found guilty

[Zoe Girl]

James Holmes was found guilty in the Aurora Movie Theatre shooting. I didn't know I would react because the trial was something my family and I didn't pay attention to. However I burst in wonderful tears in my car (and I was literally driving by my daughter's house at the time, she lives 1/2 mile away, and in case you didn't know she worked there and was at the shooting)

It feels like a weight is off, and I can watch the news again.

(I just wanted to say if you want to talk about the death penalty possibility in this case could you please start a separate thread)

[iris lilies]

James Holmes was found guilty in the Aurora Movie Theatre shooting. I didn't know I would react because the trial was something my family and I didn't pay attention to. However I burst in wonderful tears in my car (and I was literally driving by my daughter's house at the time, she lives 1/2 mile away, and in case you didn't know she worked there and was at the shooting)

It feels like a weight is off, and I can watch the news again.

(I just wanted to say if you want to talk about the death penalty possibility in this case could you please start a separate thread)
Glad this is over for you and your daughter.

[Lainey]

I heard this on the news too. But a radio commentator here had an interesting thought to add: what if admittedly mentally ill people like Holmes who admits guilt and it's also obvious via witnesses, video, etc. that he's guilty, they then only need a trial for the penalty? Why do these situations require full-blown trials which are many weeks long and very expensive to taxpayers?

I guess it has to do with the jury hearing about potential mitigating factors, but either way he's incarcerated for life or getting the death penalty.

[Zoe Girl]

i had the same thought, what expense and what trauma for everyone. although i think it could be cathartic for many to go through it. it was important to my daughter to see that he was found guilty without any qualifiers of insanity.

[freshstart]

isn't it something about the degree of insanity? Do they know right from wrong? So if established as fit to stand trial, isn't that the right of the community and the criminal to experience? IDK, just thinking about all those murderers who have claimed insanity over the years, were evaluated to be fit to stand trial and they had to face a jury. And bonus when they are not found insane "enough" and get sent to prison instead of a psychiatric facility.

I am so sorry your daughter had to be involved in any of that

[jp1]

I really don't like the idea of someone not having a trial. Sure, in this case it was fairly obvious that he was guilty, but where exactly do you draw the line? It's bad enough that Gitmo exists, the thought that we could/would do that to American citizens is horrifying.

[Williamsmith]

The justice system is far from efficient and tends to victimize victims over and over until it finally reaches its conclusion. Not perfect but preferable to other means of dolling out punishment for crimes. If you have ever been a victim or witness you will always be happy when the trial is over but not necessarily satisfied or feeling closure. It is not infallible ...simply a system that can get things right or wrong but produces a result. In this instance, as in most it does nothing to restore people but can allow them to move on albeit never the same person as they were before.

[iris lilies]

I really don't like the idea of someone not having a trial. Sure, in this case it was fairly obvious that he was guilty, but where exactly do you draw the line? It's bad enough that Gitmo exists, the thought that we could/would do that to American citizens is horrifying.
It's common for there to be no trial. When my friend and neighbor shot his wife, he plead guilty and didn't have atrial. I suppose it's because he agreed to take a manslaughter charge.

[jp1]

Actually, the vast majority of crimes get plea bargained before a trial ever happens. I suspect that's mainly for the benefit of the judicial system and not for the defendants.

My intended point, though, was that I would be very uncomfortable with some judge, or whoever, taking away my choice to have a trial.

[freshstart]

My intended point, though, was that I would be very uncomfortable with some judge, or whoever, taking away my choice to have a trial.

yup, this