AURORA | After almost two days of questioning, prosecutors in the Aurora theater shooting trial finished an often-testy cross examination of the defense’s star witness Thursday.
Raquel Gur, a University of Pennsylvania psychiatrist who ruled James Holmes schizophrenic and insane, is now being questioned a second time by the defense.
District Attorney George Brauchler’s cross examination was at times contentious, especially as Brauchler criticized Gur’s note taking and report writing.
When public defender Daniel King questioned Gur a second time, he noted that Brauchler’s lengthy questioning touched little on Gur’s findings, which were that Holmes was insane at the time of the killings.
Gur said repeatedly that she didn’t believe Holmes was faking any of his symptoms and that he passed multiple tests that looked for evidence of faking.
Still, Brauchler said, while Holmes passed those tests, his answers to different doctors were often inconsistent.
Also Thursday, Judge Carlos Samour Jr. advised Holmes of his right to testify at trial. Holmes said he understood his rights but would not testify.
The defense is expected to wrap their case Friday morning with two 45-minute videos of Holmes. Closing arguments are set for mid-day Tuesday.
Holmes is accused of killing 12 and wounding 70 more during the July 2012 attack at a crowded Aurora movie theater.
He has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity; prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.
I’d place the odds of a “not guilty” insanity verdict at 50/50, as Dr Gur has been a successful defense expert witness in a number of high profile murder cases. She knows how to present a persuasive argument to both emotive and thoughtful jurors. James Holmes was smart not to testify on his own behalf … his acting skills are not well honed and could cast doubt on his insanity plea among some jurors.