Colo. shooter’s parents plead for his life

Associated Press

DENVER

The parents of Colorado theater shooter James Holmes begged Friday for his life to be spared through a plea bargain — a move that rekindled the long-running, emotional debate about whether the horrific details of the mass killing should be played out at his upcoming trial.

The statement released by Robert and Arlene Holmes emphasized a key legal issue in the tortured history of the case — James Holmes’ mental state when he killed 12 people and injured 70 others, and whether he should die if convicted of the crime.

“He is a human being gripped by a severe mental illness,” the parents wrote in just their second public comments since the 2012 attack. “We have always loved him, and we do not want him to be executed.”

The statement also thrust the mass shooting into the spotlight once again at a time of heightened concerns over theater safety. The hackers who prompted Sony to withhold the release of “The Interview” had threatened violence against theaters.

Prosecutors previously rejected at least one proposed plea deal made by attorneys for Holmes, criticizing the lawyers for publicizing the offer and calling it a ploy meant to draw the public and the judge into what should be private plea negotiations.

They said the defense proposal could not be considered genuine because the defense repeatedly refused to give them information needed to evaluate it. No details were provided on the information, but attorneys previously argued in court about access to details concerning Holmes’ mental health.

Jury selection is set to begin Jan. 20 in the trial.

It’s hard to know exactly what Holmes’ legal defense looks like, since court filings have been heavily redacted and the findings of two court-ordered sanity evaluations have been sealed from public view.

Defense attorneys don’t deny he was the shooter but say he was in the grips of a psychotic episode.