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Hostage situation leads to another horrific scene in Aurora, Colo.

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Four adults, including a gunman who allegedly held four people hostage, died Saturday a in suburban townhouse in Aurora Colo. One person escaped the townhouse unharmed. Police have yet to release details, such as the gunman's name or motivation.  Reported by Christian Science Monitor 1 day ago.

Aurora cop shoots suspected armed robber after neighborhood foot chase

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An Aurora police officer shot and wounded a man who allegedly robbed a gas station clerk at gun point early Sunday. Reported by Denver Post 1 day ago.

Foster Parent Pleads Guilty to Sex Assault of Boy in North Aurora Home

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Foster Parent Pleads Guilty to Sex Assault of Boy in North Aurora Home Patch Crystal Lake-Cary, IL --

 

A former North Aurora man has been convicted of sexually preying on a child in his care.

Darrell E. Beck, 46, of the 3300 block of Boulder Ridge Drive, Champaign, was convicted Friday by Associate Judge Clint Hull of one count of predatory criminal sexual assault, a Class X felony.

Between Oct. 24, 2006, and June 26, 2007, Beck had sexual contact with a young boy in his care. The boy was younger than 13 during the assault. The assault took place at Beck’s North Aurora home when Beck was a foster parent to the victim. Beck since has been living in Champaign.

Judge Hull set Beck’s next court appearance for 1:30 p.m. March 7, for post-trial motions and sentencing. Beck faces a sentence of between six and 30 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

The case was investigated by the Kane County Child Advocacy Center and prosecuted by Kane County Assistant State’s Attorneys Nydia Molina and Lori Schmidt.

 

SOURCE: Kane County State's Attorney's Office  Reported by Patch 1 day ago.

Softpedia Exclusive Discount: 50% Off Aurora 3D Text & Logo Maker

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Our third and final offer from Aurora’s suite of 3D software is an app that will help you, as the name suggests, create high quality 3D logos and text with just a few clicks. Instead of spending a lot of money on buying professional programs that have a very steep learning curve, you can now buy Aurora 3D Text & Logo Maker and solve both problems. While most 3D computer graphics software will have you start from scratch, Aurora 3D Text & Logo Maker provides over 300... Reported by Softpedia 1 day ago.

Aurora shooting suspect James Holmes to face 'mini-trial' in court

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Preliminary hearing from Monday will decide if suspect in movie-theater killing of 12 and wounding of 70 will face trial

The suspect in the Colorado movie theater killings will return to court this week for a hearing that might be the closest thing to a trial the victims and their families will get to see. James Holmes, a former neuroscience graduate student, is charged with killing 12 people and injuring 70 by opening fire in a darkened theater in the Denver suburb of Aurora last July.

At a week-long preliminary hearing starting Monday, prosecutors will outline their case against Holmes, the first official public disclosure of their evidence. The judge will then determine whether to send the case to trial.

Legal analysts say that evidence appears to be so strong that Holmes may well accept a plea agreement before trial. In such cases, the preliminary hearing can set the stage for a deal by letting each side assess the other's strengths and weaknesses, said Laurie Levenson, a former federal prosecutor who is now a professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles.

Preliminary hearings "are often the first step to resolving the case, a mini-trial so both sides can see the writing on the wall," Levenson said.

Judges rarely throw out a case at this stage because prosecutors must only meet a "probable cause" standard – much lower than the "beyond a reasonable doubt" standard for a guilty verdict at trial, said Mimi Wesson, a professor of law at the University of Colorado Law School.

Holmes, who faces more than 160 counts including first-degree murder and attempted murder, could have waived his right to a preliminary hearing, allowing lawyers on both sides to prepare for trial. But defense lawyers sometimes go through with the hearing because it gives them a clearer picture of prosecution evidence.

"In this case, I think it likely that the genuine purpose of the hearing would be information-gathering by the defense," Wesson said.

Court officials expect many survivors and family members of the dead to attend the preliminary hearing, along with scores of spectators and reporters. At least two overflow rooms are being prepared where the hearing can be observed by video and audio feeds. District Judge William Sylvester has imposed a gag order on attorneys and investigators, and many court documents have been filed under seal, so little is known about Holmes' path from promising graduate student to suspect in a mass murder.

