* Holmes also charged with 116 counts of attempted murder
* Suspect faces a total of 142 criminal counts
(Recasts with charges filed)
By Keith Coffman and Chris Francescani
CENTENNIAL, Colo., July 30 (Reuters) – The former graduate
student accused of opening fire on moviegoers in a Denver-area
screening of the latest “Batman” movie 10 days ago was formally
charged on Monday with 24 counts of first-degree murder and 116
counts of attempted murder.
The charges were formally presented as James Holmes, 24,
made his second court appearance since his arrest moments after
the massacre during a packed showing of “The Dark Knight Rises”
shortly after midnight on July 20.
The rampage left 12 dead and 58 injured, several critically.
Prosecutors essentially charged Holmes with two murder
counts for each victim – one standard first-degree murder charge
plus one count of murder with extreme indifference.
In all, prosecutors have charged Holmes with 142 criminal
counts in the shooting, the 24 murder and 116 attempted murder
counts plus one count of possession of an explosive device and
one count of committing a crime of violence.
(Writing by Steve Gorman and Dan Burns; Editing by Will Dunham)
