Judge Rules There's Enough Evidence for James Holmes to Stand Trial
A judge has ruled there's sufficient evidence for James Holmes to stand trial for killing 12 people in an Aurora, Colorado movie theater this summer. 18th Judicial District Chief Judge William Sylvester ruled after three days of preliminary hearings that there is sufficient evidence to charge Holmes.
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So, what happens now? Holmes is being charged with 166 felony counts, including murder and attempted murder. He is expected to enter a plea at an arraignment hearing currently set for 9 a.m. Friday morning, though it's unlikely that will happen. His defense team requested the arraignment be delayed and tomorrow's court appearance be changed to a status hearing even before the judge ruled there was enough evidence to charge Holmes. Holmes' attorneys also disputing the media's being allowed to attend the hearing. Cameras have mostly been barred from the courtroom throughout the trial so far.
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The three days of hearings leading up to Sylvester's decision laid the groundwork for what's to come in the criminal trial. Holmes' attorneys signaled they would be trying to use Colorado's unique criminal law to use an insanity defense. While the prosecution made their case that Holmes knew exactly what he was doing when he entered that movie theater thanks to pictures he took of the the theater's interior before his attack and the complicated booby trap system he left behind for police arriving at his apartment.
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You can the judge's entire decision here.
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