Colorado Theater Shooter’s parents plead for their son’s life.
The parents of Colorado theater shooting suspect James Holmes are pleading for him to be spared the death penalty.
From The Hollywood Reporter:
In a letter to The Denver Post published Friday, Robert and Arlene Holmes say they have always loved their son and do not want him to be executed.
“He is not a monster. He is a human being gripped by a severe mental illness,” they wrote. Holmes has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to charges of killing 12 people and injuring 70 in the 2012 attack at a movie theater in Aurora outside Denver.
Jury selection is scheduled to start Jan. 20. His parents, who live in Rancho Penasquitos, California, say they also would like to avoid a traumatic trial. One option would be a plea deal allowing him to plead guilty to the charges in exchange for life in prison without parole.
“If that happened, our son would be in prison the rest of his life, but no one would have to relive those horrible events at a trial the media has permission to televise,” they wrote.
The parents say it would be in his best interest if he is sent to a mental institution, which could happen if he is found not guilty by reason of insanity.
His parent say they have spent the last two years thinking about the victims and their families.
They say the best option for their son would be if he is sent to an institution for the mentally ill, which could happen if he is found not guilty by reason of insanity. Holmes’ parents say they have spent every moment of the two years since the shooting thinking about the victims and their families and friends.
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