The few details that have been made public suggest a disturbing descent. Holmes enrolled in the University of Colorado, Denver PhD program in neuroscience in 2011. In the spring of 2012, authorities say, he began buying weapons, high-capacity magazines, ammunition, explosives and combat gear. At some point in the school year, he began seeing a university psychiatrist. He failed an oral exam on 7 June and withdrew from the university three days later.

He was arrested outside the theater shortly after the 20 July shootings. Federal authorities have said he entered the theater with a ticket; he is believed to have propped open a door, slipped out to his car and returned with his weapons. Hours later, investigators found his apartment booby-trapped with potentially deadly explosives, police said.

In previous hearings – many witnessed by victims and survivors – Holmes' appearance and behavior ranged from bizarre to unremarkable. On his first day in court, his hair was a shocking orange-red, his face was covered with stubble and he seemed to be in a daze. By last week, his hair was a natural-looking brown and he wore a full beard. He sat quietly and seemed to be aware of the proceedings.

Holmes could get the death penalty or life in prison without parole if he goes to trial and is convicted of murder. He could avoid the death penalty if his lawyers argue he is mentally ill or innocent by reason of insanity. Holmes' mental health is expected to be a major factor whether his case ends in a plea agreement or goes to trial.

His lawyers have told the judge that Holmes was mentally ill, and court records indicate they may call witnesses in the preliminary hearing to testify about his mental health. The defense team has not said whether Holmes would enter an insanity plea. An insanity plea is different from the competency argument used for Jared Loughner, who pleaded guilty to killing six people and wounding 13, including the then congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, in Arizona in 2011.

A judge ruled in May 2011 that Loughner was mentally incompetent to stand trial and ordered him to undergo psychiatric treatment. After Loughner spent more than a year in treatment, the judge ruled he had become competent; Loughner accepted a plea agreement that carried a sentence of life in prison without parole instead of execution.

The decision on whether to seek the death penalty in the Aurora case will be up to the new district attorney for Arapahoe County, George Brauchler, who was elected in November and takes office Tuesday, after the preliminary hearing begins. Brauchler has not indicated what he will do. A spokeswoman for outgoing district attorney Carol Chambers, who oversaw the filing of charges against Holmes, declined to comment.

If prosecutors do not seek the death penalty, and if Holmes is convicted of or pleads guilty to first-degree murder charges, he would face a mandatory sentence of life without parole. Reported by guardian.co.uk 1 day ago.

Aurora gunman's wife escaped, called cops on crazed husband

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The wife of a Colorado gunman who killed three relatives in his Aurora home Saturday escaped by leaping from a second-floor window before she called cops, her sister said today. Shooter Sonny Archuleta, 33, was later killed by cops after a six-hour standoff, but not before his wife, Stephanie, dodged... Reported by NY Post 1 day ago.

Aurora shooter was frenetic, talented, neighbor says

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AURORA —   Sonny Archuleta was a talented guy, an artist who filled his garage walls with graffiti murals and fashioned molten glass into pipes and bongs, according to neighbors. Reported by Denver Post 1 day ago.

DA set to unveil case in theater shooting

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Twelve people walked into a Colorado movie theater late one July night, expecting to enjoy a special midnight screening of the Batman film, "The Dark Knight Rises."

They didn't walk out.

Their deaths -- and injuries to dozens of others -- came after a man dressed head to toe in protective tactical gear sprayed the Century 16 theater in Aurora with bullets from an AR-15 rifle, a 12-gauge shotgun and a .40-caliber pistol, weapons police discovered at the scene.

On Monday, many grisly details of what happened could be presented in a Colorado court at a preliminary hearing for the shooting suspect, James Holmes.

Now 25, Holmes faces 166 charges, including murder, attempted murder and weapons offenses, tied to the July 20 rampage.

Bits and pieces emerged from police and witnesses shortly after the massacre. One was that Holmes had colored his hair red and told police he was "the Joker," one of Batman's archenemies, according to a federal law enforcement source with detailed knowledge of the investigation.

