University Releases Holmes’ E-mails


James Holmes, who is responsible for the twelve deaths and 58 injuries resulting from his open fire in an Aurora, CO, theater in July, was once a student in a prominent academic program. He was a doctoral student for the University of Colorado-Denver’s neuroscience program, which he withdrew from just a month before the shooting.

On Wednesday, the university chose to release over 1,500 e-mails to the public sent to and from Holmes from his school e-mail accounts. Another 2,300 internal staff e-mails surrounding his attack were also released, according to the LA Times. Not all of Holmes’ e-mails were released, though, as some are part of the ongoing investigation and others would violate Holmes’ medical and psychiatric privacy.

Judge William B. Sylvester allowed the correspondences to be made public, letting the university decide which would be made public and which would remain sealed. While Holmes’ defense’s argument that releasing such information is a violation of his privacy, the opposition argues that such information is pertinent because it may reveal intent or Holmes’ state of mind before the attack.

Currently, Holmes is being held without bail while the defense and prosecution gather evidence. A preliminary hearing will be held next month, January, six months after the shooting. Prosecutors will likely present evidence against Holmes and it will be decided whether or not he will stand trial.

It is expected that the defense will argue insanity on Holmes’ part, as they have already contended that he is mentally unstable. During his time at the University of Colorado-Denver, Holmes saw Dr. Lynne Fenton for psychiatric counseling, though doctor-patient privilege bars their conversations from being used as evidence unless Holmes made specific threats.


Post a Comment

Previous Post Next Post