CENTENNIAL | James Holmes searched for information about “rational insanity” in the months before last year’s theater shooting, according to police. In court testimony Thursday, Aurora police Detective Michael Leiker said investigators found that term in the Bing.com search history pulled from one of three computers following the shootings.
Leiker, a criminalist in the department’s crime lab, said he was one of two officers who downloaded information from Holmes’ laptop, two desktop computers, an iPod Touch and an iPhone. Investigators tried to download information from Holmes’ tablet computer, too, Leiker said, but were unsuccessful so they instead took pictures of the screen.
During three hours of testimony Thursday morning, Leiker focused mainly on the technical aspects of his job, often in painstaking detail. He said he found evidence related to the case on several of the items he searched, but was careful in open court not to discuss details about what officers found.
One of the few specifics he mentioned was the “rational insanity” search on Holmes’ computer. Leiker didn’t say when Holmes searched that phrase, but said officers found it on one of two desktop computers they took from Holmes’ apartment on Paris Street.
Holmes’ lawyers are arguing that Leiker and the other officer who examined Holmes’ electronics should not be allowed to testify as experts about what they found on the devices.
Prosecutors are expected to argue that the information found on Holmes’ devices — including cell phone pictures of him showing off his arsenal a few hours before the shooting rampage — show he knew what he was doing was wrong and planned the alleged attack months in advance.
Holmes is accused of killing 12 and wounding dozens more during a mass shooting at the Century Aurora 16 theater last year. He has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity and is scheduled to go on trial next year.
Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.
Thursday was the second of 11 scheduled motions hearings in the case this month. Holmes is due back in court next week for more hearings that are expected to focus on what evidence will be admitted at trial.
During the hearing Oct. 10, Holmes sat quietly at the defense table wearing a red jail jumpsuit with his hands and feet shackled.