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U.S. NEWSSaturday 18 July 2015
Despite quick conviction, theater shooting trial isn’t over
Associated Press maimed to the father of his Tom Teves, who lost his son, Alex, in the 2012 Aurora, Colo., theater massacre, speaks to members
CENTENNIAL, Colorado youngest victim, a 6-year- of the media after jurors convicted shooter James Holmes in the killing spree as the trial con-
(AP) — Jurors only needed old girl who died in the cluded Thursday, July 16, 2015, in Centennial, Colo. Holmes could get the death penalty for the
12 hours to reject the idea 2012 attack. massacre that left 12 people dead and dozens of others wounded.
that James Holmes was There was a muted, heart-
legally insane when he broken sense of relief Thurs- (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
slipped into a Colorado day afternoon following
movie theater’s midnight Holmes’ conviction on
premier of the Batman 165 counts of murder, at-
movie “The Dark Knight tempted murder and other
Rises,” and opened fire kill- charges. Victims wept and
ing 12 and injuring scores of comforted one another
others. Now, the trial enters in the courtroom during
a new phase that is certain the hour-long recitation
to take much longer, as the of each verdict, holding
jury decides whether Holm- hands and nodding their
es should die for his crimes. heads with satisfaction
Starting next week, jurors when their loved one’s
will hear testimony about names were read.
Holmes’ mental illness and “We’re all really happy he’s
his childhood. Prosecutors guilty, but we’re all really
may counter with even sad to be here,” said Katie
more heartbreaking ac- Medley, whose husband,
counts from victims, rang- Caleb, uses a wheelchair
ing from those Holmes after being shot in the head
during the attack. and whose friend Rebecca Holmes’ insanity defense
The verdict came after 2 Wingo was killed. doesn’t mean they’ll come
1/2 years of legal skirmish- Experts say the sentencing to a speedy conclusion
ing between prosecutors phase could prove even about his punishment.
and Holmes’ public de- more emotionally wrench- “They’re going to have to
fenders and 11 months of ing as survivors describe decide, for someone who
grueling testimony. The up- the impact of the shooting is mentally ill, if a death sen-
coming sentencing phase on their daily lives. It will be tence is the right punish-
could easily take another a harder decision for jurors, ment,” she said. “It ends up
month. who will have fewer instruc- being a much more per-
“I’m glad we’re at this tions to guide them, said sonal decision.”
point, but at the same time, defense attorney Karen If just one juror disagrees
we have a long way to go,” Steinhauser, who is not in- with a death sentence,
said Marcus Weaver, who volved in the Holmes case. Holmes, 27, will be sent to
was injured in the attack That jurors swiftly rejected prison for life.q
Police:
2 dead, 3 wounded in north Maine shootings
ALANNA DURKIN began in three different der charges. They are
Associated Press communities. Police also searching for a motive for
LEE, Maine (AP) — State believe the suspect set fire the overnight shootings
police say a former con- to a barn. that left two men dead and
vict shot five people, two of Investigators say 35-year- two men and a woman in-
them fatally, during a ram- old Anthony Lord was ar- jured. They didn’t identify
page across several north- rested without incident Fri- the victims.
ern Maine towns before day at a family member’s Lord has a criminal record
being captured. home in Houlton. They say that includes convictions
They say a man was as- a woman who was with for a sex crime, domestic
saulted and guns were sto- him wasn’t harmed. assault, criminal threaten-
len before the shootings Police say Lord faces mur- ing and assault.q
