The arraignment of accused Colorado Movie Theater shooting suspect James Holmes has been postponed until March 12, a court judge said Friday.
Holmes, 25, is accused of shooting 12 moviegoers dead and injuring at least 58 others. Following preliminary hearings this week it was ordered Thursday that Holmes will face trial over the late night massacre in Aurora, outside Denver, last July.
But the suspect's defense lawyers objected to the arraignment - the official laying of charges, when Holmes will enter a plea - on Friday, when it was meant to take place, and the Arapahoe County District Judge William Sylvester postponed the hearing until March 12.
The move angered several survivors and relatives of the victims, at least four of whom stormed out of the courtroom when the ruling was announced, NBC News reports. "Rot in hell, Holmes!" yelled Steve Hernandez, the father of Rebecca Wingo, who was killed in the shooting. Others could be heard crying in the courtroom, muttering under their breaths or cursing in the corridor outside.
Hernandez later apologized to the judge after his outburst, saying he meant no disrespect to the court. "I am terribly sorry for your loss, and I can only begin to imagine the emotions that are raging," Sylvester responded.
Holmes is charged with multiple counts of first-degree murder and attempted murder.
If convicted of first-degree murder, he could face the death penalty.
At Friday's hearing, Tamara Brady, one of Holmes' lawyers, said the defense needed more time to examine the evidence in the case, which prosecutors say includes more than 30,000 pages of discovery, 358 computer discs, 220 DVDs and 136 CDs, USA Today reported.
