Early Friday, Dr. William Reid agreed with Defense Attorney Daniel King: The Aurora theater shooting would have never taken place without James Holmes' mental illness.
Reid is the first psychiatric expert to take the stand and he has testified that James Holmes was not insane when he killed 12 people and injured 70 more during the Aurora theater shooting.
He has been unequivocal in his assessment that Holmes was mentally ill at the time of the shooting, but could still tell the difference between right and wrong. If the jury is decides that Holmes was sane at the time of the attack, he could face the death penalty.
- June 3: Judge Denies Another Mistrial Request In Aurora Theater Shooting Trial
- June 2: Aurora Theater Shooting Was 'Legally Wrong,' Holmes Told Psychiatrist
- May 28: Holmes was sane, psychiatrist tells Aurora theater shooting jury
On Friday, King pointed out that Reid examined Holmes and found him sane two years after the attack. Upon questioning, Reid agreed seeing Holmes sooner after the attack would have been better.
In further questioning, King noted that a doctor who examined Holmes for the defense came to the conclusion that Homes was insane and lacked the capacity to distinguish between right and wrong. Presented with this evidence, Reid said, "that's what his report says, yes."
As for a psychotic break Holmes experienced in the jail a few months after the shooting, Reid said that yes, Holmes appeared to be "acutely psychotic."
On re-direct, District Attorney George Brauchler countered that Holmes experienced these symptoms after the shooting and that Holmes admitted he wasn’t hearing voices leading up to, or during, the attack.
