Theater shooting trial day 64: The life-or-death verdict for James Holmes

NOTE: This video is a placeholder, waiting to begin until the three-hours warning is issued by the court that a verdict was reached. Will James Holmes be put to death by lethal injection for the 12 people he killed inside an Aurora, Colorado movie theater? Or will the jury send him to prison for the rest of his life?Jurors are about to come face-to-face with the ultimate decision in the Aurora movie theater shooting trial: "Should James Eagan Holmes be put to death by lethal injection?"Jurors have already confirmed they found aggravating factors in the mass shooting for which they convicted the gunman. They also confirmed that any mitigating factors that might exist do not outweigh the aggravating factors. 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. 7NEWS and TheDenverChannel.com will have gavel to gavel coverage of the trial starting at 8:30a.m. (MST) everyday and ending around 5:30 p.m. (MST) Watch new live video on our YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/7NewsDenver/live Additional resources:LIVE VIDEO & BLOG: http://bit.ly/theatertrialTIMELINE of the case: http://bit.ly/theatertimelineJURY PROFILE: http://bit.ly/theaterjury CONTINUING COVERAGE: http://bit.ly/theatercoverage

3rd & 7 37yd

just read that as of 2012 average time between verdict and execution is almost 16 years. That is nationally and not specific to any state.

by djs 8/7/2015 9:28:53 PM
I am not a lawyer, just a psychology doctoral student. I do think all appeals will be denied.

by FPsych 8/7/2015 9:29:04 PM
@Nadine- if it is the DP appeals are mandatory I believe.

by MW 8/7/2015 9:29:05 PM
As Brauchler said yesterday, LWOP does not fit this particular crime. I hope the jury heard that.

by Nadine 8/7/2015 9:29:19 PM
Will the Judge sentence Holmes today, or at a later time?

by bonz 8/7/2015 9:29:20 PM
@bonz: For the murder counts, we will find out the sentence today

by Phil Tenser 8/7/2015 9:29:30 PM
As far as JH being put to death if the jury has chosen the death option . Here in Colorado it will depend on who's in office as Governor once all JH appeals have run out

by Anita Bowen 8/7/2015 9:29:34 PM
@Phil -- thanks.. and very special thanks to you and the 7 staff bringing us the gavel-to-gavel coverage!

by mandi 8/7/2015 9:29:35 PM
Ooooh PA...what a thought that is!

by Marsha Laurienti 8/7/2015 9:29:36 PM
To me, it's less about the cost than the families' wishes. May they get the outcome they desire and may they begin to piece together their shattered lives as a result. So much love to them, and to the jury.

by cheese and rice 8/7/2015 9:34:32 PM
I personally think and feel that the graphic photos, video and autopsies of the victims should never be released for their families' privacy - they have been through enough

by mandi 8/7/2015 9:34:34 PM
Agree with you, Sally Mander--this is not about the money.

by flip 8/7/2015 9:34:35 PM
Phil, Anica, Marshall and all those behind the scenes...thanks so much for your wonderful work on this trial coverage. I will miss chatting with people in the chat room and with Phil and Anica!

by Lori Butterfield 8/7/2015 9:34:37 PM
Thanks Phil, Anica and Channel 7. This has been a very interesting thing, being able to watch from beginning to end. So interesting! Going to miss it actually.

by Marsha Laurienti 8/7/2015 9:34:39 PM
@Phil - do you have "eyes" inside the courtroom? looking for eye contact with JH from the jury

by mandi 8/7/2015 9:38:44 PM
@mandi: Marshall is going to go in soon. I'm making him send us a video first

by Phil Tenser 8/7/2015 9:38:55 PM
There are no winners either way. It won't change anything. I vote death. However, one way or another he will die sooner or later and stand before God for his final judgement. He will pay for his crimes against mankind.

by Carolet in Denver 8/7/2015 9:38:59 PM
@Phil, how many charges and will there be a verdict form for each or are the charges "bundled" as far as the murder charges?

by Resa 8/7/2015 9:39:11 PM
@Resa: 24 counts will be read today

by Phil Tenser 8/7/2015 9:39:23 PM
@PA Watcher and Marsha---In an exquisite bit of irony, Holmes himself may ultimately be responsible for the election of a future governor who will not impede his execution. Unintended consequences, Jimmy.

by flip 8/7/2015 9:39:28 PM
@FPsych: @frippo: DO NOT answer questions about the jurors

by Phil Tenser 8/7/2015 9:39:49 PM
thanks Phil

by mandi 8/7/2015 9:40:11 PM
@mandi I agree. I think that would be very disresctful to the families and victims

by emma 8/7/2015 9:40:26 PM
will there be any coverage outside the courtroom before the verdict

by wendy 8/7/2015 9:42:46 PM
24 counts, it only takes one for the DP. Would say a lot is they found DP in all 24.

