On Wednesday, James Holmes, the perpetrator of the horrific 2012 Aurora shooting, was given 12 life sentences without the possibility of parole, plus 3,318 years in prison for his crimes. Judge Carlos A. Samour made it clear that he felt the sentence was fair and just–and that Holmes should never be allowed to enter society as a free man ever again (via Reuters):
"It is the court's intention that the defendant never set foot in free society again ... If there was ever a case that warranted the maximum sentences, this is the case," Arapahoe County District Court Judge Carlos Samour said."The defendant does not deserve any sympathy."
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After two days of often tearful and sometimes angry testimony from victims, District Attorney George Brauchler had called on Tuesday for Holmes to be given every day of the harshest possible prison term.
The lead prosecutor also said he wished the court could order that the defendant spend the rest of his days in solitary confinement, surrounded by photos of the people he killed, but that it could not.
After the judge delivered the sentence, Brauchler told reporters the gunman had never said he was sorry.
"He has never expressed remorse ... he is remorseless," Brauchler said outside court.
After sentencing was rendered, Judge Samour said, "Sheriff, get the defendant out of my courtroom, please,” which elicited cheers from the audience in the courtroom. The trial took three years and 37 days to bring justice to the victims of Holmes, who murdered 12 people and injured 70 when he opened fire during a screening of The Dark Knight Rises.
Holmes could have claimed more victims if his gun hadn’t jammed during the night of the attack.
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