Aurora movie theater shooter sentenced to life in prison
A Colorado jury on Friday sentenced James Holmes to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the 2012 massacre at a theater in Aurora, Colo., rejecting the death penalty.
{mosads}Judge Carlos Samour Jr., read the decision from the jury, which took less than a day to reach their decision. The jury did not reach a unanimous decision for a death sentence.
Holmes, 27, was found guilty last month of murder in the July 2012 shooting during a midnight premiere of “The Dark Knight Rises” that left 12 people death and 70 others injured.
The jury had to unanimously decide to sentence Holmes to capital punishment, or his case would otherwise result in life without parole.
His defense had pleaded with the jury to reject a death sentence, while the prosecution said he deserved to join the three other men on death row in the state.
Colorado carried out its last execution in 1997.
The nine female and three male jurists took their penultimate step toward a death sentence Monday when they didn’t find enough evidence to eliminate the possibility.
Friday’s ruling was the result of a third and final sentencing phase in the trial, after family members of the shooting’s victims provided additional testimony.
Holmes’ defense had argued he is mentally ill and should receive a life term in prison.
District Attorney George Brauchler maintained that Holmes made a calculated decision to attack the theater after months of preparation.
“You can bring justice to him,” Brauchler told the jurors in his closing arguments, according to the Denver Post. “And for James Eagan Holmes, justice is death.”
Brauchler has been mentioned by some Republicans as a potential Senate candidate in a state where the GOP is searching for a rival to Sen. Michael Bennet (D) in 2016 elections.
– Updated at 7:47 p.m.
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