CO - James Holmes Trial Discussion - Begins April 27, 2015 # 1

[Queen Bee]

Holmes told friend who reached out to him: "Flood gates are open now," defense attorney says.

 

[Queen Bee]

"When he stepped into that theater, his thoughts and actions were consumed by his disease," defense attorney says. Could not distinguish between right and wrong.

 

[Queen Bee]

she's done.........

judge reminds jury of their rules..........

 

[Queen Bee]

Defense wraps up opening statement, Judge Samour now reminding people in the courtroom not to discuss the trial and not to do any independent research into the case.

 

[Queen Bee]

reminder........colorado is on mountain time....it's 5:28 there now

 

[Queen Bee]

trial expected to last 4-5 months

(god help us)

 

[watergirl62]

Thanks for all the posts, Queen Bee.:seeya:

I was gone for a while and the first post I read when I got back was the penis cup flip -whaaaaa?

Not sure I can listen to Spengler for long, i anticipate much tedium with that one.

 

[Nellie Nelson]

"When he stepped into that theater, his thoughts and actions were consumed by his disease," defense attorney says. Could not distinguish between right and wrong.

Can you recall where in the time frame he told a friend who reached out to him: "Flood gates are open now,"? That sounds to me like he knew what he was planning was wrong.

 

[Queen Bee]

still admonishing the jury..........

all 24 of them.........http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/aurora-shooting-trial-meet-james-holmes-jury-n341751

they are told to be back at 8:15..........that's mountain time...

night everyone :seeya:

eta.....after the jury left....the judge said they would get started about 8:40, attorneys to be there 8:30.....night!

 

[Mrs G Norris]

At the link they are going over today's openers covering key points .. http://www.thedenverchannel.com/aurora-movie-theater-shooting/trial-live

 

[Queen Bee]

Can you recall where in the time frame he told a friend who reached out to him: "Flood gates are open now,"? That sounds to me like he knew what he was planning was wrong.

the way they presented it, it sounded like it was late may/june? but i'm not positive.....it wasn't very clear...

 

[Nellie Nelson]

"When he stepped into that theater, his thoughts and actions were consumed by his disease," defense attorney says. Could not distinguish between right and wrong.

She has not persuaded me of that, and I have extensive personal experience of someone being floridly psychotic who knew right from wrong then, during her multiple episodes over the last 20 years, and now. I am not persuaded by the defense but I will keep an open mind.

 

[Mrs G Norris]

I'm going to play juror when I'm able to watch this trial and try and keep an open mind, my tendency is to feel that he is insane however, but I do want to try and put that to one side and see what I think of the testimony as it is presented.

 

[bexlex]

I remember seeing him in court and he looked like he was seeing demons. Maybe he was coming off meds at the time? BUT the planning, the strategy, keeping to his plan..... he may have mental illness but I hope he doesn't pass the not guilty by insanity test.

 

[Hatfield]

labeled pic of the courtroom
images.scribblelive.com/2015/4/27/6ed6af70-fad7-49f3-a9bc-bdc3500a236c_800.jpg

This is very helpful. This will come in handy in the next few days to remind us who is who.

I had no idea there were going to be so many attorneys.

 

[Chelly]

I'm going to play juror when I'm able to watch this trial and try and keep an open mind, my tendency is to feel that he is insane however, but I do want to try and put that to one side and see what I think of the testimony as it is presented.

Thank you Mrs G Norris for posting your opinion. I know much more than I care to know about mental illness and at this point I believe a good case is being made that Holmes is mentally ill. However, the evidence is yet to be presented and I will reserve judgment.

 

[zoey]

Thanks QueenB for the updates!
I think there is an element of mental illness but am baffled by the planing he put forth.

 

[Hatfield]

Thank you Mrs G Norris for posting your opinion. I know much more than I care to know about mental illness and at this point I believe a good case is being made that Holmes is mentally ill. However, the evidence is yet to be presented and I will reserve judgment.

I think it may have been CNN I was watching where they were trying to explain what constitutes a valid mental ill defense. It was pretty complicated and I cant hardly recall how it went. The jist of it was something along the lines of a person could still be mentally ill but so long as they knew right from wrong at the time of the murder, then it is not a valid defense.

I took the discussion to mean that the person would have to be so out of his mind that he had no idea it was wrong to kill someone. And that is why it is so hard to use the insanity defense. I dont think this Holmes will qualify since I think he knew what he was doing was against the law and wrong IMO.

The problem with these cases is someone has to be a little off their rocker anyway to commit crimes like this. But were they so far off their rocker that they didnt know what they were doing. That is the part that usually makes the defense not work for them.

It does help them on punishment though and that is different. The punishment phase is where being mentally ill can help give them a less severe sentence or help get them into a medical secure building rather than normal prison.

 

[Chelly]

I think it may have been CNN I was watching where they were trying to explain what constitutes a valid mental ill defense. It was pretty complicated and I cant hardly recall how it went. The jist of it was something along the lines of a person could still be mentally ill but so long as they knew right from wrong at the time of the murder, then it is not a valid defense.

I took the discussion to mean that the person would have to be so out of his mind that he had no idea it was wrong to kill someone. And that is why it is so hard to use the insanity defense. I dont think this Holmes will qualify since I think he knew what he was doing was against the law and wrong IMO.

The problem with these cases is someone has to be a little off their rocker anyway to commit crimes like this. But were they so far off their rocker that they didnt know what they were doing. That is the part that usually makes the defense not work for them.

It does help them on punishment though and that is different. The punishment phase is where being mentally ill can help give them a less severe sentence or help get them into a medical secure building rather than normal prison.

Nicely said. A rather complex issue, isn't it?

 

[Hatfield]

Nicely said. A rather complex issue, isn't it?

Thanks. Yeah, it is very confusing and the lawyers on both sides are going to have their work cut out for them.

This case is going to be interesting to follow.

I would make a terrible juror because I already have him convicted today and we barely got through opening statements. LOL