Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.With his orange-dyed hair slicked back, the Colorado shooting suspect, James Holmes, sat impassively during a one-hour hearing in a packed courtroom yesterday as prosecutors charged him with 24 counts of murder.
Holmes, whose eventual trial is likely to be dominated by defence arguments about his sanity, will also face an additional 116 counts of attempted murder. The 24-year-old is accused of walking into a showing of the latest Batman film shortly after midnight on 20 July in Aurora, Denver, then releasing smoke bombs and opening fire with a selection of weapons. Twelve people died in the attack and 58 were wounded.
The 24 murder counts represent two counts for each of the victims killed – one standard murder in the first degree charge and a second charge of murder with extreme indifference. Investigators allege that Mr Holmes had been planning the attacks for months.
The defendant did not enter a plea. His face remained expressionless, even as the judge warned him that the murder counts meant he could be sentenced to death if found guilty. He was also charged with possession of explosives, apparently stemming from allegations that he booby-trapped his flat in anticipation of it being searched by the authorities. Court filings have revealed that Holmes was being treated by Dr Lynne Fenton, a psychiatrist who is also director of mental health at the University of Colorado campus where Holmes was a neuroscience PhD student.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments