Theater shooting trial day 63: Phase 3 closing arguments

Jurors will come face to face with the ultimate question in the Aurora movie theater shooting trial: Should James Holmes be put to death by lethal injection?

3rd & 7 37yd

If the jurors are not unanimous either way, foreman will sign on section 3 to indicate that. It would result in LWOP

by Phil Tenser 8/6/2015 7:35:34 PM
Someone noted earlier that Tamara Brady had got LWOP for a killer who dragged the victim behind his truck. I looked up the case. The defendant, Jose Luis Rubi-Nava, took a plea rather than face a death-penalty trial. Just setting the record straight.

by tg_kendall 8/6/2015 7:35:40 PM
Flip & Sophia-right back atcha (s)...

by BluesB 8/6/2015 7:35:45 PM
@BluesB: sorry -- I had to LOL at "styrofoam penis tricks."

by Poppy 8/6/2015 7:36:01 PM
@Sophia I completely agree.

by MyraJ 8/6/2015 7:36:02 PM
(reminder, there will be a 3-hour warning for the verdict)

by Phil Tenser 8/6/2015 7:36:17 PM
In their announcement, jury should not indicate what they decided or if it was unanimous

by Phil Tenser 8/6/2015 7:36:35 PM
They'll now read a sample verdict form

by Phil Tenser 8/6/2015 7:36:41 PM
Count 1 is Blunk

by Phil Tenser 8/6/2015 7:36:50 PM
@Poppy -- that was a federal trial

by Lynn 8/6/2015 7:36:57 PM
@Poppy, the Boston Bomber got death in federal court, not state court.

by tg_kendall 8/6/2015 7:37:02 PM
@BIue- I agree

by Victoria 8/6/2015 7:37:03 PM
@tg -- this killer tried to plea as well.

by Lynn 8/6/2015 7:37:05 PM
WHY SO LONG PHIL. UGH!

by Kels 8/6/2015 7:37:07 PM
I'm surprised the judge has any voice left.

by Poppy 8/6/2015 7:37:22 PM
when thru this over 45 years ago in a kill state, TX ; never would have considered dp for the VietNam vet who had a psychotic break. When in police custody he did try to kill another person. I could have asked for dp,but why ? I needed help, not to create more misery for anyone else. It would not have helped me and would have kept me from healing forever. I'm 70 now and full of joy and never hated him; also it was many years of terrifying fear because police and DA didn't let me know what was going on.

by yourneighbor 8/6/2015 7:37:33 PM
Okay, once (hopefully) last comment for me. Anyone who thinks that either the death penalty OR LWOP will give anyone "closure" is fooling themselves. Either one does not bring back the victim or make the victim or their family "whole". However, when the families met and, according to their own members, decided as a group to request that the state seek the DP, I think we, as members of a society which recognizes this as an acceptable punishment, should support those persons and let the chips fall where they may for the perpetrator. As far as this defendant is concerned, I have not seen either from him or his family any desire or inclination toward remorse or rehabilitation. And, no, I don't buy his mental illness defense. As I've said before, his ability to control it d "make it work for him" just seems too convenient to me.

by Suzi Lewis 8/6/2015 7:37:48 PM
@mandi I think jen was also referring to another time when he ran into the wall head first

by emma 8/6/2015 7:38:00 PM
Tg_k-thank you for researching it. I honestly couldn't imagine Brady succeeding in a case sounding like that (*or this).

by BluesB 8/6/2015 7:38:04 PM
@Phil- I was responding to ppl referring to volume issues.

by Sandy 8/6/2015 7:38:05 PM
@Sandy: correct

by Phil Tenser 8/6/2015 7:38:09 PM
As a former prison nurse...I have seen psychotic styrofoam cup episodes. Wonder if this is a theme?

by trl2 8/6/2015 7:38:33 PM
Had to be a way for a bit.. I thought closing arguments were to begin at 1? Why the delay?

by Elisabeth Wadman 8/6/2015 7:38:36 PM
@ElisabethWadman: Instructions are almost finished

by Phil Tenser 8/6/2015 7:38:42 PM
Very well said, Suzi!!!

by flip 8/6/2015 7:40:37 PM
This may sound a bit strange, but I would think the tension is pretty high in this room. What if one of the attorneys or one of the jurors needed to go to the bathroom, like immediately?

by Nadine 8/6/2015 7:40:41 PM
I will miss our Judge's great accent. It signifies a reassuring sense of reason and wisdom to me-in this wacked out world...

by BluesB 8/6/2015 7:40:45 PM
Can they give him the death penalty on just one count, perhaps on Veronica Sullivan's count?

by FPsych 8/6/2015 7:40:51 PM
@FPsych: yes they could do that

by Phil Tenser 8/6/2015 7:40:56 PM
Reading of instructions and forms is complete

by Phil Tenser 8/6/2015 7:41:03 PM
20 minute break now

by Phil Tenser 8/6/2015 7:41:07 PM
so If one of the jurors says life and all others says death do they have to regroup?(browser crashed)

by gwash 8/6/2015 7:42:20 PM
Despite her voice, Brady seems most competent lawyer on DT to me.

by Sophia 8/6/2015 7:42:21 PM
Very very well said, Suzi L.

by BluesB 8/6/2015 7:42:36 PM
they did begin, but they must go through all requirements first hand

by gwash 8/6/2015 7:42:37 PM
@Elizabeth Wadman, in Colorado, it seems that the order is instructions then prosecution then defense.

by tg_kendall 8/6/2015 7:42:39 PM
That may be the last time I hear Samour say asterisk....NOOOO!

by Kels 8/6/2015 7:42:41 PM
Judge is back in the room

by Phil Tenser 8/6/2015 8:05:01 PM
Got 51+ comments to plow through... here they come

by Phil Tenser 8/6/2015 8:05:10 PM
It has nothing to do with "closure" for anyone. No such thing in my opinion. It has to do with the law. If the jury decides he deserves the life or death. That is all that this trial means. The victims and their families will never have their life back.

by Anita Bowen 8/6/2015 8:05:25 PM
@blues I agree about the judges voice

by emma 8/6/2015 8:05:26 PM
Thanks :)

by Elisabeth Wadman 8/6/2015 8:05:27 PM
Does anyone else think JH has lost weight in the last couple weeks?

by FPsych 8/6/2015 8:05:28 PM
Brauchler needs a hand towel to wring.... "palms are sweaty" Let's hope he didn't have Mom's spaghetti for lunch.

by Lynn 8/6/2015 8:05:30 PM
Who dresses JH, his colors today look bad together lol

by Anne 8/6/2015 8:05:31 PM