A   A   A

Posted: Thursday, 20 September 2012 4:29AM

Ten new charges sought against accused Colorado gunman



DENVER (Reuters) - Prosecutors have filed a motion to add 10 new charges against accused Colorado gunman James Holmes, arrested following the July movie theater shootings that killed 12 people, and have asked to amend 17 others, the Denver Post reported on Wednesday.

The judge in the case has ordered nearly all court filings be sealed, and it was not clear what the additional charges were from a register of court actions, the Denver Post reported.

Holmes, a former neuroscience graduate student, is accused of opening fire on July 20 at a midnight screening of the Batman movie "The Dark Knight Rises" in Aurora, a Denver suburb. Twelve people were killed and 58 were wounded in the attack.

A court official declined to confirm the report of the additional charges.

Holmes, 24, already faces 24 counts of first-degree murder and 116 counts of attempted murder. Under Colorado law, the doubling of charges allows prosecutors to have two pathways to secure a conviction.

The newspaper noted that a separate motion was filed to amend 16 counts of attempted murder and one count of crime-of-violence sentence enhancement against Holmes, although it did not reveal how they would be amended.

Prosecutor Rich Orman said at a hearing last month that Holmes bought a ticket to the midnight screening, then left the theater through an exit door that propped open on his way out.

Holmes then put on a gas mask and ballistic protective gear before returning to the theater and spraying the crowd with gunfire, Orman said.

Wednesday's developments came a day before the scheduled continuation of a hearing on whether a parcel Holmes sent to University of Colorado psychiatrist Lynne Fenton falls under patient-doctor privilege.

Fenton testified at an earlier hearing that she treated Holmes more than a month before the rampage, but that their professional relationship had ended well before he mailed the package to her a day before the massacre.

Story & Photos Copyright 2012 Reuters
Filed Under :  
Topics : Law_Crime
Social :
Locations : AuroraColoradoDenver
People : James HolmesRich Orman

House lawmakers reach deal to revamp immigration


Prospects for passage of a major immigration bill has improved.

House votes to repeal Obamacare for 37th time


The Republican-controlled U.S. House voted to repeal Obamacare in a symbolic move.

Judge to hear insanity defense in theater shooting case


The judge who will hear the murder case against accused James Holmes has agreed to hear arguments.

Boston bombing suspect wrote message in boat


Accused Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev left a handwritten message.

Tornadoes rip through Texas, killing six


At least six people were killed when tornadoes ripped through a stretch of Texas.

As scandals mount, White House springs into damage control


With no sign of an end to three scandals, the White House launched a concerted effort at damage control.

Tax chief forced out in IRS scandal


Steven Miller resigned as the acting head of the Internal Revenue Service.

White House releases Benghazi attack emails


The White House released 100 pages of emails detailing discussion about deadly attacks in Benghazi.

Holder sidesteps lawmakers' questions on AP records seizure


Lawmakers pounded Attorney General Eric Holder with questions.

Accused Cleveland kidnapper plans to plead not guilty


The man charged with holding three women captive and raping them will plead not guilty.

Once a beacon, Obama under fire over civil liberties


Barack Obama has faced accusation after accusation of impinging on civil liberties.

FBI opens criminal probe of IRS


The FBI has opened a criminal probe over the IRS's targeting of conservative political groups.

Attorney General Holder recused himself from AP subpoena


The Attorney General said that he recused himself from the decision to secretly seize telephone records of the Associated Press.

Lower DUI limit to 0.05% blood-alcohol level, NTSB says


The top transportation safety agency voted to recommend a lower blood alcohol limit for drivers.

Russia says CIA agent caught trying to recruit spy


Russia said it had caught an American red-handed as he tried to recruit a Russian intelligence officer.