But much information has been kept under wraps, especially after Arapahoe County District Judge William Sylvester issued a gag order to prevent defense lawyers, prosecutors and law enforcement agencies from disclosing certain information to the media.

That could change after this week's hearing, which is expected to last several days.

Prosecutors are expected to call scores of witnesses and outline their evidence in the case. Holmes's attorneys, meanwhile, are expected to argue he has "diminished capacity," a term that, according to the Colorado Bar Association, relates to a person's ability or inability "to make adequately considered decisions" regarding his or her legal representation because of "mental impairment or for some other reason."

After the hearing concludes, Sylvester will determine whether there is enough evidence for Holmes to stand trial.

While officials and news reports have shed light on Holmes, his motive hasn't been spelled out.

He was a doctoral student in the neuroscience program at the Anschutz Medical Campus of the University of Colorado, Denver, in Aurora, until he withdrew a month before being arrested outside the bullet-riddled movie theater. Holmes had been a patient of a University of Colorado psychiatrist, according to a court document filed by his lawyers.

Authorities later discovered that his sparsely decorated Aurora apartment was booby-trapped with more than 30 homemade grenades and 10 gallons of gasoline, a law enforcement official who saw video showing its interior told CNN. Authorities intentionally detonated two rigged explosives in order to access the third-floor, one-bedroom apartment.

What spurred him to rig his apartment in such a way and to later fatally shoot strangers is not clear. Academically, Holmes excelled at the University of California, Riverside, according to Chancellor Timothy P. White.

His only brush with the law in Colorado appears to have been a 2011 summons for speeding from Aurora police.

The horror Holmes allegedly unleashed inside the movie theater has been better documented, thanks to accounts from survivors and law enforcement sources.

After the movie started, the suspect went out a rear exit door, propped it open, gathered weapons, then re-entered through the same door, according to a source. He then tossed in a canister before starting to shoot.

Screaming moviegoers scrambled to escape from the gunman, who shot at random as he walked up the theater's steps, witnesses said.

It was a scene "straight out of a horror film," said Chris Ramos, who was inside the theater.

"He was just literally shooting everyone, like hunting season," Ramos said.

Holmes surrendered without resistance within seven minutes of the first calls from panicked moviegoers reporting the shooting, Aurora Police Chief Dan Oates said.

Meanwhile, local hospitals found themselves overwhelmed with victims, including one who was just 4 months old. Soon thereafter, 12 families heard the horrifying news that their loved ones were dead.

"This is an act of evil," Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper told CNN. Reported by Click Orlando 21 hours ago.

Aurora wife’s desperate leap

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AURORA, Colo. — The wife of a Colorado gunman who killed three relatives in his Aurora home escaped by leaping from a second-floor window before she called cops, her sister said yesterday.Shooter Sonny Archuleta, 33, was later killed by cops after a six-hour standoff, but not before his wife, Stephanie... Reported by NY Post 21 hours ago.

Court to hear details of Aurora, Colorado theater massacre

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The alleged gunman behind the Colorado theater massacre is due in court Monday for a week-long preliminary hearing likely to hear chilling details about the shooting at a Batman film premiere. A judge will decide if there is enough evidence to stage a full trial for James Holmes, accused of opening fire on a packed midnight screening in Aurora, outside Denver, last July, killing 12 people. Some reports suggest the hearing — expected to include [...] Reported by Raw Story 15 hours ago.

Sheriff's Blotter: Man Charged for Repeatedly Brandishing Pocket Knife

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Patch Montgomery, IL --

*Saturday, Jan. 5*

*Domestic battery*

Mark A. Huettner, 26, of the 0-100 block of Parkway Drive, Yorkville, was arrested at 6:30 p.m. at his residence and charged with domestic battery, said the Kendall County Sheriff’s office. He reportedly made physical contact with a family member.

*Friday, Jan 4*

*Warrant*

A male juvenile was arrested at 6:30 p.m. in the 100 block of Heathgate, Montgomery, and charged with a warrant, said the Kendall County Sheriff’s office.

