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James Holmes' Lawyers Claim Their Client Suffers From Mental Illness
The lawyers for James Holmes, who was charged with the murders of 12 moviegoers in an Aurora, Colorado theater (among other crimes), said in court today that their client suffers from mental illness.
At a hearing, the lawyers for Holmes said that they need more time to figure out what specifically is wrong with their client before they can enter a plea in court, according to TMZ. The site reports that this is the first time Holmes' attorneys have hinted that they could pursue an insanity defense.
At today's hearing, several news outlets argued that the judge should unseal court documents in the case that would reveal more about what happened at the shooting at the Colorado theater. Both the prosecution and defense want to keep the documents in the case sealed while the case is pending. The defense also argued that prosecutors and investigators in the case should turn over all documents to them so that they could figure out more about their client's mental state.
"We cannot begin to assess the nature and the depth of Mr. Holmes' mental illness until we receive full disclosure of all the documents," one lawyer said, according to TMZ.
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Related:
Aurora Massacre Suspect Charged With 142 Counts, Including 24 of Murder
James Holmes Is Now Acting Like He Has Amnesia
Aurora Massacre Suspect Asks How "Dark Knight Rises" Ends
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