James Holmes Charged for Aurora Massacre
James Holmes, the man who walked into a crowded theater just ten days ago and gunned down twelve people (and injured 58), has been formally charged for his crimes.
Holmes sat in the Arapahoe County Courthouse today while Judge William B. Sylvester read him his rights and his charges. He is facing 142 criminal counts – 24 counts of first-degree murder and 116 counts of attempted murder, along with one count of possession of explosives and one count of a crime of violence.
According to court documents, Holmes was given two counts for each person who died or was injured during his rampage – one for intent to harm, and the other for acting with indifference to the value of human life.
According to former Denver chief deputy district attorney Craig Silverman, Holmes doesn’t have a chance at escaping the charges.
“I don’t think it’s too hard to predict the path of this proceeding. This is not a whodunit. … The only possible defense is insanity,” he said.
Injured victims of the shooting, along with family and friends of the wounded and dead, sat in on the hearing. Some were wearing Batman t-shirts.
The preliminary hearing is set for November 13th. Prosecutors have not yet decided whether they will seek the death penalty.
