The Latest: Theater shooting victim’s dad expresses relief
Jul 16, 2015, 7:01 PM
In this image taken from video, accused Colorado theater shooter James Holmes, on the upper far left, listens to defense attorney Daniel King give closing arguments during his trial, in Centennial, Colo., Tuesday, July 14, 2015. (Colorado Judicial Department via AP, Pool)
(Colorado Judicial Department via AP, Pool)
CENTENNIAL, Colo. (AP) — The latest in the Colorado theater shooting trial verdict (all times local):
7:05 p.m.
Tom Sullivan, whose son Alex was one of 12 people killed in the Colorado theater attack, says as soon as he heard the judge read the first guilty verdict, “we all knew the dominoes were about to fall.”
Sullivan nodded his head as the verdict was read Thursday. Later, outside the courthouse, he said, “we got it done the right way.”
Sandy Phillips, whose daughter Jessica Ghawi was killed, said it felt like a weight had been lifted off her back after gunman James Holmes was convicted of 165 murder, attempted murder and weapons counts.
She says “we’re very happy this animal — this monster — will never see the light of day.”
The scene outside the courthouse where the trial was held was subdued. There were no crowds and no cheers when word came that Holmes was convicted. A few people driving past honked their horns.
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6:35 p.m.
Colorado theater shooting survivor Jansen Young says she finally has closure with the guilty verdict against shooter James Holmes.
Young went to the theater that night with her boyfriend, Jonathan Blunk, who threw himself in front of her to protect her. Blunk, a 26-year-old father of two young children, was killed.
Outside court Thursday, Young described the ordeal as “unreal,” saying she was at the theater “just doing nothing” when someone tried to kill her.
She expressed relief that the case is coming to a close.
The 2012 attack at a suburban Denver theater left 12 dead and dozens wounded. Holmes is now eligible for the death penalty.
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6:20 p.m.
Colorado theater shooting survivor Yousef Gharbi says he shuddered when he heard that gunman James Holmes was convicted.
Gharbi was shot in the head when Holmes opened fire on the suburban Denver theater in July 2012.
Gharbi stayed outside the courthouse Thursday. He says he had no expectations because he didn’t want to be disappointed. But he says his “body shuddered” with the first verdict.
Gharbi says he’s now ready to move on.
Jurors found Holmes guilty of 165 counts in the attack that left 12 dead and dozens wounded. He’s now eligible for the death penalty.
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5:50 p.m.
Jurors in the Colorado theater shooting case are being sent home after convicting James Holmes on 165 counts for killing 12 people and injuring 70 others.
They’ll return to court to begin the sentencing phase of the trial Wednesday, two days after the third anniversary of the attack.
The jury must decide whether Holmes will be put to death or sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Before dismissing them, Judge Carlos A. Samour Jr. reminded jurors not to talk to anyone about the case and not to begin deliberating the sentence in their minds.
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4:16 p.m.
The judge in the Colorado theater shooting case has finished reading the jury’s verdicts on all 165 counts against James Holmes. It took an hour.
Jurors found Holmes guilty in the attack that left 12 dead and 70 injured. He’s now eligible for the death penalty.
Holmes showed no reaction as the verdicts were read.
Jurors listened to 11 weeks of testimony, but they rejected his insanity defense after just about 12 hours of deliberation.
Next, the same jurors will hear from more witnesses to decide whether Holmes should be executed or sentenced to life in prison. His lawyers are expected to try to spare his life because of his mental illness.
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4:25 p.m.
Colorado theater shooter James Holmes is showing no visible reaction as the judge reads the jury’s verdict on all 165 counts against him.
Holmes has been found guilty of murder in the deaths of all 12 people killed in the attack nearly three years ago to the day.
Dressed in a blue dress shirt and khakis, he stood at the defense table, three of his public defenders on both sides of him and two more standing behind him.
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4:15 p.m.
A jury has found Colorado theater shooter James Holmes guilty of murder in the methodically planned attack that left 12 dead and dozens wounded.
The verdict means the 27-year-old former neuroscience graduate student could get the death penalty for the 2012 shooting.
Jurors reached their decision Thursday after deliberating for about 13 hours over two days. They must now decide whether Holmes should be executed or sent to prison for life without the possibility of parole.
Holmes pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, and his attorneys argued he was so addled by mental illness that he was unable to tell right from wrong at the time of the shootings.
Prosecutors maintained the attack was meticulously planned over months and Holmes knew what he was doing.
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3 p.m.
The families of those killed and injured in the Colorado theater shooting are arriving at the courthouse in suburban Denver where James Holmes’ verdict will be read at 4:15 p.m.
Two deputies are stationed on the roof.
The jury heard 11 weeks of testimony. The nine women and three men reached their decision Thursday after deliberating for about a day and a half.
Holmes has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity in the July 20, 2012, shootings. He killed 12, and 70 were wounded. It ranks as one of the nation’s deadliest shootings.
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1:23 p.m.
Jurors have reached a verdict in the trial of Colorado theater shooter James Holmes.
The panel made its decision Thursday after deliberating for a day and a half. A court spokesman says the verdict will be read at 4:15 p.m. MDT Thursday.
Holmes has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity in the July 20, 2012, shootings that killed 12 people and injured 70 others.
If the jury convicts Holmes, the trial will enter a sentencing phase with testimony about whether he should be sent to prison for life or sentenced to death. Jurors make that decision.
If they find him not guilty, he would be committed indefinitely to a state mental hospital.
Jurors heard nearly three months of testimony, including heartbreaking and sometimes gruesome survival stories.
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