PROSECUTION: HOLMES MADE THREATS BEFORE RAMPAGE

[pbmus]

Source: AP

CENTENNIAL, Colo. (AP) -- Prosecutors say the suspect in the Colorado theater shooting made threats and was banned from the University of Colorado after failing a key exam six weeks before the rampage.

They made the accusations about James Holmes in court Thursday as they tried to convince a judge to let them see records from the university, where Holmes had been a graduate student.

They also claim professors had urged Holmes to get into another line of work before the shooting. Attorney Karen Pearson didn't disclose where their information came from, and prosecutors did not give further details on the nature of the threats.

Defense lawyer Daniel King objected to the release of the records, calling the prosecution's request a "fishing expedition."

Read more: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_COLORADO_SHOOTING_HEARING?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-08-23-17-05-43

[yardwork]

1. Banned from the university? They don't do that for failing exams.

If the university actually "banned" Holmes from the campus, then he did something much more alarming than failing an exam. Students fail exams all the time and some of them flunk out of their programs. That doesn't mean that they are "banned" from campus. It means that they are no longer enrolled. They're still allowed to walk around on campus if they want.

It is very, very rare for a university - especially a public university - to "ban" anybody from campus. If Holmes was actually banned (and the reporter might have this wrong) then he made threats or caused some kind of very serious disruption.

[LisaL]

6. Isn't that what the article says? Proscecutor claims he made threats.

[Igel]

8. Not really.

The article is clear and what the university says sounds about right.

The professors recommended he find another line of work. Standard palaver after failing important milestone exams.

He had been a student research assistant and a grad student. In most departments that gets you into all kinds of places. After he withdrew, he wasn't a student. He wasn't an employee. When you quit your job you probably couldn't go everyplace that you used to go at the work site. It's not like their "banning" you is all that big a deal.

His psychologist referred him to the campus threats committee. The police are part of that. They might have done a routine background check after getting the referral.

And prosecutors make all kinds of claims. It's when they're in the courtroom and start lying about evidence and saying that what the judge has said is fact is not that they start getting into trouble.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

2. This sounds as good for the defense as for the proseutors

He made threats, and nobody reported it? Nobody took steps to prevent this sick, tormented soul from carrying out his deluded plans? Shame on everyone! (except our poor defendant).

(I don't think I'll be on that jury)

[pnwmom]

3. It does appear that he was crying out for help, in his own sick way. nt

[AntiFascist]

4. Or....

he had premeditated plans for killing people! He can be sick, tormented, and still be a psychopath.

[LisaL]

5. The threats were reported to the police.

"Prosecutors also confirmed in court that CU officials reported the threats to police and cut off Holmes' key card, which gave him access to buildings at the Anschutz Medical Campus."

Read more: DA: CU banned Holmes, cut off campus access after June threats - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_21384695/prosecutor-holmes-banned-from-cu-june-threats#ixzz24P9dnOyA
Read The Denver Post's Terms of Use of its content: http://www.denverpost.com/termsofuse

[onehandle]

7. And yet his gun/ammo purchasing history wasn't closely examined. nt