by Resa 8/7/2015 9:42:47 PM
Survivor Joshua Nowlan is on his way into the courtroom.

by Phil Tenser 8/7/2015 9:42:54 PM
@wendy: 7NEWS is live on TV with outside the courtroom coverage and we're trying to get our crews to submit videos for this live stream

by Phil Tenser 8/7/2015 9:43:13 PM
The brother of shooting victim Jessica Ghawi posted his thoughts on Twitter as we wait for the verdict.
"Verdict announcement at 5 MST. This won't be over for those of us who have lost loved ones as I anticipate a death sentence.
A death sentence, to which I am vehemently opposed, will result in automatic appeals, millions of more dollars, and additional anguish.
This trial has already cost millions of dollars and three years of pain to the families. Colorado voters should remember this come elections.
This trial should have never happened. Defense offered a plea to life in prison, but political ambition trumped reason."
twitter.com

by anica.padilla 8/7/2015 9:43:47 PM
I went back and re watched the testimony of Dr Gur again. Even without the cross ex by Brauchler, just watching her direct testimony only, there wasn't any real or credible substance to what she had to say specifically about JH. She was very inconsistent and clearly attributed statements and feelings to him that came from her, not anything he ever said. I don't know if she sold her prestige for the money or if she is a death penalty opponent, but something other than a true psychiatric examination was at play.

by Sophia 8/7/2015 9:53:00 PM
thanks phil

by wendy 8/7/2015 9:53:09 PM
If I were on the jury, I would not speak to the press at all. Either way it goes, there are going to be angry people.

by vt 8/7/2015 9:53:10 PM
Unfortunately, I agree w/ Jessica's brother. Victim families will not be healed regardless of the verdict, yet they would likely have felt cheated without the DP prosecution. No win situation.

by trl2 8/7/2015 9:53:20 PM
Jessica Ghawi brother has never been for the DP from the beginning... and he doesn't live in Colorado... Jordan Ghawi live in Texas which has a higher DP rate then Colorado does... I find it interesting his thoughts about the DP

by LG 8/7/2015 9:53:34 PM
Just a special note of appreciation for the superb coverage of Denver 7. The manner you set up the web site and organized the materials and the addition of legal experts made your coverage heads above anyone. I'm not in CO or else I would bake you up a batch of my snikerdoodles as a thanks.

by trl2 8/7/2015 9:54:43 PM
Why can't I find the full closings from yesterday yet on your site? I receive videos everyday from a YouTube subscription, but the quality is no where near the quality of yours!

by LoriJ 8/7/2015 9:54:56 PM
@LoriJ: Well, we post them on YT. We are the official YT partner. Anyone else you get it from is probably copyright infringement. Check
7NEWS | Daily archive of complete testimony from the Aurora movie theater shooting trial | TheDenverChannel | KMGH-TV
Video archive of full days of testimony in the trial of James Holmes for the Aurora movie theater shooting.

by Phil Tenser 8/7/2015 9:55:37 PM
@TLR The current Govern won't be in office when it and if it's the DP to be carried out!

by LG 8/7/2015 9:55:46 PM
@Phil...Do you think the judge will give a date on when they will start the proceeding for all the attempted murder charges?

by Viking 8/7/2015 9:55:47 PM
@Viking: Perhaps, but that could also be decided later and announced next week

by Phil Tenser 8/7/2015 9:56:01 PM
Hey Jimmy, guess what, all your "points" are being taken away today.

by Resa 8/7/2015 9:56:03 PM
Hi Phil, Will we be able to see live coverage outside to the Court House after the Verdict is Read? If not is there a site that we can see live Interviews that will be taking place. Thank You

by Phil2 8/7/2015 9:56:07 PM
@Phil2: We are going to try to stay on for as long as we can to get that content

by Phil Tenser 8/7/2015 9:56:18 PM
Jessica's brother is completely entitled to his anti-DP opinion and all other issues he thinks might be associated with this horrible tragedy.

Nevertheless, he does not speak for the majority of dead victims' family members--he speaks for himself. As far as the continuing comparisons of cost for LWOP vs DP, many, many people think that money is simply not the most important issue in all of this.

by flip 8/7/2015 10:06:39 PM
Oh my gosh! Just got home and logged in.

by just Thinkin 8/7/2015 10:06:42 PM
For those of us not in Colorado will this feed show after verdict news reports?

by bonz 8/7/2015 10:06:48 PM

Theater shooting trial day 64: The life-or-death verdict for James Holmes

7NEWS | Daily archive of complete testimony from the Aurora movie theater shooting trial | TheDenverChannel | KMGH-TV