Andy Cross/AP
After less than seven hours of deliberation, a jury has sentenced James Holmes to life in prison without the possibility of parole for killing 12 people and injuring 70 others three years ago in a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado in one of the worst mass shootings in US history.
JUST IN: James Holmes sentenced to life in prison without possibility of parole http://t.co/rXdGU9JX7j pic.twitter.com/k2kW08lpyw
— CBS News (@CBSNews) August 7, 2015
The victims’ families were sitting in the courtroom when the verdict was read and will be given the chance to address the judge about their losses at a later formal sentencing hearing. Jordan Ghawi, whose sister Jessica was killed during the shooting, reflected on the jury’s decision shortly after the verdict was read.
This trial has already cost millions of dollars and three years of pain to the families. Colorado voters should remember this come elections
— Jordan Ghawi (@JordanGhawi) August 7, 2015
This trial should have never happened. Defense offered a plea to life in prison, but political ambition trumped reason.
— Jordan Ghawi (@JordanGhawi) August 7, 2015
Thank you jurors for letting reason and not emotion guide you in your decision.
— Jordan Ghawi (@JordanGhawi) August 7, 2015
Robert Sullivan, grandfather of Veronica Moser-Sullivan, “we always knew that this (sentence) was a possibility” pic.twitter.com/m8yXI5rpke
— Quincy Snowdon (@QuincySnowdon) August 8, 2015
State Rep. Jovan Melton, whose district includes an area near the theater where the shooting occurred, took a moment to reflect on the death penalty.
Today’s verdict proves again that the Death Penalty is arbitrary. Only people on Death row in CO are Black. It has no place in CO. #COleg
— Rep. Jovan Melton (@JovanMelton) August 7, 2015
