it.

by Tired 7/29/2015 4:37:18 PM
If Brauchler was trying to look out for his political ambitions, it would have been much safer for him to take a plea agreement. Going for the death penalty is very risky for him - if he loses, people will be angry about the cost of this trial, in addition to seeing him lose a high profile case. And if he wins, the anti death penalty people will certainly not be happy.

by Sophiamtn@gmail.com 7/29/2015 4:37:35 PM
I'm a bit behind, as usual-due to work. As I hear the dad testify, I can't help but really feel for him and JH's mom. This is a living nightmare for them, too. Regardless of opinions of how they raised their children, they certainly didn't raise him to do what he did. It's sad all around.

by MacGruber 7/29/2015 4:37:42 PM
Can you give a quick definition of mitigating vs aggravating factors? Thank you.

by Nadine 7/29/2015 4:37:43 PM
Co Tax payers do jdg

by LG 7/29/2015 4:37:53 PM
@Nadine: aggravating factors are listed in law, factors that warrant the death penalty. Mitigating factors are those that show a lesser penalty would be appropriate, but they are not considered "excuses"

by Phil Tenser 7/29/2015 4:38:41 PM
I agree from my choices as where to watch this trial, Denver Channel has the best coverage above and beyond the live feed. Excellent job.

by Tammy Garrison edited by Phil Tenser 7/29/2015 4:39:13 PM
Has there ever been anything released on JH's friend who claimed James doesn't like his sister? I know the question wasn't allowed in court but wondered if it was ever brought up elsewhere.

by Sue 7/29/2015 4:39:23 PM
By my count this is video 5 of 9

by Phil Tenser 7/29/2015 4:39:27 PM