Colorado theater shooting suspect charged with 142 total counts

[Ruby the Liberal]

Source: CNN

The suspect in Colorado shooting case has been charged 24 counts of first-degree murder. Holmes was charged twice for each victim who was killed.

There are three different classes of murder charges in the state of Colorado. One set of charges is because Holmes is accused of shooting after deliberation, referring to the planning of the attack. The second set of charges is because he is accused of having an attitude of universal malice, manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life.

Holmes was also charged with 116 counts of attempted murder, one count that is a sentence enhancer because of violence and one count for possession of explosive devices.

Arapahoe County District Attorney Carol Chambers said last Monday that deciding whether to pursue the death penalty would involve input from victims and their relatives. A capital case would require a finding of either extreme indifference or deliberation.

Read more: http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2012/07/30/what-charges-will-colorado-movie-theater-shooting-suspect-face/?hpt=hp_t1

[onehandle]

1. Hopefully his weapons will be sold and put back into circulation...

...is what some gun nuts will say.

I think that any weapon involved in a crime that is seized by the police should be destroyed. But some even here at DU disagree with that.

[4th law of robotics]

4. I suspect that they will be kept as evidence

then sold off or destroyed according to the usual practice for such thing.

Does it matter if the gun was previously used in a crime? Does the inanimate object inherent guilt? Once it gets the taste for blood the gun will kill again?

[McCamy Taylor]

9. And some attorney is trying to decide whether to sue Cinemark

or the psychiatrist who was treating the shooter at University of Colorado. It is a sick, sick world when even murder becomes an economic opportunity.

Link below to lawsuit by someone who was not shot, naming Cinemark, doctors and studio that produced the movie.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/07/25/tagblogsfindlawcom2012-injured-idUS207229497220120725

Money does not make it all ok.

[RC]

2. Jimmy won't ever be free again, no matter what happens.

Now what about the next deranged gun nut with the legally acquired guns and ammo and who knows what else, probably already planing the next murderous rampage?
How do we cull them from the herd when some think arming everyone is a good idea?

[ejpoeta]

3. can someone explain to me the two counts for each person killed

of 1st degree murder? I don't understand that.

[alcibiades_mystery]

6. It's so dumb

This is the essence of overcharging prosecutorial bullshit. Granted, this is not the case to make a political stand on, but i mean really. Two counts of first degree murder for each murder victim. That's dumb even by common sense standards.

[Ruby the Liberal]

7. Its in the second paragraph:

There are three different classes of murder charges in the state of Colorado. One set of charges is because Holmes is accused of shooting after deliberation, referring to the planning of the attack. The second set of charges is because he is accused of having an attitude of universal malice, manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life.

Not sure why they would have separate charges. One would think that something like degree (deliberation, indifference, etc...) would come into play with sentencing guidelines as opposed to separate charges, but who knows.

Maybe a CO attorney will see this and chime in.

[ejpoeta]

10. thanks so much. i was just confused.

[Ruby the Liberal]

11. You weren't the only one.

I had to read it 3x before I picked up on it. Almost posted the question myself.

[freshwest]

13. Possibly it will give the jury the chance to make their determination. They may find guilty on one,

But not on the other. That will determine how the state will frame its questions for the jury regarding capital punishment.

[berni_mccoy]

5. He should plea guilty.

I believe, in CO, if he does, he won't be sentenced to death.

In NH, the judge can set that aside and still have a jury decide penalty. There was a case a few years ago where the judge did that.

[rocktivity]

8. Plead guilty? And deprive himself of the stage and drama of a trial?

I'm not holding my breath.


rocktivity

[adigal]

12. He is going to go for insanity

And really, how can you argue that? Anyone who did what he did is seriously crazy.