Lawyers: theater shooter mentally ill - 13abc.com Toledo (OH) News, Weather and Sports

Lawyers: theater shooter mentally ill

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DENVER, Colorado -

Lawyers for the man accused of killing 12 people and wounding dozens more in a suburban Denver movie theater say their client is mentally ill.

James Holmes had the same dazed demeanor in court today as he had in previous appearances. The former graduate student is charged with multiple counts of first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder.

For the first time, James Holmes' attorneys claimed the movie theater
massacre suspect is "mentally ill."

Attorney Daniel King asked a Colorado judge to force the prosecution to
hand over evidence.

Without it, he said, "We cannot address the nature or depth of Mr. Holmes' mental illness."
laying out the basis for a possible insanity defense.

During Thursday's hearing, the judge also said he would consider the media's request to unseal court files which would make details of this case public. Prosecutors and defense attorneys want them kept secret until trial.

Media attorney Steven Zansberg argued, "The public has a First Amendment right to inspect court files."

Those files could shed new light on what led up to last month's deadly shooting spree. Holmes is charged with killing 12 people and wounding dozens more.

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