EnterpriseSovereign wrote:It looks like him, first court pictures have come out and it's a strong resemblance. Unfortunately it's going to be some time before we know if the DA will push for the death penalty- I find it hard to believe that any DA in their right mind won't insist on it.
Reasons NOT to go for the death penalty:
1) Requires an even higher standard of proof than non-capital cases. Granted, the proof in this case seems pretty fucking solid.
2) Takes longer
3) A jury might be more likely to convict for "life without parole" than for "death", especially if the defendant is batshit insane, or even just suspected of being so
4) I don't know if it's the case in Colorado, but in some jurisdictions capital convictions are automatically appealed and the case will be in and out of courts for
years decades. On the other hand, a "life w/o parole" is much more likely to simply be over and done.
The DA has stated he wanted to consult with the families of the victims. Some families find the years-long round of appeals for a capital case to be traumatizing and would prefer not to be subjected to that. The DA does not have to do what the families want, but he is certainly able to consider their opinion and if he does so that shows more consideration for victims/families than is typical in the US system.
Was it me, or did Holmes/Joker appear more or less stunned and dazed in that court room? Did I mishear, or did the judge actually ask if he had been medicated or sedated? He seemed.... off.
