James Holmes, whose rampage in a Colorado movie theater killed 12 people and wounded 70 in 2012, was formally sentenced to life in prison today (Aug. 26). He received 12 life sentences for each person he killed and 3,318 additional years for attempted murders and rigging his apartment with explosives.
“It is the court’s intention that the defendant never set foot in free society again,” said Judge Carlos Samour, who handed down the maximum sentence, which was also the longest Colorado has ever seen. ”There is no punishment in this world that could equal … the defendant’s horrific crimes.”
Rejecting Holmes’ insanity defense, a jury convicted him of 24 counts of first degree murder, 140 counts of attempted first-degree murder, and an explosives charge. The jury failed to reach a unanimous decision as to whether give Holmes the death sentence earlier this month.
The sentence comes after two days of testimony from some 100 survivors of the shooting. It is unclear where Holmes, who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia, will serve out his sentence.