The trial of James Eagan Holmes in the killings of 12 people in a Colorado movie theater was postponed yet again Monday, with jury selection now scheduled for Jan. 20. But the judge insisted that he wouldn't accept any further delays and said opening statements would go ahead as planned in June.
Holmes, 26, has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity in the shooting spree in Aurora in July 2012. His attorneys had asked for the fourth postponement while they reviewed a second court-ordered sanity examination, which was filed Oct. 15. While prosecutors agreed that it was "reasonable" to give Holmes some extra time beyond the previously scheduled Dec. 8, state District Judge Carlos Samour agreed with them that Holmes' lawyers were wrong to request an indefinite delay.
"The Court has been adamant throughout these proceedings that it will not allow unnecessary delays," Samour wrote in an order issued Monday in Centennial, Colorado, which accuses Holmes' lawyers of "grousing." "The Court continues to plan on opening statements taking place in June."
The 53-page sanity report hasn't been publicly disclosed.
IN-DEPTH
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— M. Alex Johnson
