James Holmes to plead not guilty by reason of insanity in Aurora, Colorado shooting case

James Holmes, the man accused of shooting dead 12 people and injuring scores of others in a Colorado movie theater last July, will plead not guilty by reason of insanity, according to documents filed in court on Tuesday.

A purported copy of the court document entitled “Notice Of Intent To Tender Plea Of Not Guilty By Reason Of Insanity,” and dated May 7, was posted online by Wild About Trial. 

The Associated Press confirmed Holmes intended to enter a not guilty plea.

The Denver Post reported Holmes could ask a judge for permission to change an earlier plea of not guilty as early as Monday when the next hearing in his case is scheduled. A judge entered a not guilty plea on Holmes' behalf in March after his lawyers said their client wasn't ready to plead.

Prosecutors have already said they will seek the death penalty for Holmes, who faces multiple counts of murder and attempted murder over the July 20 shooting rampage at a midnight showing of the Batman film "The Dark Knight Rises" in the Denver suburb of Aurora.

Lawyers for Holmes had proposed a plea deal in which their client would have pleaded guilty to the shooting in exchange for life in prison with no parole, but that was rejected by prosecutors.

If the plea is changed, Holmes will be taken to a psychiatric hospital where he will undergo a mental-health evaluation to determine whether he was insane at the time of the shootings. 

But the BBC noted that he could still be found guilty of the charges even if he is found to be insane.