*Wednesday, Jan. 2*

*Obstructing identification, in-state warrant, no valid driver’s license*

William Arness Jackson Jr., 21, of the1400 block of Andover Drive, Aurora, was arrested at 3:46 a.m. at Briarcliff Road and Route 30 and charged with obstructing identification, an in-state warrant out of Dupage County for retail theft and driving without a valid license, said the Kendall County Sheriff’s office. Jackson was originally pulled over for driving with only one headlight and reportedly originally supplied deputies with a false name.

*Speeding*

A male juvenile, 16, of Aurora, was arrested at 9:16 p.m. at Route 30 and Fifth street and charged with speeding31-40 miles per hour over the posted speed limit, said the Kendall County Sheriff’s office. He was found doing 86 miles in a 50-mile per hour zone, and was also cited for operating an uninsured vehicle.

*Hit and run*

Sheriff’s deputies are investigating a reported hit and run that occurred between 6 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. in the 5300 block of Half Round Road, Oswego township. A vehicle hit a mailbox, knocking it off its post. Anyone with information is asked to please contact the Sheriff’s office.

*Tuesday, Jan. 1*

*Hit and run*

Sheriff’s deputies are investigating a reported hit and run that occurred at 4:29 a.m. in the 0-99 block of Surrey, Oswego. A vehicle struck the residence and then fled the scene.

*DUI, driving with revoked license*

Robert Dean Johnson, 27, of the 6000 block of Lowlyn Court, Batavia, at 2:49 a.m. at Ashe Road and Baseline Road and charged with driving under the influence and driving with a revoked license, said the Kendall County Sheriff’s office. Johnson was originally stopped for speeding and improper lane usage, and upon stopping the vehicle he reportedly switched seats with another occupant in the vehicle. Johnson was additionally cited for speeding, improper lane usage and obstructing a peace officer.

*Disorderly conduct*

Terrell John Jones-Bradley, 21, of the 600 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, Aurora, was arrested at 1:04 a.m. in the 0-99 block of Sonora Drive, Montgomery, and charged with disorderly conduct, said the Kendall County Sheriff’s office. Jones-Bradley had reportedly been repeatedly approaching a residence and brandishing a pocket knife while speaking with the resident. Jones-Bradley's behavior reportedly alarmed and disturbed the resident.

*Theft/criminal trespass to residence*

Terrell J. Jones-Bradley, 21, of the 600 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, Aurora, was arrested at 8:30 a.m. in the 0-99 block of Sonora Road, and charged with theft after a sheriff’s investigation, said the Kendall County Sheriff’s office. The investigation is still ongoing in this incident.

*Sunday, Dec. 30*

*No valid driver’s license, curfew*

Two 16-year-old females, one from Plainfield and one from Oswego, were arrested at 12:14 a.m. at Route 25 and 2^nd Street during a traffic stop for speeding 56mph in a 40mph zone, said the Kendall County Sheriff’s office. The driver was cited for not having a valid license, unlawful number of passengers and a curfew violation. The passenger was charged for curfew violation.

*No valid driver’s license*

Julio Adrian Hernandez, 24, of the 1600 block of Arbor Lane, Crest Hill, was arrested at 12:42 a.m. at Route 30 and Douglas and charged with driving without a valid license, said the Kendall County Sheriff’s office. He was also cited for speeding.

*Resisting a peace officer, mental subject*

Michael Eugene Barron, 48, of the 0-99 block of Quinsey Lane, Yorkville, was arrested at 6:46 p.m. at his residence and charged with resisting a peace officer, said the Kendall County Sheriff’s office. Deputies had responded to the address for a mental subject and while on scene Barron became combative. He was transported to a local hospital for evaluation.

*Saturday, Dec. 29*

*Motor vehicle theft*

Sheriff’s deputies are investigating a reported motor vehicle theft that occurred between 6:00 p.m. on Dec. 28 and 5:30 a.m. on Dec. 29 in the 7200 block of Regal Court, Yorkville.

*Possession of cannabis*

Gregg Alan MacFadgen, 57, of the 0-99 block of Hubbard Way, Montgomery, was arrested at 12:35 a.m. at his residence and charged with the unlawful possession of cannabis, said the Kendall County Sheriff’s office.

