Aurora Theater Shooter Now Pleads Insanity
Less than two months after a judge entered a not guilty plea for him, James Holmes now wants to claim not guilty by reason of insanity. In a not unexpected filing today, lawyers for the accused Aurora theater shooter say they will formally request the plea change at a May 13 hearing. Holmes is accused of killing 12 moviegoers during a shooting spree last summer at a Cinemark theater midnight showing of The Dark Knight Rises. He is charged with 166 counts of murder, attempted murder and other crimes. In late March, prosecutors rejected an offer from Holmes’ attorneys that would have their client willing to plead guilty and spend the rest of his life in prison without parole if he could escape the death penalty. On April 1, Arapahoe County District Attorney George Brauchler said he would be seeking to put Holmes on Death Row. The families of several victim of the shooting are also pursuing theater chain Cinemark with wrongful death suits with a May 5, 2014 trial date set. Rejecting a magistrate’s recommendation to dismiss, last month a federal judge ruled that the case will go forward.
Related stories
Accused Colorado Theater Shooter’s Arraignment Pushed Back To March
Alleged Colorado Theater Shooter Will Face Death Penalty
Accused Colorado Theater Shooter To Offer Guilty Plea, Lawyers Say
Get more from Deadline.com: Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Newsletter
