The man who fatally shot 12 and injured another 70 in a Colorado movie theatre has been found guilty of all 165 charges laid against him.
James Holmes, 27, opened fire on a film screening three years ago and was today found guilty of 140 counts of attempted murder, 12 counts of first-degree murder after deliberation, 12 counts of first-degree murder with extreme indifference, and one count of possessing an explosive device.
After hearing his plea of insanity, where Holmes claimed that the attack was carried out under schizophrenic delusions, two prosecution psychiatrists were able to testify that Holmes was legally sane when he carried out his attack.
He was thereafter found guilty after 13 hours of deliberation from the jury.
All 24 of Holmes’ murder charges carry the death penalty as a possible charge.
Holmes’ sentencing will be carried out next Wednesday and is expected to last into August.
“This has been an emotional and difficult time for the victims, their families, loved ones and friends,” said the Colorado Governor, “My hope is that this step brings some peace to each of them, and begins the healing process for all of Colorado.”
Holmes carried out his attack on a movie theatre viewing of a Batman film, ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ on July 20, 2012, after locking himself inside the theatre and opening fire.
In his trial, Holmes claimed that he considered several other alternatives to his movie theatre location, such as an airport, but then said that he didn’t want his actions to be confused with terrorism, stating “Terrorism isn’t the message. The message is, there is no message.”
He said he considered using explosives and biological and chemical agents but chose not to because he didn’t want to “blow himself up”.
Holmes also said he considered serial killing instead of mass murder, but later decided it was “too personal, too much evidence, easily caught, few kills.”
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