*Residential burglary*

Sheriff’s deputies are investigating a reported residential burglary that occurred between 2:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. in the 0-100 block of Sonora Drive, Montgomery. Several electronics were reported taken from the residence.

*No valid driver’s license*

Maria Gutierrez, 20, of the 600 block of South LaSalle Street, Aurora, was arrested at 5:03 p.m. at Route 25 and North Bereman Road, Oswego, and charged with driving without a valid license, said the Kendall County Sheriff’s office. She was also cited for speeding.

*Friday, Dec. 28*

*Possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of cannabis, no valid driver’s license, curfew*

Four juveniles, two 17 year-old females, one 17-year old male and one 16-year old male were arrested at 12:48 a.m. at Circle Drive East and South Bereman Drive, Montgomery, said the Kendall County Sheriff’s office. The driver was charged with for not having a valid driver’s license and a curfew violation. One passenger was charged with possession of cannabis and another was in possession of cannabis and drug paraphernalia. The fourth juvenile was cited for a curfew violation, according to the Kendall County Sheriff’s office.

*Possession of cannabis*

Blake Antonio Alexander Russell, 24, of the 400 block Gloria Lane, Oswego, was arrested at 9:35 a.m. at Route 34 and Mason Square and charged with the unlawful possession of cannabis, said the Kendall County Sheriff’s office. He was also cited for no seat belt.

*Thursday, Dec. 27*

*Harassment by telephone*

Sheriff’s deputies responded to a reported harassment by telephone call that occurred at 5:00 p.m. in the 0-99 block of North Cypress Drive, Bristol. The victim reported receiving over approximately 35 phone calls from an unknown male.  Reported by Patch 12 hours ago.

Video: Aurora movie theater massacre pre-trial to begin

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The pre-trial hearing in the Aurora movie theater massacre is set to commence. Manuel Bojorquez reports on the week ahead in court, when prosecutors will reveal the evidence against the accused gunman, James Holmes. Reported by CBS News 13 hours ago.

Big Brothers Big Sisters Recruiting 30 Men in 30 Days

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Patch Montgomery, IL --

This January, in celebration of National Mentoring Month, Big Brothers Big Sisters is partnering with two area Buffalo Wild Wings restaurants for a “30 Men in 30 Days” volunteer recruitment campaign.  

The simple goal is to recruit 30 new male volunteers to serve as Big Brothers in the community. Currently, there are more than 30 boys in the Southern Kane and Kendall county area waiting to be matched to a mentor. Though more than 80 percent of the children waiting for a mentor are boys, only 3 out of 10 people applying to volunteer are men. Some boys have been waiting for a Big Brother for over a year. 

The first meeting is tonight at the Aurora Buffalo Wild Wings, 1460 North Orchard Road, from 6-8 p.m. 

BBBS and Buffalo Wild Wings in Aurora and in Oswego are working together to address the lack of male mentors in the community by hosting an event every Monday night during January. People who visit Buffalo Wild Wings to learn more about mentoring will receive a coupon for free wings and will be entered in a raffle for prizes donated by Euclid Beverage LTD in Aurora and Superior Beverage Co. in Montgomery.

Meetings are:

· Jan. *7*, *21^* from 6-8 p.m., 1460 North Orchard Road, Aurora
· Jan. *14^*, *28^* from 6-8 p.m., 1550 Douglas Road, Oswego

Contact Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Kane and Kendall Counties, a program of Family Counseling Service at 630-844-9090 or www.aurorafcs.org

Information provided by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Kane and Kendall Counties. Reported by Patch 12 hours ago.

Major hearing in Aurora theater shooting case to begin today

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CENTENNIAL -- Aurora police seized four prescription bottles and immunization records when they searched theater-shooting suspect James Holmes' apartment in July, according to newly obtained filings in the murder case against Holmes. Reported by San Jose Mercury News 9 hours ago.

James Holmes preliminary hearing: Aurora cop says Holmes "seemed out of it" at theater

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CENTENNIAL —  Police reports from the day of the Aurora theater shooting noted suspect James Holmes "stared off into space" and "seemed out of it" as Aurora police officers took Reported by Denver Post 9 hours ago.

