James Holmes appears in court at the Arapahoe County Justice Center. Photo: AFP Source: AFP
AS James Holmes remains behind bars suspected of the Dark Knight Rises massacre, crime and legal experts have dissected his 'Joker' appearance, to explain his state.
Holmes appeared in court today revealing his red mop of hair, in stark contrast to how he looked when he was 18 in recent footage of him at a science camp.
Since then, the world has seen him in photos allegedly posted on an adult sex website, where he is smiling and smirking at the camera.
Since then, the world has seen him in photos allegedly posted on an adult sex website, where he is smiling and smirking at the camera.
At a brief court appearance in the Arapahoe County District Court, Holmes appeared to be somewhere else. He looked variously dazed, sleepy, confused and wide-eyed, and seemingly unaware that he was focus of proceedings being watched across the world.
Dr. Jeffrey Gardere, an assistant professor of behavioral medicine at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine said there could be a "psychotic process" going on.
"It struck me that this is a person who's been through an emotional maelstrom and therefore might be totally wiped out emotionally," he said.
[There could be] "a psychotic process going on and we see that being acted out there. Or there might be some sort of malingering going on. In other words, trying to make himself look worse than he actually is. Or maybe a combination of all of those things."
CNN legal analyst Paul Callan said: "I think you're looking at a very tired individual combined with what his normal personality might be," he said.
"It struck me that this is a person who's been through an emotional maelstrom and therefore might be totally wiped out emotionally," he said.
[There could be] "a psychotic process going on and we see that being acted out there. Or there might be some sort of malingering going on. In other words, trying to make himself look worse than he actually is. Or maybe a combination of all of those things."
CNN legal analyst Paul Callan said: "I think you're looking at a very tired individual combined with what his normal personality might be," he said.
James Holmes as a teenager, an adult and now an alleged killer in the Dark Knight Rises massacre. Source: AP
She said this would also explain why he dropped out of his PhD.
"We know that certain types of psychoses tend to have an onset in the early 20s; if that's the case he may be in the midst of coping with that. He may not know what's going on," she said.
Police still do not have a motive for the attack, but are investigating dozens of leads, including one about Holmes breaking up with a girlfriend and being evicted before the massacre occurred.
Holmes is yet to be charged with killing 12 people and wounding 58 at the Aurora Century 16 cinema, nor for other charges he will face for leaving his apartment in the same suburb wired with bombs.
His hair dyed a freaky red, wearing a burgundy jail-issued jumpsuit, he looked disheveled and almost as if he was dosed-up on drugs.
His hair dyed a freaky red, wearing a burgundy jail-issued jumpsuit, he looked disheveled and almost as if he was dosed-up on drugs.
Accused Batman gunman James Holmes displays a detatched, deranged state in court. Photo: AP Source: AP
The judge also issued a standard warning that he was to make no attempt to contact witnesses or victims.
Holmes was led from the County Sheriff’s cells via an underground tunnel to the courtroom, just after 9.30am Colorado time.
There was no application for bail and Holmes was returned to solitary confinement.
Arapahoe County District Attorney Carol Chambers said afterwards she could not comment if Holmes was on drugs during the hearing.
Colorado is a death-penalty state but Ms Chambers said any decision on seeking his execution would only be made after detailed consultations with victims’ families.
Aurora police chief Dan Oates has said that Holmes is not cooperating with them, and nor were his parents. But Holmes’ court-appointed public defender, Lisa Damiani, said their hearts went out to the victims - but they stood by their son.
“He’s their son,” she said.
Holmes made no attempt to communicate with Ms Damiani during the hearing. She likewise did not make any attempt to explain what was going on to her befuddled client.
Ms Damiani also denied reports that Holmes’ mother had said words to the effect that she knew her son had committed the massacre when she was contacted by a media organisation.
Ms Chambers was asked at a press conference after the hearing whether the case against Holmes was a simple “slam dunk” for prosecutors, because of what appears to be the swathe of incontrovertible evidence against him.
James Holmes appears in court at the Arapahoe County Justice Center in Centennial, Colorado. Photo: AFP Source: AFP
“In a case like this, the investigation doesn’t stop. It will continue right up to the trial,” she said.
Holmes is expected to be formally charged at a hearing scheduled the same time in seven days.
It is likely to be at least a year before Holmes faces trial.
Holmes is expected to be formally charged at a hearing scheduled the same time in seven days.
It is likely to be at least a year before Holmes faces trial.
Holmes' appearance angered the relatives of some of the victims of the shooting. Some stared at him the entire hearing, including Tom Teves, whose son, Alex, was killed in the attack. Mr Teves watched Holmes intently, sizing him up.
"I saw the coward in court today and Alex could have wiped the floor with him without breaking a sweat," said Mr Teves, whose son, a physical therapist, dove to protect his girlfriend.
