Colorado shooter officially charged at 2nd court appearance

Colorado shooter officially charged

Colorado shooter, James Holmes with Public Defender Tamara Brady (photo: R.J. Sangosi Denver post

James Holmes,the Colorado Shooter officially charged today with 24 counts of first degree murder.

Colorado shooter 2nd court appearance

He appeared in court today, his second court appearance, where he was officially read the charges against him stemming from one of the movie theater massacres that has claimed the life of 12 innocent victim and injured more than 50 people.

The youngest victim was 6 years old.  Her mother who was injured, lost the baby she was carrying due to the stress and aftermath of the massacre.

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Colorado shooting suspect could face the death penalty

The death of each of the 12 victims carries two charges each which is why it is 24 courts of first degree murder. One charge for each murder is for showing premeditation and the second charge for each murder is for showing an extreme indifference to life.

Both charges are subject to the death penalty.

Prosecutors have 60 days to decide if they will seek the death sentence for Holmes.

Many believe that the death penalty is the only just penalty that can be imposed for the heinous, apparently premeditated crimes killing 12 and wounding many others at the Batman Premiere.

A former Denver prosecutor Craig Silverman said, “If James Holmes isn’t executed, Colorado may as well throw away its death penalty law”

James Holmes in court, July 23, 2012. (AP/Pool)

Holmes appeared in court wearing the maroon prison jumpsuit with this hair still in varying shades of red and orange.

His behavior was similar to this first court appearance where he looked, at times wide eyed.  He stared blankly and only spoke one word – the word “Yes” – when asked if he wanted to wave his right to a preliminary hearing within 30 days.

Holmes has also been officially charged with 116 counts of attempted first degree murder, one court of violent crime and one count of possessing an explosive device.

Adding up all the charges, the Colorado shooter faces 142 charges in total.

ABC news reports that the Judge was asked by prosecutor, Carol Chamber, to read the various penalties that are associated with each count.

Holmes reportedly seemed “focused” as the penalties were read aloud.

Colorado shooter’s notebook

As expected, the other issues that was brought up and not as of yet resolved is the Colorado Shooters alleged notebook.

James Holmes allegedly mailed a notebook to the Psychiatrist he was seeing, Dr Lynne Fenton.  The package sat unopened in the University  mail room and was not discovered until after the Colorado massacre had taken place.

The notebook allegedly contained stick drawings and served as a blueprint of what was to occur.

Holmes’ attorneys want the state to produce all discovery relating to the seizure of the notebook. The state wants the motion denied.

Prosecutors were ordered to turn over the notebook to the defense.

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