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DA To Potential Theater Shooting Jurors: 'Worst Haunted House Ever'

CENTENNIAL, Colo. (CBS4)- A jury could be seated by Tuesday afternoon in the Aurora theater shooting trial. As attorneys finished their questions for potential jurors, the district attorney told them it was their last chance to say no to "horrible roller coaster through the worst haunted house ever."

It's been a nearly three-month selection process that experts say was among the largest and most complicated in U.S. history.

RELATED STORIES: Aurora Movie Shooting Story Archive

James Holmes is charged with killing 12 people and injuring 70 others in the July 2012 attack in suburban Denver. His attorneys don't dispute that he pulled the trigger but say he was in the grips of a psychotic episode when he slipped into the packed movie theater and opened fire.

Jurors will decide whether he was legally insane at the time. If they find him guilty, they must also decide whether he should be put to death or sentenced to life in prison without parole.

James Holmes
James Holmes with one of his attorneys, Daniel King, in September 2014 (credit: CBS)

The final questioning process is the last step before opening statements. Both sides urged the jury pool to speak up if there is any reason they shouldn't serve.

District Attorney George Brauchler gave them a glimpse into how graphic the trial may become. He detailed multiple scenarios to understand what "prove beyond a reasonable doubt" actually means.

Each side had 75 minutes to present to the jury pool. The defense addressed the potential jurors and began their questioning by focusing on whether the jury pool could individually consider each count and what their thoughts are about the charges.

Generic Jury Box Court Gavel James Holmes
(credit: CBS)

Holmes faces 165 charges. The trial is expected to last between four and five months.

The prosecution and defense were expected to begin dismissing potential jurors from the pool of 93 people after the lunch recess.

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