The man accused of carrying out the Colorado cinema shootings wants to change his plea to not guilty by reason of insanity, his lawyers said, despite their fears that it could severely hamper his ability mount a defence against the death penalty.

Prosecutors are to seek the death penalty against the Batman cinema gunman who killed 12 people and wounded 70 in Colorado.

Lawyers for the Colorado cinema massacre suspect have said for the first time that they are considering entering a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity on behalf of their client.

The suspect in last month’s Colorado cinema shooting that left 12 dead was expected to be in court again today as prosecutors seek to show that he is sane.