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Aurora Shooter James Holmes Sentenced to Life in Prison

© AP Photo / The Denver Post, Andy Cross, Pool, FileThis June 4, 2013 file photo shows Aurora theater shooting suspect James Holmes in court in Centennial, Colo.
This June 4, 2013 file photo shows Aurora theater shooting suspect James Holmes in court in Centennial, Colo. - Sputnik International
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After deliberating for less than seven hours, jurors in the trial of Aurora movie theater shooter James Holmes have sentenced the 27-year-old to life in prison without possibility of parole.

The same jury convicted Holmes of 24 counts of first-degree murder and 140 counts of attempted murder last month, after rejecting Holmes’ insanity defense.

After conviction, jurors had to decide whether Holmes would face capital punishment or life in prison. The nine women and three men had to unanimously agree in order for him to receive the death penalty.

Holmes was convicted for the massacre at a midnight screening of "The Dark Knight Rises" in Aurora, Colorado, in 2012. The shooting left 12 dead and 70 injured.

James Holmes, who was convicted of killing 12 moviegoers and wounding 70 more in a shooting spree in a crowded theatre in Aurora, Colo. - Sputnik International
Aurora Movie Theater Shooter Found Guilty

In addition to the shooting, Holmes had also booby-trapped his apartment with explosives, but those were defused by bomb squad before causing any damage.

"For James Egan Holmes, justice is death," Arapahoe County District Attorney George Brauchler told the jury during the trial’s penalty phase.

Defense attorneys had argued that Holmes suffered from schizophrenia, with Tamara Brady saying "The death of a seriously mentally ill man is not justice."

During deliberations on Friday, jurors were shown a graphic, 45 minute video of the crime scene. While defense attorneys objected, Judge Carlos Samour Jr. allowed the viewing, but told jurors not to let it influence their decision.

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