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Colorado theatre shooter’s defence attorneys try to limit gore for jurors

The jury box inside the courtroom where the trial of Aurora movie theater shooting defendant James Holmes is currently taking place at Arapahoe County District Court in Centennial, Colo.
The jury box inside the courtroom where the trial of Aurora movie theater shooting defendant James Holmes is currently taking place at Arapahoe County District Court in Centennial, Colo. AP Photo/Brennan Linsley

CENTENNIAL, Colo. – Defence attorneys in the Colorado theatre shooting trial are trying to keep jurors from knowing the worst details by objecting to emotional testimony and pictures with even small amounts of blood.

James Holmes’ attorneys want to keep jurors focused on whether he was legally insane, not the nightmare of the attack. Prosecutors have called dozens of witnesses, each with tragic stories.

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READ MORE: Jurors’ questions key to Colorado theatre death penalty trial

Defence attorneys argue that survivors should not be allowed to testify about the long-term impacts of their injuries. They even suggested that a pregnant woman who was paralyzed in the shooting be barred from talking about her miscarriage.

Experts say the defence will have a hard time tamping down the gory details. Holmes has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to killing 12 and injuring 70.

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