warning Hi, we've moved to USCANNENBERGMEDIA.COM. Visit us there!

Neon Tommy - Annenberg digital news

James Holmes May Plead Guilty To Avoid Death Penalty

Agnus Dei Farrant |
March 27, 2013 | 3:33 p.m. PDT

Executive Producer

 

Aurora shooting suspect James Holmes (Associated Press).
Aurora shooting suspect James Holmes (Associated Press).
Defense attorneys for James Holmes, the Aurora movie theater shooting suspect, offered to have him plead guilty and be jailed for life to avoid the death penalty, ABC News reported.

The attorneys wrote in an Arapahoe County court filing the details of Holmes’ offer and said the case could be resolved as soon as the next hearing on April 1 if prosecutors accept the plea. 

"Prior to arraignment, Mr. Holmes made an offer to the prosecution to resolve this case by pleading guilty and spending the rest of his life in prison, without any opportunity for parole," Holmes' attorneys wrote.

Holmes, 25, is charged with first-degree murder for a shooting rampage last July that killed 12 and wounded at least 58 during a midnight screening of “The Dark Knight Rises.” 

A judge entered a not guilty plea on Holmes’ behalf on March 12, USA Today reported, and said Holmes could enter a not guilty plea by reason of insanity later. 

According to ABC News, his trial is scheduled to begin Aug. 5. 

 

Read more of Neon Tommy’s coverage on James Holmes here.

Reach Executive Producer Agnus Dei Farrant here.

 



 

Buzz

Craig Gillespie directed this true story about "the most daring rescue mission in the history of the U.S. Coast Guard.”

Watch USC Annenberg Media's live State of the Union recap and analysis here.