In terms of premeditation, it doesn't appear the state of Colorado defines the length of "time" in which the person thought about killing another before doing so.
Three of the five first-degree murder charges CW is facing allege "after deliberation" and "with intent". The specific charge (x 3) is:.
(1) A person commits the crime of murder in the first degree if:
(a) After deliberation and with the intent to cause the death of a person other than himself, he causes the death of that person or of another person
Colorado Revised Statutes, Title 18, Criminal code, and this is Colorado defines "after deliberation":
(3) The term “after deliberation” means not only intentionally but also that the decision to commit the act has been made after the exercise of reflection and judgment concerning the act. An act committed after deliberation is never one which has been committed in a hasty or impulsive manner.
My thoughts are the prosecution feels very strongly they can prove that CW committed three murders, after deliberation, and after the exercise of reflection and judgment.
Of course he is has other charges against him and I think they are going to go after him with everything they have got.