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| Aurora suspect James Holmes should be executed, say prosecutors | Aurora suspect James Holmes should be executed, say prosecutors |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Prosecutors have said they will seek the death penalty for the man accused of killing 12 people last July at a cinema in the US state of Colorado. | Prosecutors have said they will seek the death penalty for the man accused of killing 12 people last July at a cinema in the US state of Colorado. |
| On Friday, prosecutors rejected an offer from James Holmes to plead guilty in order to avoid execution. | On Friday, prosecutors rejected an offer from James Holmes to plead guilty in order to avoid execution. |
| The 25-year-old is charged with multiple counts of murder and attempted murder in the attack in Aurora, one of the worst mass shootings in US history. | The 25-year-old is charged with multiple counts of murder and attempted murder in the attack in Aurora, one of the worst mass shootings in US history. |
| Dozens were wounded in the attack at a midnight showing of a Batman film. | Dozens were wounded in the attack at a midnight showing of a Batman film. |
| "It's my determination and my intention that in this case for James Eagan Holmes justice is death," Arapahoe County District Attorney George Brauchler said at Monday's hearing, which the accused attended. | "It's my determination and my intention that in this case for James Eagan Holmes justice is death," Arapahoe County District Attorney George Brauchler said at Monday's hearing, which the accused attended. |
| Mr Holmes' parents sat holding hands in the public gallery. | Mr Holmes' parents sat holding hands in the public gallery. |
| Legally insane? | Legally insane? |
| Last week, prosecutors argued that the defence motion for a guilty plea was not valid as a plea deal, but correspondents say such an agreement could still be reached before the case goes to trial. | Last week, prosecutors argued that the defence motion for a guilty plea was not valid as a plea deal, but correspondents say such an agreement could still be reached before the case goes to trial. |
| Mr Holmes' defence lawyers were expected to argue he is not guilty because he was legally insane at the time of the 20 July shooting. | Mr Holmes' defence lawyers were expected to argue he is not guilty because he was legally insane at the time of the 20 July shooting. |
| But investigators say the former neuroscience graduate student had stockpiled weapons and ammunition ahead of the attacks. | But investigators say the former neuroscience graduate student had stockpiled weapons and ammunition ahead of the attacks. |
| He allegedly also booby-trapped his flat to explode, in an apparent bid to distract police from responding to the cinema during the shooting. | He allegedly also booby-trapped his flat to explode, in an apparent bid to distract police from responding to the cinema during the shooting. |
| Victims and their families said they did not welcome the thought of a lengthy trial. | Victims and their families said they did not welcome the thought of a lengthy trial. |
| Pierce O'Farrill, who was shot three times in the attack, told the Associated Press news agency: "All of us victims would be dragged along potentially for years. It could be 10 or 15 years before he's executed. | |
| "I would be in my 40s and I'm planning to have a family, and the thought of having to look back and reliving everything at that point in my life, it would be difficult." | "I would be in my 40s and I'm planning to have a family, and the thought of having to look back and reliving everything at that point in my life, it would be difficult." |
| Bryan Beard, whose best friend Alex Sullivan was killed in the attack, spoke of his joy at the prosecutors' announcement. | |
| "I had a huge adrenaline rush,'' he told the Associated Press at the courthouse. "I love the choice, I love it, I love it... I hope I'm in the room when he dies." | |
| In March, Colorado introduced new gun legislation to impose limits on the size of ammunition magazines and expand background checks for gun buyers. | In March, Colorado introduced new gun legislation to impose limits on the size of ammunition magazines and expand background checks for gun buyers. |
| The law bans the type of magazine investigators say was used to fire dozens of bullets in just a few seconds during the Aurora shooting. | The law bans the type of magazine investigators say was used to fire dozens of bullets in just a few seconds during the Aurora shooting. |
| President Barack Obama is scheduled to visit Denver, Colorado, on Wednesday to highlight the bill as part of a campaign for national gun control measures in the wake of a mass shooting at a primary school in December, in the state of Connecticut. | President Barack Obama is scheduled to visit Denver, Colorado, on Wednesday to highlight the bill as part of a campaign for national gun control measures in the wake of a mass shooting at a primary school in December, in the state of Connecticut. |