In this image made from Colorado Judicial Department video, defense attorney Tamara Brady, left, questions Robert Holmes, top right, the father of James Holmes, background left, during the sentencing phase of the Colorado theater shooting trial in Centennial, Colo., on Tuesday, July 28, 2015. A family photo showing James Holmes and his younger sister, Chris, from a family trip to Disneyland is displayed on a monitor at center. (Colorado Judicial Department via AP, Pool)

AURORA | James Holmes’ father testified Tuesday in the Aurora theater shooting trial, telling jurors that he thought his son was depressed in 2012 but didn’t know he was mentally ill.

Robert Holmes was calm during his almost-three-hour testimony, referring to his son throughout as “Jimmy” and showing family pictures of the convicted killer growing up in California.

In this image made from Colorado Judicial Department video, defense attorney Tamara Brady, left, questions Robert Holmes, top right, the father of James Holmes, background left, during the sentencing phase of the Colorado theater shooting trial in Centennial, Colo., on Tuesday, July 28, 2015. A family photo showing James Holmes and his younger sister, Chris, from a family trip to Disneyland is displayed on a monitor at center. (Colorado Judicial Department via AP, Pool)

The older Holmes said his family has a history of mental illness, including his twin sister — James’ aunt — who is schizophrenic.

He said he was worried about his son in spring and summer 2012 after his son broke up with his girlfriend and dropped out of graduate school.

But, Robert Holmes said, he didn’t think his son was mentally ill.

“I assumed he might be depressed, that was our main concern,” he said.

Doctors have testified that Holmes suffers from schizophrenia or a related illness, though two doctors appointed by the state said despite the serious mental illness, James Holmes knew right from wrong when he opened fire inside a packed Aurora movie theater in 2012, killing 12 and wounding 70 others.

Robert Holmes’ testimony came as the defense is asking the jury to sentence Holmes to life in prison rather than death. The same jury convicted him earlier this month of murder and later found prosecutors had proved the crime had multiple aggravating factors, qualifying Holmes for a possible death sentence.

The summer of the shooting, Robert Holmes said he and his wife, Arlene — who is expected to testify Wednesday — didn’t hear from their son very often. Lynne Fenton, the psychiatrist who was treating James Holmes, called them that summer but she said confidentiality rules barred her from saying much about their son’s treatment.

After the shooting, Robert Holmes said he flew to Colorado and saw his son in the jail.

“He was clearly really messed up, his eyes were bulging out, his pupils were dilated,” he said.

Testimony is expected to continue Wednesday morning.

2 replies on “Aurora theater shooting trial: Shooter’s dad testifies son seemed ‘depressed,’ but not mentally ill”

  1. But yet, this monster murdered as many as he could in a theater, but his ‘dad’ didn’t think anything was wrong. The cops should have blown this thing away behind the theater when they caught him, it’s only political correctness and lawsuits that stopped them.

    The bland woman comes to mind, acted a fool to the police, (*any of us would have been arrested btw) couldn’t keep her mouth shut, got arrested, and hung herself, that should be the end of the story, but no, protests, investigations, racial discrimination, hey folks, whether black or white, if you act a fool, you WILL get in trouble.

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