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

orman's twin isn't here today

by tjq 8/6/2015 4:21:32 PM
Judge says the parties should file something in writing before issuing an order

by Phil Tenser 8/6/2015 4:22:37 PM
@Tired-yeah-yesterday someone made a "Fozzie the Bear/muppet"-King reference. 'Kinda funny... :)

by BluesB 8/6/2015 4:22:45 PM
Not a Colorado resident, but if I'm a taxpayer, I sure don't want to pay for a hearing every time a confidential records request is made.

by AW 8/6/2015 4:22:49 PM
the judge is light years from being a genius---check out someone like Learned Hand and Thurman is you want to get a range . this judge is more of a Clarence Thomas

by yourneighbor 8/6/2015 4:22:52 PM
I just tuned in, what are they talking about?

by aw 8/6/2015 4:22:55 PM
@yourneighbor Well then I guess I am a cruel person

by Joey 8/6/2015 4:22:56 PM
Shooter glances at Orman...hmm!

by BluesB 8/6/2015 4:22:57 PM
@yourneighbor - are you serious???

by Nadine 8/6/2015 4:38:50 PM
Do you guys think JH felt bad after yesterday's testimonies? (feels bad for the victim's families)

by hey 8/6/2015 4:38:56 PM
The judge is awesome!!! He has done a fantastic job and knows his stuff!

by Suzanne 8/6/2015 4:38:58 PM
@ your neighbor What if he killed your spouse child or someone in your family, would you still feel that?

by tjq 8/6/2015 4:39:03 PM
@yourneighbor- then I am a cruel person. I have been swayed by evidence presented. I have put myself in the seat of the jury. I have made my decision by evidence alone. Against by moral beliefs but following rules of the court.

by TLR 8/6/2015 4:39:06 PM
@yourneighbor...then I am a cruel person because this man deserves nothing less than the DP with all the tragedy he has caused on purpose to an insurmountable amount of families. He's not mentally ill...he just thinks he's smarter than everyone else...big difference...IMO!

by TammyC 8/6/2015 4:39:10 PM
@BluesB looks like!! lol

by tjq 8/6/2015 4:39:11 PM
I think Judge Samour is loyalty, after watching every day of this trial, & I stand by it. CNN & other national legal experts commented on that sevral times as well, stating he may go all the way to supreme court.

by BluesB 8/6/2015 4:39:18 PM
If he does get the DP he will spend many years waiting for that to be carried out

by tjq 8/6/2015 4:39:20 PM
I think Orman is a jerk, just my opinion

by notfordp 8/6/2015 4:39:22 PM
Thanks Phil for a great summary! You and the 7News team have a lot of class and professionalism. If i lived in CO. Id be youre biggest fan. Know that someone in NY loves you guys!

by Tired 8/6/2015 4:39:26 PM
"Only cruel people support a death penalty" Really? What gives you the right to make that blanket statement for everyone else?

by Suzi Lewis 8/6/2015 4:39:31 PM
Suzanne, the appeals can't change the verdict to NGBRI because that is a jury decision. But they could overturn his conviction and require a new trial. And they can overturn the DP, but I'm not sure if they can 'convert' it to LWOP or just require a new sentencing process, in which case the DA might decide not to pursue the DP again. They can also find a list of errors or adjust several interpretations in the law, but decide that those issues were 'harmless', meaning the verdicts and sentences are not overturned. The whole appeals process can take 10-20 years to complete, especially with DP.

by Sophia 8/6/2015 4:39:38 PM
Thanks Suzanne-'just saw your comment!

by BluesB 8/6/2015 4:39:40 PM
@Phil - Who did you say filed a motion to request more of the evidence to be released? Did you say Steve?

by Sarah 8/6/2015 4:39:42 PM
@Sarah: Our media consortium lawyer filed a request previously, it was put on hold.

by Phil Tenser 8/6/2015 4:39:56 PM
Does anyone know when closing arguments are scheduled for?

by cierra 8/6/2015 4:40:00 PM
@cierra: instructions start at 1pm

by Phil Tenser 8/6/2015 4:40:05 PM
Your neighbor, I am quite familiar with Learned Hand and Thurgood Marshall. I'm assuming you've read all the written opinions of Samour in order to make your comparison?

by Sophia 8/6/2015 4:40:25 PM
@yourneighbor very easy to say that on a viewer standpoint. Would like to see your opinion if you were affected by something this bad or worse. Nothing like abolishing the DP and letting some murderer live out the rest of their lives when the people they killed didnt get the option to. seriously dont get all these anti DP peoples view that this practice is somehow cruel yet overlook how cruel the offender was to other people... sounds quote hypocritical

by JG 8/6/2015 4:42:34 PM
Curious if you could do a poll to see how many of us viewers are in Colorado vs not?

by Sarah 8/6/2015 4:42:36 PM
@SMH he is on risperidone and vistaril both of which impairs a persons thinking and reactions

by emma 8/6/2015 4:42:38 PM
@SMH, I'm just saying, who knows how he would be acting if he wasnt medicated

by emma 8/6/2015 4:42:40 PM
@yourneighbor- as you well know, this is a DP qualified jury. They are obligated to at least consider the DP. I respect their decision either way- I don't think we should be labeling them or their decision.

by Mr.D. 8/6/2015 4:42:42 PM
@cierra - I believe the actual closing arguments start at around 2:00 p.m.

by Nadine 8/6/2015 4:42:43 PM
@Phil - are there any estimates on the length of jury deliberations? Do they expect that they will start today?

by Jackie Schildkraut 8/6/2015 4:42:45 PM
@JackieSchildkraut: No estimates at all, but I'm preparing to have a verdict quickly

by Phil Tenser 8/6/2015 4:43:00 PM
@Phil - curious if I could send your media consortium lawyer an email in regards to the motion filed?

by Sarah 8/6/2015 4:43:01 PM
@Sarah: I don't have his contact info on hand... but send it to us and we'll consider it

by Phil Tenser 8/6/2015 4:43:19 PM
@suzi sounds like someone who lives in another country/state where just b/c they have no DP that it sould be worldwide practice. Just like that person yesterday who all for banning guns which sounded like he was in england. He was speaking as if all guns were eradicated in the blink if an eye that all deaths and crime would just magically end

by JG 8/6/2015 4:43:26 PM
Go, Sophia!! (Re: judge comparisons). P.S. apparently many, many of us are "cruel people" on this family thread...

by BluesB 8/6/2015 4:43:29 PM
@Phil - thanks.... we have a book getting ready to go to press and would like to have the most updated info! Also, thank you for your excellent coverage! :)

by Jackie Schildkraut 8/6/2015 4:43:48 PM
by Phil Tenser 8/6/2015 4:43:59 PM
CNN reporter from court room just said shooter's parents were very stoic during victim impact. Arlene wiped away a tear once.

by BluesB 8/6/2015 4:49:28 PM
@Phil - Will we have coverage of the appeal process should it go that way? Or we wont know until we know?

by colo 8/6/2015 4:49:29 PM
Thanks Phil!!

by Sarah 8/6/2015 4:49:32 PM
I'm neither for or against the DP. However, if there ever was a case where the DP is appropriate - it's this one. I kept waiting for some evidence to be presented to indicate JH did not know what he was doing or that the mitigating factors were so strong to outweigh the aggravators... It never happened. If anyone disagrees so strongly with the DP, work at changing the law... AND in the meantime don't call people names or attack them for having a different point of view. They are expressing an opinion based on current existing law.

by Edy 8/6/2015 4:49:47 PM