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

JH is a monster. How dare he kill those dear people and ruin so many lives!

by Joseph 7/30/2015 4:37:18 PM
the comments about scientists at the top of their field not being married, not being social, etc. are a bunch of hogwash and show a lack of understanding and maybe also shows that one does not even know any of these people

by mld 7/30/2015 4:37:20 PM
In addition to that, I still think JH is largely misunderstood. He knows what he did was wrong, and even looks sorry every day we see him in court. His mental illness has clearly taken its toll on him but I believe he will, if he hasn't already, will fully recover with the right treatment. I truly feel for this young man.

by okx 7/30/2015 4:37:30 PM
You can take an on-line Myers Briggs for free.

by trl2 7/30/2015 4:37:54 PM
Or INTJ.

by Tammy Garrison 7/30/2015 4:37:55 PM
That was me, Blues. Anica saw the picture on one of her colleague's phones.

by Marsha Laurienti 7/30/2015 4:38:14 PM
By my watch, this recess is now about 10 minutes longer than expected. We're still waiting for the court signal to resume

by Phil Tenser 7/30/2015 4:38:21 PM
Blues, wasn't me.

by Tammy Garrison 7/30/2015 4:39:13 PM
I think JH is a monster too!!

by Joey 7/30/2015 4:39:14 PM
JH is faking! We have all seen how he acts when the jury isn't watching.

by Joseph 7/30/2015 4:39:16 PM
Judge must still be doing research.

by Tammy Garrison 7/30/2015 4:39:17 PM
@Tired: That's my take on JH's dad too. He isn't connected with what's going on. @him and his wife wears the pants. Don't think he would be aware of a lot of every day things if his wife didn't tell him.

by Kristle 7/30/2015 4:39:27 PM
phhil-you're doing a fantastic job handling all things today. keep up the good work 7news

by naturegurl 7/30/2015 4:39:30 PM
He is sorry? The shooter??? Did you see him last night when jury was out? He was laughing!?! Different posture, totally different person!

by BluesB 7/30/2015 4:39:31 PM
While waiting, I just checked again. No new documents on the case library page

by Phil Tenser 7/30/2015 4:40:18 PM
@okx- No disrespect, but I cannot believe you think JH looks like he is sorry! I haven't seen any signs of remorse at all. If he is sorry, it is only because he is incarcerated

by Jennifer 7/30/2015 4:40:30 PM
Thanks Marsha-can you rephrase/repeat just a bit of it? I looked for it in thread but couldn't find it....

by BluesB 7/30/2015 4:40:32 PM
Phase 3 is want I want...then the word of DP! Holmes needs to go to DR and stay for awhile...pick his last meal out, and well ya all know the rest of the story!

by Sally Mander 7/30/2015 4:40:36 PM
@ BluesB - agreed! He is not fooling me.

by Joseph 7/30/2015 4:40:37 PM
JH has no sympathy for what he did!!

by Joey 7/30/2015 4:40:38 PM
Judge just came back

by Phil Tenser 7/30/2015 4:40:59 PM
We're going to live now

by Phil Tenser 7/30/2015 4:41:06 PM
@Kristie: Yes. I took it at my place of employment in the early 80s. While the group test was presented as a team-building exercise and a route to personal insight, I believe it was used by HR as a means of identifying "management material".

by Keeter 7/30/2015 4:41:18 PM
Judge says he's finished all the changes except the outstanding questions

by Phil Tenser 7/30/2015 4:41:29 PM
Completely agree bluesb

by Joey 7/30/2015 4:41:31 PM
Judge says about verdict forms that he made a change to use numbers instead of roman numerals

by Phil Tenser 7/30/2015 4:41:57 PM
And I want to echo what Tami was saying. I'm obviously not from Colorado, though I loved it when we visited there. So when I looked at the various options for watching the trial, Denver Channel was the ONLY place that had all of the supportive information about the trial or anything beyond just the live feed. Or at least the MOST information about the trial. So thank you for your efforts.

by Tammy Garrison 7/30/2015 4:42:09 PM
I think the only sadness JH has is that he got caught and now faces death.

by kat 7/30/2015 4:42:14 PM
Anica had stated that Brauchler's wife had taken a picture of him in their living room with case files and victim's files surrounding him on the floor and there he was sleeping on the floor in the middle of all of that.

by Marsha Laurienti 7/30/2015 4:42:17 PM
Okx - respectfully -just WATCH the change in him when the courtroom isn't full. It's undeniable! 'Truly.

by BluesB 7/30/2015 4:42:26 PM
Thanks for these updates, Phil.

by BluesB 7/30/2015 4:42:26 PM
@okx...most mental illness is poorly understood by the general population. Exposure to MI either professionally or through family changes that. We have come a long way from institutionalizing everyone, but have a ways to go. New PET scan and other research will likely make a big difference in the future.

by trl2 7/30/2015 4:42:32 PM
Judge Samour also talking about clarification to the mention of the defendant's parents

by Phil Tenser 7/30/2015 4:42:50 PM
Judge also says he's concerned about timing

by Phil Tenser 7/30/2015 4:43:01 PM
Says he wants to use "Mr. Holmes" instead of the defendant to be consistent

by Phil Tenser 7/30/2015 4:43:24 PM
@ Tammy G. I am surprised and interested in your statement a while back. I believe there is a place for the DP in our country but I think there will be one dissenting juror. Just can't help feeling that JH will be able to pull a rabbit out of his hat.

by Mr.D. 7/30/2015 4:43:35 PM
Thank you, Marsha!!

by BluesB 7/30/2015 4:43:36 PM
bluesb so what does that mean to you? he's human, its a good sign.

by okx 7/30/2015 4:43:37 PM
The only thing JH is sorry about is that he didn't collect more points or get out of his gear fast enough - but then he expected his apartment building to have blown up and had more time to escape.

by Edy 7/30/2015 4:43:41 PM
Paragraph 26 now being discussed, that was about lack of motivation

by Phil Tenser 7/30/2015 4:43:51 PM
Nelson says that in her notes from Dr. Gur, quoting about negative symptoms

by Phil Tenser 7/30/2015 4:44:15 PM
JH's mother was the disciplinarian so to speak because she wanted him to get a job and quit playing video games. Now that her śons convicted of murder she switches to wanting to control his future by sending him pictures of the life he "had" so he won't forget who he is/was and can build a "new future".

by Kristle 7/30/2015 4:44:47 PM
I have spent this entire trial trying to wrap my head around the fact that someone could or would destroy their entire life by planning and committing this heinous act but also that they would use a mental illness as their reason. Having seen the devastation mental illness reigns on those who love and care about the person as well as the person themselves, I would NEVER have imagined someone choosing this avenue--at least until now. For those who are still believing the mental illness, do you not have ANY small bit of disbelief in what he is professing (through others since we don't get to hear him) and by his actions when the jury is present and when they are not, and if it is shown that he is playing a shell game, doesn't it infuriate you as to what he is doing to those who have backed him?

by Suzi Lewis 7/30/2015 4:44:56 PM
Most people think they can get away with murder stating that they have mental illness. JH is one of them.

by kat 7/30/2015 4:45:04 PM
JH quite subdued today -- no swiveling I've
noticed

by Kelsey Murphy 7/30/2015 4:45:09 PM