Suspected Aurora theater shooter James Holmes entered a plea of not guilty to a Colorado judge today. The 25-year-old former Ph.D student is accused of killing 12 people and injuring 58 others on July 20, 2012 during a midnight screening of The Dark Knight Rises.
In the courtroom Holmes’ lawyer told Judge William B. Sylvester that he was not ready to enter a plea for his defendant. Frustrated from the defense for their continuing requests for more time, Judge Sylvester entered a plea of not guilty on Holmes’ behalf. He then told Holmes and his lawyer that they may change the plea to not guilty by reason of insanity if they wish.
“As far as we’re concerned, they are entering a plea of not guilty, and what they have done to this point is not sufficient to enter a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity,” Arapahoe County assistant district attorney Karen Pearson told the court.
Holmes’ case is unique from Sandy Hook shooter Adam Lanza, Columbine shooters Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, and Virginia Tech shooter Seung-Hui Cho since he did not commit suicide after the incident.
Instead, prosecutors may look at the the trial of Jared Loughner, the man who plead guilty to 19 charges of murder and attempted murder following the January 8, 2011 shooting in Tucson, Arizona. Six people were killed in the attack while a dozen were injured including U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords. Although Loughner was originally declared incompetent to stand trial, he eventually pleaded guilty to the charges against him and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
If Holmes, who is facing 166 counts for murder and manslaughter, is convicted there is a possibility that he could face the death penalty. The District Attorney for Arapahoe County told the court today that he will make an announcement on April 1 on whether he will be pursuing the death penalty for James Holmes.
