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


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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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A free daily digest of the biggest news stories of the day - and the best features from our website
Peter Weber is a senior editor at TheWeek.com, and has handled the editorial night shift since the website launched in 2008. A graduate of Northwestern University, Peter has worked at Facts on File and The New York Times Magazine. He speaks Spanish and Italian and plays bass and rhythm cello in an Austin rock band. Follow him on Twitter.
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