Summary: The parents of Aurora movie theater shooter James Holmes have written a letter that asks the court to spare his life.
The parents of James Holmes have written a letter that pleads for their son’s life, according to The Denver Post.
Holmes killed 12 people in a movie theater in Aurora two years ago. In the letter, Robert and Arlene Holmes wrote that their son is “a human being gripped by a severe mental illness.”
“We have read postings on the Internet that have likened him to a monster. He is not a monster.”
This is the first time that Holmes’ parents have spoken publicly about what their son did as well as the grief they have suffered.
To read more about James Holmes, click here.
They claim to have “spent every moment for more than two years thinking about those who were injured and the families and friends of the deceased.”
“We are always praying for everyone in Aurora. We wish that July 20, 2012, never happened.”
Jury selection for Holmes’ trial will begin on January 20 and 9,000 summonses are being delivered right now. Opening statements likely will not begin until May or June.
Holmes has been charged with murdering 12 people and attempted murder of 70 other people in the Century Aurora 16 theater.
The victims of the attack were Jonathan Blunk, A.J. Boik, Jesse Childress, Gordon Cowden, Jessica Ghawi, John Larimer, Matt McQuinn, Micayla Medek, Veronica Moser-Sullivan, Alex Sullivan, Alex Teves and Rebecca Wingo.
The prosecution has asked for the death penalty.
Arapahoe County District Attorney George Brauchler said, “In this case, for James Eagan Holmes, justice is death,” back in April of 2013.
Holmes has entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity.
To read more about the Aurora, Colorado movie theater shooting, click here.
In the letter from his parents, Robert and Arlene wrote that before the attack, their son “never harmed anyone and he had no criminal history.”
“We love our son, we have always loved him and we do not want him to be executed,” they wrote.
His parents also ask attorneys in the case to negotiate a potential plea deal that would sentence Holmes to life in prison without parole. This would mean he could skip a long trial.
The letter was obtained by the Denver Post from the attorney for Holmes’ parents, Lisa Damiani.
“We mourn the deaths and the serious injuries and emotional trauma of the others who were in the theater,” they wrote. “The focus should be on the injured and their healing.”
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