Anger after Judge Postpones Aurora Suspect's Arraignment
By: NBC News
Updated: January 11, 2013
The families of Aurora massacre victims erupted in anger Friday when a judge postponed the arraignment of suspect James Holmes - with one yelling out, "Rot in hell, Holmes!"
At least four relatives or survivors stalked out when Holmes was granted two more months to decide how to plead to charges he murdered 12 people and wounded dozens more during a shooting rampage at a Batman movie last summer.
Others cried in the courtroom or cursed in the corridor outside.
It's been almost six months since Holmes was arrested outside the Century 16 multiplex, and relatives are anxious for the case to move along.
Chief Judge William Sylvester ruled late Thursday that prosecutors have enough evidence to put Holmes, 25, on trial and scheduled the arraignment for Friday. But the defense said Holmes wasn't ready to enter a plea and convinced the court -- over the objections of prosecutors -- to postpone the arraignment until March 12.
The grad-school dropout's lawyers are widely expected to mount an insanity defense and made several pointed references to their client's mental health during a preliminary hearing this week.
If Holmes enters a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity, he will likely be transferred to a state psychiatric facility, where doctors must evaluate him and issue a report before a trial date is set, legal experts say.
Many victims' relatives are adamant in their belief that Holmes is not legally insane. They were particularly struck by new evidence at the hearing that suggested his planning may have begun two months before the July 20 slaughter.
Prosecutors revealed how he amassed an arsenal of weapons, booby-trapped his apartment and took photos of the Century 21 theater well before the ambush.
"He's not insane. He's evil and there's a difference," said Theresa Hoover, whose 18-year-old son, A.J. Boik, was killed.
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