Defense of James Egan Holmes, alleged Aurora movie theater shooter, told the court that his client called the University of Colorado Hospital minutes before the shooting. The university officials confirm that they received a call at the specified time, however claim that it was a seven-second silent call.
The call which was received by the university at 12.31 a.m. on July 20 was categorized as a "hang-up call" by the university, according to the Ottawa Sun. Brad Fixler, marketing director for the university hospital, told Reuters "nobody that evening or morning called asking for Dr. Fenton or any other psychiatrist."
The call which defense claims was made by 24-year-old Holmes in a last attempt of getting help, was made eight minutes before he opened fire in an Aurora movie house at the mid-night screening of the "Dark Knight Rises" where he claimed the life of 12 and injured 59 others.
Although Holmes has yet to make his plea, the growing revelations on his life in the recent past prior to the shootout is only owning more strength to the possible (and expected) plea of mental incompetency.
Attorneys of the alleged gunman filed a motion last week to sanction prosecutors for "reckless disregard for the truth," as reported by ABC News. Defense attorney Daniel King filed the petition earlier this week. District Judge William Sylvester said that he would set a court hearing on the matter.
The sanction comes after prosecutors Karen Pearson asked the court to issue an order for the university to release all Holmes' academic records, excluding medical information. Pearson also revealed that Holmes had told a classmate that he planned on killing people "when his life was over," and had also made violent threats to a university professor and "those threats were reported to police," as reported by the Huffington Post. Prosecutors also told the court that the 24-year-old was barred from university campus, a statement that the university denies.
Defense claims that the prosecutors are merely set on a "fishing expedition" and are making "reckless" claims about the client without any factual standing.
King also objected to prosecutors bid for a gag order to get access to Holmes records. "They are fishing around to establish a motive. ... The motive is irrelevant...Nothing in those documents will reveal any intent," as reported by the Christian Monitor.
Prosecutors claim that Holmes apparently showed a number of worrisome signs many months prior to the Aurora movie theatre shootout. Prosecutors are arguing that Holmes' deteriorating grades and growing unhappiness as a student might reveal insight into the motive behind the massacre.
Pearson argues that the release of school records, including transcripts, but not medical reports are "All of this is relevant to his decision to withdraw from school, booby-trap his apartment and buy ammunition...What's going on in the defendant's life at the time is extremely relevant to this case," as reported by the Huffington Post. Pearson was insinuating that Holmes was becoming increasing disgruntled with the school, which likely caused him to snap.
The New York Times released a report of details of the life of alleged "Dark Knight" shooter. The report details testimonies of from fellow students and professors revealing behavioral details about the 24-year-old months before the massacre. The report reveals some insight regarding the mental state of the Ph.D. dropout.
Of striking importance is a testimony from a fellow student, who says that Holmes texted her in July asking her what she knew of dypchoric mania. He told her that he was suffering from the disorder and said "I am bad news," as reported by the New York Times.
The report also says that Holmes showed a fellow student a gun he had purchased in May, which Holmes said was "for protection."
Holmes is currently being held in in a detention facility of Arapahoe County in solitary confinement. Holmes is being charged with 12 counts of murder and 116 of attempted murder.
