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Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

Mass-Murder Trial May|Be Postponed Again

CENTENNIAL, Colo. (CN) - Attorneys for accused mass-murderer James Holmes want the trial postponed to give them more time to review videotapes of Holmes' sanity examinations.

Holmes, 26, is accused of killing 12 people and injuring 70 more during a midnight premiere of "Batman: The Dark Knight Rises" at the Century 16 movie theater in Aurora.

Prosecutors indicated they will seek the death penalty.

Holmes' psychiatric evaluator on Oct. 15 delivered video recordings of Holmes' sanity examinations to the court. According to the defense, the evaluator issued nine DVDs containing approximately 22 hours of recordings.

Holmes' attorneys say it will take them time to review the DVDs and the trial will have to be delayed.

"During the short time that defense counsel and their experts have had to review and digest Dr. Reid's report thus far and for the reasons that follow, it has become abundantly clear that counsel will require additional time before they are prepared to proceed to trial in this case. As a result, counsel felt it was prudent to request a continuance as soon as possible," the defense motion states.

If Arapahoe County Judge Carlos Samour agrees, it will be the second time the trial has been rescheduled this year. In February, Samour set the trial for Oct. 14 but rescheduled it for Dec. 8 to allow the psychiatric evaluator time to do a thorough job.

The defense motion does not indicate when the attorneys want the trial rescheduled.

Samour Tuesday issued an order stating he wants to wait for the prosecution to respond by Wednesday before he makes a decision.

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