Aurora case: Judge may allow insanity plea

[alp227]

Source: CNN

A judge said Monday there is good cause to let Colorado movie theater shooting suspect James Holmes change his plea to not guilty by reason of insanity.

But Judge Carlos Samour Jr. said he will not rule until other matters are resolved, possibly later this month.

Previously, a judge entered a standard plea of not guilty for Holmes, who faces charges in the July 20, 2012, shooting spree in Aurora that took the lives of 12 people and wounded dozens more at the premiere of the Batman movie "The Dark Knight Rises."

Holmes had offered to plead guilty and spend the rest of his life behind bars if authorities would spare his life, but prosecutors in Arapahoe County announced a month ago they would seek the death penalty.

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/13/justice/colorado-theater-shooting-plea/index.html

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Denver Post just now: "James Holmes asks to change plea in Aurora theater shooting case"

At least one mental-health professional who recently examined James Holmes has made a diagnosis that supports an insanity plea for the Aurora movie theater shooting suspect, a lawyer for Holmes said in court Monday.

In making a formal request to change Holmes' plea, attorney Dan King referenced just-concluded mental-health evaluations of Holmes that mean the defense can now "in good faith tender that Mr. Holmes was not guilty by reason of insanity."

[hlthe2b]

1. Unlike other recent high profile crimes Holme's family does not appear to have been hounded by press

or else has somehow managed to avoid running the gauntlet.

I don't suggest they SHOULD have been stalked 24/7 by press all this time, but it just seems unusual that they have managed not to give any interviews or statements since their son's arrest.

I guess their attorneys have probably advised them to remain silent? Still, I'm surprised some anonymous family member hasn't leaked a comment or two.

[Samurai_Writer]

2. Not at all surprised

I said from the beginning that he would probably end up pleading not guilty by reason of insanity. I think he will be found NGRI. I work for the state psychiatric hospital in Colorado, and have heard rumours that they are making preparations 'just in case' he will be sent here.

Most criminals like him who are found NGRI /never/ leave the psychiatric hospital. I doubt this guy will ever be released, even if found NGRI.

[jakeXT]

3. Truth Serum.....

Legal and medical experts are questioning the decision of a judge in Colorado to allow James Holmes, the suspected gunman in the Aurora cinema shooting, to be tested with a "truth serum" should he plead not guilty by reason of insanity.

Judge William Sylvester ruled that in the event of Holmes pleading insanity his prosecutors would be permitted to interrogate him while he is under the influence of a medical drug designed to loosen him up and get him to talk. The idea would be that such a "narcoanalytic interview" would be used to confirm whether or not he had been legally insane when he embarked on his shooting spree on 20 July last year.

The precise identity of the drug that would be used has not been released, other than a statement that it would be "medically appropriate", but it would most likely be a short-acting barbiturate such as sodium amytal.

http://m.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/mar/12/judge-approves-truth-serum-james-holmes

[Alan M]

4. What an unfortunate situation

I think it is unfortunate to have to go through these games. It is pretty obvious the guy is insane I don’t see how using bad science to try and trick him in to admitting he isn’t insane doesn’t help anyone. There are professionals who diagnose mental problems I’d trust their opinion more than some drug induced confession of a ranting lunatic about whether he was insane or not.