James Holmes carried out a mass shooting that occurred back in July, 2012 at a Century movie theater in Aurora, Colorado. He killed 12 people and injured 58 others. After his arrest, he made his first court appearance before Judge William Sylvester. He appeared to be dazed and confused despite the fact he was charged with murder. Speculation circulated that he may be mentally ill. Holmes attorneys said their client is mentally ill and they need more time to assess the nature of his illness.
Recently, a court hearing was held to determine if Holmes should stand trial. According to ABC News, Holmes smiled and smirked at disturbing self-portraits and images of weapons shown in court. After the court hearing, Caren Teves stated, “When he sees himself, he gets very excited and his eyes crinkle.” Prosecutors showed photos that Holmes took of himself hours before he carried out the shooting. He took a series of self-photos with orange dyed hair, a black skull cap, and his eyes covered with black contacts. The guns were visible in some of the photos.
In a report by CBS News, Prosecutors argued that Holmes acted with deliberation and extreme indifference. Defense attorneys decided not to call any witnesses, saying the rules of the preliminary hearing severely limited what evidence they could present. They were previously granted permission to call two people to talk about Holmes’ mental state.
The judge’s decision on whether the case will proceed to trial is expected on Friday.
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