E-Mail
Print
CENTENNIAL, Colo. (AP) - Colorado prosecutors have formally charged a former doctorate student with 24 counts of murder in the shooting at an Aurora movie theater.
Twenty-four-year-old James Holmes appeared Monday and was also formally charged with 116 counts of attempted murder -- two counts for each victim. The dual charges are designed to create more options during sentencing, if he's convicted.
Twelve people were killed and 58 people were wounded or injured.
He's also charged with a one count of possession of explosives. Authorities say he booby trapped his apartment.
Holmes was arrested early July 20 outside a Century 16 theater in Aurora during a midnight showing of the new Batman movie.
Legal analysts expect his court the case to be dominated by arguments over his sanity.
Holmes was a student at the University of Colorado Denver before withdrawing last month.