Friends and family of victims arrive at the Arapahoe County Courthouse for suspect James Holmes' first court appearance. Photo: AFP Source: AFP
"You shot a 6-year-old. Come on give me a break. You're dressed in full combat gear, immediately surrender. Come on. Pick on some guys who know how to use guns," Mr Teves said.
The hearing was the first confirmation that Mr Holmes' hair was coloured. On Friday, there were reports of his hair being red and that he told arresting officers that he was "The Joker." Batman's nemesis in the fictional Gotham has brightly colored hair.
MEMORABLE ROLE: Heath Ledger starring as The Joker, is shown in a scene from The Dark Knight, which was released after his death at age 28. Picture: AP Photo Source: AP
It could not immediately be confirmed if he told officers that he was Batman's enemy, however.
Holmes, whom police say donned body armour and was armed with an assault rifle, a shotgun and handguns during the attack, was arrested shortly afterward. He is refusing to cooperate, authorities said. They said it could take months to identify a motive.
Holmes, who is being held in isolation at the Arapahoe County detention facility, walked into the courtroom with attorneys and others. He sat down in a jury box, next to one of his attorneys.
James Holmes appears in court at the Arapahoe County Justice Center in Centennial, Colorado. Photo: AFP Source: AFP
His entrance was barely noticeable but relatives of shooting victims leaned forward in their seats to catch their first glimpse of him.
Two women held hands tightly, one shook her head. One woman's eyes welled up with tears.
After the hearing, prosecutor Carol Chambers said that "at this point, everyone is interested in a fair trial with a just outcome for everybody involved." Ms Chambers said earlier her office is considering pursuing the death penalty against Mr Holmes.
David Sanchez, whose son-in-law was critically wounded and pregnant daughter was unhurt, speaks after a court appearance by shooting suspect James Holmes at the Arapahoe County Courthouse. "It makes you angry," he told reporters. AP Photo/Alex BrandonSource: AP
Ms Chambers said a decision will be made in consultation with the victims' families.
David Sanchez, who waited outside the courthouse during Holmes' hearing, said his pregnant daughter escaped uninjured but her husband was shot in the head and was in critical condition. His daughter was scheduled to deliver her baby on Monday.
"When it's your own daughter and she escaped death by mere seconds, I want to say it makes you angry," Mr Sanchez said. He said his daughter, 21-year-old Katie Medley, and her husband, Caleb, 23, had been waiting for a year to watch the movie.
Asked what punishment Holmes should get if he is convicted, Mr Sanchez said, "I think death is."
Family members of a victim fromthe shooting hold hands as they arrive for a court appearance by shooting suspect James Holmes at the Arapahoe County Courthouse. AP Photo/Alex Brandon Source: AP
Security at the hearing was tight. Uniformed sheriff's deputies were stationed outside, and deputies were positioned on the roofs of both court buildings.
Police have said Holmes began buying guns at Denver-area stores nearly two months before Friday's shooting and that he received at least 50 packages in four months at his home and at school.
Holmes' apartment was filled with trip wires, explosive devices and unknown liquids, requiring police, FBI officials and bomb squad technicians to evacuate surrounding buildings while spending most of Saturday disabling the booby traps.
At a news conference, university officials refused to answer questions about Holmes. "To the best of our knowledge at this point, we think we did everything that we should have done," Donald Elliman, the university chancellor.
Officials also said the school received two suspicious packages on Monday. The first package arrived early in the morning and was slipped under the door at a campus building while it was mostly empty. People were not allowed into the building until the threat was cleared.
Family members of the shooting victim Jonny Blunk react as his name is called along with the 11 other victims of the mass shooting. Photo: AFP Source: AFP
The second package was addressed to a person in a separate building and came to the school's central mail facility.
As authorities continued to investigate Holmes, Sunday was a day for healing and remembrance in Aurora, with the community holding a prayer vigil.
Mourners create a memorial at the fountain of Aurora Municipal Center after a prayer vigil for the 12 victims of Friday's mass shooting. Photo: AFP Source: AFP
The pastor for the suspect's family recalled a shy boy who was driven to succeed academically.
"He wasn't an extrovert at all. If there was any conversation, it would be because I initiated it, not because he did," said Jerald Borgie, senior pastor of Penasquitos Lutheran Church. Mr Borgie said he never saw the suspect mingle with others his age at church.
"He had some goals. He wanted to succeed, he wanted to go out, and he wanted to be the best," said Mr Borgie, noting that last spoke with Holmes about six years ago. "He took pride in his academic abilities. A good student. He didn't brag about it."
The shooting was the worst in the US since the November 5, 2009, attack at Fort Hood, Texas. An Army psychiatrist was charged with killing 13 soldiers and civilians and wounding more than two dozen others.
original: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/world/batman-shooting-suspect-appears-in-court/story-fnd134gw-1226433431711
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