Accused movie-theater shooter was denied lawyer for 13 hours
Accused movie-theater shooter James Holmes asked for a lawyer about seven minutes into his interrogation, but police opted to question him later in the day without an attorney present, a Colorado court hearing revealed on Thursday.
Prosecutors say police were entitled to question Holmes about defusing the bombs in his apartment because of public-safety needs, and his statements should be admissible at trial, the Denver Post reports. The interrogation lasted 37 minutes and began three hours after a lawyer hired by Holmes’ mother told police they could not question his client.
Before speaking with Holmes about the bombs, police believed defusing them would be dangerous and they would have to set them off, burning down a three-story apartment complex.
Holmes was able to speak with his lawyer 13 hours after his request for one, according to coverage by Reuters and the Associated Press.
Homes is accused of killing 12 people and wounding 70 others at a movie theater in Aurora, Colo., in July 2012. Holmes has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. The trial is scheduled to begin in February.
