Theater shooting trial day 59: Phase 2 closing arguments

This afternoon, both sides will present their closing arguments in phase two of the penalty process, which focuses on mitigating factors.Jurors have already confirmed they found aggravating factors in the mass shooting for which they convicted the gunman. After closing arguments, the same jurors must decide if the mitigating factors outweigh those factors.Essentially, jurors will be asked to decide between giving the gunman a life prison sentence or moving on to phase 3 -- the final step toward the death penalty.Holmes was convicted on 165 counts including murder and attempted murder for the shooting that killed 12 and injured 70 others during a midnight premiere of the Dark Knight Rises in Aurora, Colorado. His defense attorneys unsuccessfully argued that he was insane at the time of the shooting.

3rd & 7 37yd

@Tired: Along with the milk carton he drank.

by Kristle 7/30/2015 5:57:18 PM
@LG ...I am confused, this is a DP case? This is what it is about??

by Sally Mander 7/30/2015 5:57:21 PM
Thank you, Phil Tenser.

by KRS 7/30/2015 5:57:23 PM
@BluesB
Very well said I'd been working on a comment like that to have posted but your wording mirror's my thoughts to a tee!!! Thank you~~~ ((((claps my hands in approval)))

by LG 7/30/2015 5:57:34 PM
Could see this judge on Supreme Court -He'd beat alot of what's there.

by JW 7/30/2015 5:57:37 PM
@MrD Thank you for the reasoned response. So much easier to fundamentally disagree when the poison is removed from the coversation!

by Clancy 7/30/2015 5:57:40 PM
@markefc--NO! you can't have him!!! :)

by Suzi Lewis 7/30/2015 5:57:41 PM
Just to clarify- not everyone in Canada owns a gun. Canada is #12 on the list of gun ownership- lower than Sweden, France, and Finland.

by MW 7/30/2015 5:58:02 PM
How long will each side have in the phase?

by swtwtr 7/30/2015 5:58:13 PM
@swtwtr: 40 per side for the closings

by Phil Tenser 7/30/2015 5:58:19 PM
Brauchler saying he is concerned about blanket statements on mental illness

by Phil Tenser 7/30/2015 6:00:49 PM
The paper bag is talking to me!!

by Kristle 7/30/2015 6:03:46 PM
Over in the UK, we would try to fix Jimmy so someday he can be a contributing member of society,

by cr edited by Phil Tenser 7/30/2015 6:03:59 PM
@Sally Mander---Sign me up for that meeting, too...Judge Samour is a Colorado treasure.

by flip 7/30/2015 6:04:01 PM
Oh! Thanks, LG... :)

by BluesB 7/30/2015 6:04:13 PM
@ Me Hang in there, I appreciate your insight.

by light edited by Phil Tenser 7/30/2015 6:04:33 PM
Thanks, Phil.

by KRS 7/30/2015 6:04:33 PM
An hour to read instructions.....yawn.

by Kristle 7/30/2015 6:04:35 PM
@Phil well then thats your job to find best parts of both and to combine them

@Pa Watcher that might of been fun turning up in the wrong kit

@Suzi well one can try and he might then return back to USA even better and speak with a English accent that so many Americans love

by markefc_ 7/30/2015 6:04:44 PM
Agree with Samour going all the way to Supreme C. He is undeniably a role model for all other judges..

by BluesB 7/30/2015 6:04:54 PM
I feel bad for the JURY...always waiting!

by Sally Mander 7/30/2015 6:04:56 PM
Nelson does look mad/angry all the time.

by Kristle 7/30/2015 6:04:57 PM
There should be no way that the victims and the families of the deceased should be denied the opportunity to testify.

by JW 7/30/2015 6:05:03 PM
Thanks, LG.

by BluesB 7/30/2015 6:05:05 PM
So who is keeping stats?

by PBC 7/30/2015 6:05:08 PM
@Me ... I've been a fan of your comments all along. I've never felt your intent was to seek sympathy from others. On the contrary, I think your ability to forgive speaks to at least a few of us. Often I feel we're in the minority, so it's good to have a friend here.

by kate 7/30/2015 6:05:14 PM
Surprise surprise surprise... we are running behind.... lol

by LG 7/30/2015 6:05:17 PM
Very common tactic in criminal trials for defense to point finger of blame at someone else. One version is known as the 'SODDI' defense (some other dude did it). Other times they point the finger at the victim as causing their own death or even as 'needing to be killed'. Here they are pointing the finger at Dr. Fenton.

by Sophia 7/30/2015 6:05:20 PM
Fully agreed, @JW.

by Kels 7/30/2015 6:08:49 PM
Public Defenders, our hard earned tax dollars pay for them...just saying five of them?

by Diane Lacey Leuty 7/30/2015 6:08:51 PM
IMO - Discussion and standing on a soap box to lecture are TWO totally different things!

by Mandy L 7/30/2015 6:08:54 PM
Great...reruns of Jimmy eating.

by Kristle 7/30/2015 6:08:55 PM
@Kate agree with absolutely everything you said!

by Clancy 7/30/2015 6:08:56 PM
You know... after all the terrorist issues we've seen over in the UK, I'm starting to rethink my opposition to the DP. If Jimmy can never be trusted again, maybe it's best for the world that we remove him from it?

by cr 7/30/2015 6:09:05 PM
I think that most of us have and do have the ability to forgive.... however there are some actions that can and doesn't come into play for everyone to forgive... and if that's the case I don't feel it's right to beat them up for it or condemn them....

by LG 7/30/2015 6:09:10 PM
cr I don't think you can fix Jimmy because of his constant homicidal ideation and the tendency of those with his type of mental illness choosing to go off their medication.

by Tammy Garrison 7/30/2015 6:19:06 PM
“If the State of Colorado is going to undertake the responsibility of executing a human being, the system must operate flawlessly. Colorado’s system for capital punishment is not flawless. It is a legitimate question whether we as a state should be taking lives.” - Colorado Governor Hickenlooper

by Me (CaliMiSFit@yahoo.com) 7/30/2015 6:19:11 PM
The jury will have as long as it takes to come up with their decision, correct?

by Sun David 7/30/2015 6:19:13 PM
@SunDavid: correct, there is no time limit

by Phil Tenser 7/30/2015 6:19:19 PM
2 questions:
1) I just got here, what is under the black bag thing?
2) I am learning about trials so I do not know the process very well, when will the jury make a final decision and when will we know? Thanks!

by aw 7/30/2015 6:19:23 PM
@aw: 1. we think the model of the theater. 2. The jury will not have a time limit, but we will get a 2 hour warning when the decision is reached in this phase

by Phil Tenser 7/30/2015 6:19:47 PM
LG, I believe that forgiving is something you do, not what you do for the aggressor(for lack of a better word). However, there is a difference between forgiving and forgetting. Forgiving allows you to let go of the pain they have caused you, but you don't forget and allow the aggressor to hurt you again.

by Tammy Garrison 7/30/2015 6:19:53 PM
@LG ... my comment was meant to give a thumbs up to @Me, because forgiveness is a such hard thing to do. In no way am I condemning those who can't / don't want to forgive. It's obviously a personal choice and I respect that. To each their own.

by kate 7/30/2015 6:20:07 PM
Anyone know how long this break will be?

by AnnaB1962 7/30/2015 6:20:08 PM
@AnnaB1962: Was supposed to be 15 minutes... by my watch we are near 18

by Phil Tenser 7/30/2015 6:20:20 PM