The judge who is presiding over the Colorado cinema massacre case has delayed the murder trial on Monday. The trial of indicted gunman, James Holmes, has been delayed by six weeks, to January. The same judge, Carlos A. Samour, has denied a request made by the defense lawyers to postpone the murder trial longer.
James Holmes is 26 and he has pleaded not guilty by motive of insanity. He shot to death 12 people and injured 70 inside a movie theater during a midnight viewing of Batman: The Dark Night in July of 2012.
Holmes was identified as being the only shooter in the attack, but he and his lawyers are stating that he was not well at the time and that he was in the throes of a psychotic break when the shooting occurred.
There have been two psychiatric evaluations of the young man that have caused trial dates to be pushed back. Two weeks ago, the second round of psychological testing has caused Holmes’ lawyers to ask for more time to analyze the results of the evaluation. The prosecutors did not oppose a small delay of the trial and said that the request was reasonable.
Judge Carlos A. Samour, Arapahoe County District Court Judge, revealed that the jury selection for the murder trial will start at the beginning of December and it will end on January 20. The lawyers’ opening statements should commence on June 3, as the Colorado cinema massacre case was delayed.
Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for Holmes if the man is convicted. James Holmes is charged with attempted murder and multiple counts of first-degree murder. The first mental evaluation of Holmes was found deficient by Judge Samour, so he ordered the second evaluation that happened two weeks ago.
Colorado cinema massacre case was delayed by judge Samour who also revealed that potential jurors should be screened to see if they are willing to give the death penalty. It also needs to be determined that they have not been influenced by the news media coverage of the case and that they can be fair and impartial in the Holmes case which involves an insanity defense.
