James Holmes’ lawyers offer guilty plea to avoid death penalty for Aurora shootings
Randy Blunk, father of Aurora, Colorado shooting victim Jonathan Blunk, leaves Mountain View Mortuary with his grandson Maximus following his son’s service August 3, 2012 in Reno, Nevada.
Lawyers for Colorado theater shooting suspect James Holmes have offered a guilty plea in return for a life sentence rather than the death penalty.
Lawyers filed a motion on Wednesday, writing:
"Mr. Holmes is currently willing to resolve the case to bring the proceedings to a speedy and definite conclusion for all involved."
However, prosecutors had not accepted the offer because they may want to seek the death penalty — a decision they'll announce Monday, according to the Associated Press.
Holmes is accused of killing 12 people and wounding at least 58 others with gun fire in an Aurora theater July 20, 2012.
While the judge entered a not guilty plea for him he still has the option of changing that to not guilty by reason of insanity.
More from GlobalPost: Colorado judge enters not guilty plea for James Holmes
His trial is scheduled to begin Aug. 5.
The Denver Post cited Holmes' lawyers as saying in the motion that the case could end on Monday if prosecutors accepted the offer.
"It appears the only impediment to a resolution of this case would be if the prosecution chooses to seek the death penalty."
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