Psychiatrist Testifies That James Holmes Was Legally Sane During Colorado Theater Shooting

Holmes has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.

Not Available Lead
Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

Not Available Lead

After spending nearly 24 hours with James Holmes, a psychiatrist has concluded that Holmes met the legal standard for sanity when he opened fire inside of an Aurora, Colo. theater during the summer of 2012. The shooting left 12 people dead and 70 injured. 

According to the Denver PostDr. William Reid spent 22 hours with Holmes, ultimately determining that, while the 27-year-old is mentally ill, he was aware of his actions when he began shooting during a showing of The Dark Knight Rises in July 2012. Dr. Reid testified during Holmes' trial yesterday: 


My opinion is that, whatever he suffered from, it did not prevent him from forming the intent and knowing what he was doing and the consequences of what he was doing.


Reid's testimony was the first time jurors have heard directly from a mental health professional who examined Holmes for a trial that will be decided by questions of sanity. And, moments later, jurors for the first time heard at length from Holmes — in the first of what is expected to be four days' worth of videos made during Reid's interviews.


What's the first thing I need to know about James Holmes? Reid asked during their initial meeting, in a room at the Colorado Mental Health Institute in Pueblo in July 2014.


Holmes, often answering with clipped sentences throughout the meeting, smiled.


Could you be more specific? he replied.

Holmes has a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity, and the Post notes that prosecutors are pursuing the death penalty as punishment. This caveat figures to play a key role in the verdict: 


Colorado's procedures for insanity pleas do not allow an expert to conclude a defendant possessed a certain mental state — such as intent — only that the defendant is capable of possessing that mental state.

[via Denver Post]

Latest in Pop Culture