James Holmes, the 24-year-old man accused of opening fire inside an Aurora, Colorado theater early Friday morning, killing 12 and wounding 58, will soon begin psychiatric evaluations to find out if he is competent to stand trial.
WebPro News explains that this process is necessary, because if doctors determine that Holmes, who called himself “The Joker” was under extreme mental duress when he carried out the shootings, he could end up entering a “not guilty by reason of insanity” plea in response to the first-degree murder charge currently held against him.
According to Action News, Dale Carson, local defense attorney, believes that James Holmes’ courtroom conduct on Monday could be just an act. He stated:
“Remember he was at a movie in role play acting as if he were the Joker. So he’s into role play.”
Holmes’ behavior could mean several things though, which is what psych evaluators will attempts to uncover in the coming months. James Holmes, along with calling himself the Joker (which could indicate he was stuck in a delusion), also appeared dazed at times during the 11 minute hearing on Monday.
The alleged Dark Knight shooter also rolled his eyes at others and closed his eyelids at times while the judge was speaking. Jordan Ghawi, brother of Jessica Ghawi, who died in the shooting, agrees with Carson. Ghawi stated:
“He is a coward and a genius. He knows what he is doing. He is playing the system. I don’t believe for a second he is sitting there with his wide eyes and pretending to be incoherent.”
Before James Holmes’ attorney can enter an insanity plea, mental evaluations would have to prove this. Carson stated that:
“…the legal definition (of insanity) is the inability to know the difference between right and wrong. That’s the simple definition.”
Some courtroom viewers believed that James Holmes may have been medicated at the hearing, but jail officials refused a comment. WebPro News reports that, even if Holmes enters an insanity plea, Dr. Keith Ablow believes it is extremely unlikely that the jury would accept it. Ablow writes:
“Contrary to popular belief, defendants who are found not criminally responsible by virtue of a mental illness generally remain on locked psychiatry units for several decades–or for life. This has been the case, for example, for John Hinckley, Jr., the man who, in 1981, shot Ronald Reagan to impress actress Jodi Foster. He has remained an inpatient–with some passes to his family home–at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Washington, D.C. for more than 30 years.”
Until the next hearing, however, James Holmes will have to undergo several stints of extensive medical testing, as well as evaluations by a team of psychiatrists, in order to determine if he is fit to stand trial. It could take up to a year for the James Holmes case to go to trial for the Dark Knight shootings. If the judge decides that James Holmes is insane, however, he may decide to forego the trial completely and send him directly to a mental hospital.
Do you think that James Holmes, who told police that he was The Joker, is insane, or does he know exactly what he’s doing?
Check out more information about James Holmes in court here:
As the sister of someone who has a severe mental illness — the one that James Holmes may have — I can tell you that I recognized those same facial expressions in my brother when he was first psychotic and not getting medication. My heart breaks for everyone in this case. This should never have happened if the warning signs had been picked up earlier. This kid is very ill, not evil. I know Americans want to make him evil, but he's no more evil than someone with cancer.
Its Jessica Ghawi, not Jennifer.
He wants REVENGE and wants to make a STATEMENT!
Anna I agree with you…..something horrible happened to this kid. One just doesn't wake up one day as a student in a prestigious PHD program and say "okay, today I'm going to blast away innocent people I don't even know". I cant stop thinking about everyone involved. the victims, the experts, the killer, the families and loved ones. What he did was wrong, very wrong, but I feel bad for him too. Mental illness most often sets in with men in their early twenties. He is giving out almost the same warning signs as my brother in law did when they found out he was autistic. I feel sorry for mentally ill people out there. The media teaches us to demonize and make fun of the mentally ill.
I think it's almost silly that people are saying he is "faking" it. Even if he IS purposely trying to look "crazy", that doesn't mean he is sane. Anyone capable of doing what he did is plain nuts. He very well may not fit the definition needed for an insanity defense, but that person is not right in the head. So sad.
He was a nice guy his whole life and then quickly deteriorated. I don't think he is faking it. It is clear he has mental illlness. People are so vengeful to want to demonize this guy.
Fry this mother f'er
Who cares… HE should fry…
Totally Agree with you Anna i had seeing those symptoms in mental ill people as well. Everything indicate he won't be able to stand trial he's stuck in a delusion.
"..or does he know exactly what he’s doing?"
And exactly what was he doing? He knew *exactly* what he was *doing* for what purpose?
Not saying he was mentally ill necessarily (personally I think he was on a drug binge that spiraled outta control), but the "he knew exactly what he was doing" theory would be more credible if their were an actual rational point to what he was doing.
Regardless of whether he is mentally ill or not, this man killed and injured an outrageous number of people. He will continue to be a threat to people if they don't put him on death row. It is seriously disgusting.
Anna, I can't believe people think he lives in the same reality as we do. He doesn't. I have worked with mental patients, and until people have first hand experience they will think everyone is normal and no one suffers from delusions. He needs help its sad no one wanted to help him when he started slipping away.
Do you think the millions of mental patients should be killed? Would you start a gas chamber to kill them all? Are you saying they chose to lose their mind? You are an uneducated girl who is in denial that that people have issues they didn't chose and couldn't help. Could you help your skin color? People are born the way they are.
Well, did the millions of mental patients injure 70 people?
Stop calling this a'hole the Joker! Do not give this bastard the satisfaction of receiving that moniker, that's what he wants, to be remembered as "The Joker". Call him "The Ronald" instead.
He is never getting out, ever. He is now really only a threat to himself. There is a reason why he's still on suicide watch. And there is a reason he's in solitary confinement. He's no longer the threat to others. The others are a threat to him.
Misty – I'm the producer at Chip Franklin Mornings in San Diego, CA. We are a west coast morning drive program. Can you please email me about an interview? talkradiomaven@cox.net