Judge delays Batman theatre shooting hearing

A judge has delayed the arraignment of the man charged with the Colorado theatre shooting until March.

District Judge William Sylvester ruled that prosecutors had presented sufficient evidence to proceed with charges alleging that James Holmes killed 12 people and injured 70 others at a suburban Denver movie theatre on July 20.

Holmes is charged with multiple counts of first-degree murder and attempted murder.

Holmes won’t have to enter a plea until Mar 12 after the judge granted a defence motion last night to delay that proceeding.

A majority of the families of the victims objected to the delay.

An unidentified man seated in the courtroom yelled “Rot in hell Holmes” at the end of the hearing. The judge reconvened the proceedings to discuss the outburst

Defence lawyers didn’t give a reason for the delay.

One possible reason could be to seek a mental health evaluation by a doctor of their choosing. His lawyers have said Holmes is mentally ill, raising the possibility of an insanity defence.

If Holmes had entered an insanity plea, an evaluation would be done by state doctors.

Holmes’ attorneys also objected to news media requests to bring cameras into the courtroom during the arraignment. Cameras have been barred from court since Holmes’ initial appearance in July.

If Holmes, 25, is convicted of first-degree murder he could face the death penalty. Prosecutors have not said if they would pursue that sentence.