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James Holmes Likely To Get One Of The Longest Sentences In History

CENTENNIAL, Colo. (CBS4) - The theater shooting trial will finally end Wednesday when the judge formally sentences James Holmes to life in prison. It will likely be a sentence never seen before in Colorado.

The judge now will decide if he'll sentence the shooter to one of the longest sentences in criminal history.

The final victims testified in a sentencing hearing Tuesday afternoon. They spoke about how the shooting has changed their lives. They were family members of victims and survivors who couldn't speak during the trial.

LIVE VIDEO: Watch Aug. 24-26 Theater Shooting Sentencing Hearing Live

Holmes appeared in court wearing a red prison uniform. His beard has been shaved and he is handcuffed to his waist. He swiveled in his chair but still showed little reaction during the testimony.

Victims expressed anger and sadness, saying Holmes ruined many of their lives. And they called for the judge to implement the harshest possible sentence when they recalled the night of the shooting.

"If you want to know what hell on Earth is like, I can tell you that Friday, July 20 was it," a family member said.

AURORA THEATER SHOOTING: Story Archive | Timeline | Remembering The Victims

"I lost friends and I had to change my job because I couldn't work at that Red Robin," a victim said.

Holmes' mother, Arlene Holmes, apologized to the victims and their families.

"I am not proud I didn't know more about mental illness. We should have known our family history better and realized that the signs of mental illness can appear at a very early age," she said.

Holmes is already going to serve life in prison without parole since the jury couldn't agree on the death penalty. He could be sentenced to more than 3,000 years in prison.

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