Hearing in Aurora massacre under way in Colorado

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A weeklong hearing outlining the case against accused Aurora massacre gunman James Holmes is under way in a Colorado courtroom, where victims’ families are prepared to hear chilling details. Reported by msnbc.com 9 hours ago.

Holmes Was 'Relaxed' After Aurora Massacre

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Accused movie theater gunman James Holmes was "relaxed" and "detached" when police confronted him just moments after he had allegedly killed 12 people and wounded dozens more in the Aurora, Colo., massacre, a police officer testified today. Reported by ABCNews.com 9 hours ago.

Prosecutors to outline case against alleged Aurora shooter James Holmes (+video)

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James Holmes is charged with more than 160 counts, including murder and attempted murder, in the July 2012 movie theater shooting in Aurora, Colo., Reported by Christian Science Monitor 9 hours ago.

Aurora Shooting Suspect Looked Like A Fellow Officer, Police Say

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Moments after a deadly attack that turned an Aurora, Colo., movie theater into a scene of panic and tragedy, the police officer who found suspect James Holmes at first took him for a fellow police officer, due to the body armor Holmes was wearing. Reported by NPR 7 hours ago.

Aurora shooting suspect 'was out of it' after arrest, police officer tells court

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James Holmes, accused of killing 12 people in Colorado cinema, was not showing normal emotions, says arresting officer

The man accused of shooting dead 12 people inside a Colorado cinema was relaxed but "out of it" in the moments after the massacre, a court has heard .

James Holmes, who is alleged to have sprayed the audience of a midnight showing of The Dark Knight Rises with bullets, wounding 58 people, appeared unmoved as he "stared into space", the police officer who arrested Holmes told the hearing.

"It was like there weren't normal emotional responses", officer Jason Oviatt said, according to a report of proceedings by the Denver Postext. The testimony came as prosecutors in the US began laying out their case against Holmes, watched by family members of those who were killed.

The session, at the Arapahoe county justice centre, will decide if the suspect is sent to trial over the killings. Holmes, 25, is charged with more than 166 separate offences relating to the mass shooting of 20 July in Aurora, including first degree murder.

If convicted, and prosecutors decline to pursue a death penalty sentence, he would face a mandatory sentence of life without parole.

The Arapahoe court is expected to hear the case against Holmes for the first time. Many of the details of the police investigation into the events surrounding the massacre have been kept out of the public domain until now.

In the aftermath of the shooting, district judge William Sylvester issued an order banning lawyers and police from discussing the case with people outside the investigation. Also, many documents have remained secret.

Monday's session opened with testimony from police officers who arrested Holmes outside the cinema. They described him as relaxed but fidgety. Oviatt testified that Holmes was "just standing there … not doing anything. Not in any hurry. Not excited. Not urgent about anything," the Denver Post reported.

Holmes, still clad in body armour, told police he had booby-trapped his apartment. It took officers hours to disarm explosive devices left at Holmes' address with the help of a controlled robot.

After setting the trap at his Aurora apartment, Holmes is alleged to have gone to the cinema and bought a ticket for the late-night screening of The Dark Knight Rises. It is believed that shortly after the film started, he slipped out of a side exit, propping the door open as he left.

He then returned heavily armed and wearing body armour. Some audience members thought he was part of a prank. But bewilderment quickly turned to horror after the gunman tossed two gas canisters into the room and began firing, spraying the audience with bullets. Within minutes, a dozen people were dead and many more were left with gunshot wounds.

Holmes' lawyers have said their client is mentally ill. During the course of this week's hearings, they are expected to call at least two experts to testify on defendant's mental state. He is known to have been visiting a university psychiatrist, whom he had tried to contact shortly before the shootings.

Some legal experts have suggested that the case against Holmes appears so strong that a plea agreement is likely.

As such, this week's preliminary hearing is being treated by some as a 'mini-trial'. Family members of his alleged victims and those injured in the massacre were allowed to sit in a separate room away from the media and public. Reported by guardian.co.uk 7 hours ago.
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