Judge gets sanity exam of theater shooting suspect

CENTENNIAL, Colo. (AP) — A psychiatrist has submitted the results of a second sanity evaluation of the man charged with a mass killing in a Colorado movie theater.

Judge Carlos A. Samour Jr. on Wednesday ordered the 53-page report about James Holmes’ mental health sealed from the public. But he gave it to defense attorneys and prosecutors, along with copies of videotaped psychiatric interviews of Holmes.

Holmes has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to charges of killing 12 people and injuring 70 in the July 20, 2012, attack on a Denver-area theater. The trial is expected to start Dec. 8.

Holmes underwent a mandatory sanity evaluation last year, but the key finding — whether he could tell right from wrong — was not released. Samour ordered the second sanity evaluation in January, after prosecutors said the doctor who conducted the first one was biased. Samour agreed it was flawed.

The evaluation is not the final word on whether Holmes was insane, but it is a key piece of evidence jurors will consider when making that determination.

If Holmes is found not guilty by reason of insanity, he would be committed to the state hospital indefinitely. If he is found guilty, he could be sentenced to death or life in prison.

No motive for the shooting has been revealed. Holmes’ attorneys have acknowledged he was the shooter, but they say he was in the grip of a psychotic episode at the time.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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