Prosecutors Get Holmes' Mental Health Records
CENTENNIAL, Colo. (AP) - Prosecutors in the Colorado theater shootings received defendant James Holmes' mental health records from the state hospital and the University of Colorado on Monday.
The records, sealed in six manila envelopes, were turned over at the first of a round to hearings to consider hundreds of pretrial motions filed in the case.
Prosecutors are entitled to the records because Holmes pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to murder and attempted-murder charges.
He's accused of killing 12 and injuring 70 in a July 2012 attack at an Aurora movie theater. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.
Before the shooting, Holmes was treated by a psychiatrist at the University of Colorado, Denver while studying in a Ph.D. neuroscience program. More recently, he underwent a sanity evaluation at the state hospital in Pueblo.
Prosecutors had sought all of Holmes' medical and mental health records from the hospital and the university but Arapahoe County District Judge Carlos A. Samour Jr. ruled earlier that they were only entitled to see documents related to his mental health.
The records have not been made public. Samour issued an order forbidding anyone from disclosing the contents of the state hospital files in court or in any filings without his permission.
Also at Monday's hearing, Samour said he would seat 12 alternate jurors as well as the regular 12-member jury. He also said he will issue 6,000 jury summonses, up from 5,000 originally planned.
The trial is scheduled to begin in February.
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