dagblog - Comments for "James Holmes to Plead Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity"

News from June 18; sounds

artappraiser — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 18:47:39 +0000

In reply to James Holmes to Plead Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity

News from June 18; sounds like this to me: no one is allowed to see how crazy he is, not even his attorneys, because we have blood lust and want to see him executed:

In March, Holmes' attorneys revealed in a motion that Holmes had spent "several days, frequently in restraints" at Denver Health Medical Center after officials in Arapahoe County had him committed for psychiatric care. In committing him, attorneys for the Arapahoe County jail, where Holmes is being held while he awaits trial, cited a law pertaining to people who are in psychiatric crisis and a danger to themselves or others.

A videotape was made of Holmes' stay, and Holmes' attorneys have previously asked for a court order to ensure the tape was not destroyed.

In a motion filed Tuesday, Holmes' attorneys said the sheriff's office has refused to provide the tape. They said they are entitled now to see the tape because Holmes has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.

In Tuesday's motion, Holmes' attorneys said the clinician who will perform the court-ordered mental-health evaluation on Holmes also has said he wants the tape.

More here, also Denver Post, from June 20:

Colorado mental hospital asks for more time to evaluate James Holmes

Judge accepts insanity plea

artappraiser — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 16:42:19 +0000

In reply to James Holmes to Plead Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity

Judge accepts insanity plea in Colo. shooting case

Associated Press, June 4, 2013

CENTENNIAL, Colo. A judge on Tuesday accepted James Holmes' plea of not guilty by reason of insanity, setting the stage for a lengthy mental evaluation of the Colorado theater shooting suspect.

The court clerk placed a written advisory of the ground rules of the plea before Holmes so he could examine it as Judge Carlos Samour Jr. read through all 18 points.

When Samour asked if he had any questions, Holmes replied no. Samour then accepted the plea.

"I find Mr. Holmes understands the effects and consequences of the not guilty by reason of insanity plea," the judge said. "He was looking at the advisement and appeared to be following along." [.....]

Theater shooting judge asks

artappraiser — Fri, 17 May 2013 07:27:45 +0000

In reply to The judge found "good cause"

Theater shooting judge asks for hearing on James Holmes' insanity-plea challenges
By John Ingold, The Denver Post, May 16,2013

The debates about whether Colorado's laws for insanity pleas deny Aurora theater shooting suspect James Holmes his constitutional rights have been whittled to a single topic:

Does Colorado's requirement that defendants pleading not guilty by reason of insanity must cooperate in a court-ordered mental-health examination violate protections against self-incrimination?

In an order issued Thursday, the judge in the theater shooting case told both sides to pick a date next week for a new hearing to argue that question. Previously, the next hearing in Holmes' murder case had been scheduled for May 31.

"The Court will make itself available whenever the parties are available," Arapahoe County District Court Judge Carlos Samour wrote in Thursday's order [....]

The judge found "good cause"

artappraiser — Tue, 14 May 2013 23:19:54 +0000

In reply to James Holmes to Plead Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity

The judge found "good cause" and the insanity plea was entered yesterday:

“The court finds that good cause has been shown [to enter the plea],” Judge Carlos A. Samour said, adding that Holmes’ attorneys had made a good-faith effort to talk to mental health experts and further explore the defendant’s mental state in recent weeks. Samour will rule by May 31 whether he accepts Holmes’ insanity plea.