Colorado court sentences Aurora shooter James Holmes to 12 lifetimes in jail

James Holmes was handed 12 lifetimes in prison on Wednesday — (Image credit: Reuters/YouTube)

On Wednesday in Centennial, Colorado, Judge Carlos Samour Jr. handed Aurora theater killer James Holmes 12 life sentences — one for each person he murdered in July 2012 — plus 3,318 years in prison. It was the maximum sentenced allowed after the jury ruled out the death penalty. "The defendant will never be a free man again — ever," a sometimes emotional Samour told the courtroom. "He will be behind bars in a locked facility every day for the rest of this life."

Holmes' lawyers said they will not challenge the sentences or the verdict. Samour spoke for an hour, and before telling the bailiff to get Holmes "out of my courtroom," he said: "Whereas the defendant had a long-lasting hatred of mankind, the victims who have come in here and addressed the court have shown all that is good about humanity." You can watch part of his own closing argument below. Peter Weber

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.