Colorado shooting: James Holmes’ preliminary hearing to continue
CENTENNIAL, Colo. -- After a day of grisly and emotionally difficult testimony from those first on the scene of the Aurora movie massacre, a second day of details about the carnage is set to unfold Tuesday.
Prosecutors are expected to continue methodically laying out their case against James E. Holmes, a 25-year-old former neuroscience doctoral student at the University of Colorado-Denver. They must prove there is enough evidence to proceed to trial.
Holmes faces 166 counts of murder, attempted murder and weapons charges. He is accused unleashing a barrage of bullets at a 12:05 a.m. showing of “The Dark Knight Rises” on July 20, killing 12 moviegoers and wounding as many as 70.
PHOTOS: Colorado movie theater shooting
Aurora police officers testified Monday about the horrors they found in the theater, including blood-soaked aisles and walls, crumpled bodies, and piles of spent shell casings.
The prosecution also showed surveillance video of Holmes entering the theater complex just past midnight. He had purchased his ticket 12 days earlier. The chilling, soundless video shows Holmes redeeming his ticket at a kiosk, giving it to a ticket taker, then lingering near the concession stand for a few minutes before turning toward Theater 9, where the Batman movie was playing.
The prosecution also showed photos of the interior of Theater 9, marking the locations of 10 bodies. Two more victims died at a hospital.
WHO THEY WERE: Aurora theater shooting
At the close of testimony Monday, a police officer chronicled the accounts of the scores who were injured, describing what they witnessed when a shadowy gunman suddenly opened fire, as well as the severity of their wounds. The prosecution is expected to continue that strategy Tuesday to demonstrate the scope of the crime.
The preliminary hearing is expected to last through Friday.
Holmes has not entered a plea. His attorneys are expected to use an insanity defense.
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