Centennial, United States--Opening statements will finally begin Monday in the long-awaited trial of James Holmes, the allegedly crazed gunman accused of opening fire in a packed Batman movie premiere in 2012, killing 12.
Troubled graduate student Holmes, 27, has been in custody since the night of the mass murder in Aurora, Colorado on July 20, 2012, which also left 70 people injured.
Holmes -- who had a shock of orange hair when first seen after the attack, in which he allegedly dressed up as Batman villain the Joker -- faces 166 counts of aggravated murder, attempted murder and possession of explosives charges.
If convicted, he could face the death penalty. He has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, and much of the trial is expected focus on whether Holmes was sane at the time of the massacre.
A panel of 12 jurors and 12 alternates was selected after attorneys questioned over 1,000 of the 9,000 residents of Arapahoe County who received summons since January, when jury selection began.
The trial is likely to hear some grisly and harrowing evidence.
"Jury service is not something we do because it's easy," said Colorado District Judge Carlos Samour. "It's something we do because we deeply treasure our democracy."
Witnesses said Holmes threw smoke bomb-type devices before opening fire randomly with weapons, including an AR-15 military-style rifle, a 12-gauge shotgun and a .40-caliber pistol.
In preliminary hearings, prosecutors said Holmes had enough ammunition to kill everyone in the crowded theater showing "The Dark Knight Rises."
His apartment was later found to be booby-trapped with an array of home-made explosive devices, which police had to disarm before entering the dwelling.
Holmes appeared in court initially with flaming orange hair, apparently to mimic the Joker, who also had colored hair in the Batman movies.
AFP
