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COMMENTARY, NO BYLINE

There’s a retired Army ICU nurse, a female explosions expert, and a victim’s advocate who, if she’d stayed with Aurora two more years, she’d have been counseling traumatized movie theater shooting survivors instead of sitting on the jury of one of the country’s most horrific massacres.

Colorado has suffered more than most when it comes to heinous crimes and that is apparent when you hear the stories. Juror 737 was close to Columbine shooters Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris until 8th grade when their relationship faded. But in an unbelievable dynamic, he ended up taking adorable Rachel Scott to prom. She was the only one at the dance dressed in sleek black.  She was the first of the Columbine High School victims to be murdered a week later.  Juror 535′s niece was in the Columbine cafeteria when the pops sounded above her. Teacher Dave Sanders told her to run. She did. So did he…toward the bullets which would eventually kill him. In all, 24 people will spend up to five months of their lives on what DA George Brauchler calls “a roller coaster ride in the most horrific haunted house.”

They will all be in the courtroom unaware of which twelve are alternates and which 12 will actually vote.  The final day of jury selection was nine hours long.  Defendant James Holmes had to sit there when his lawyer asked the prospective jurors to look at him.  “Can you tell he’s guilty?”

No, said one young female voice.  “I don’t know what someone looks like when they’re guilty or when they’re not guilty.”  “What about his haircut?” asked public defender Tamara Brady. “ Probably just a haircut,” answered the woman who would soon be chosen to occupy seat 9.

Holmes does have a new haircut.  He’s shaved his beard, but kept the mustache and he’s gained weight.  “I have been looking at Mr. Holmes,” said juror #733, a woman. “He looks like somebody walking down the street.”

Then juror #29 “I see a man who’s on trial. Probably a little scared.  I don’t know if he knows everything that’s going on.” 733 and 29 were both scratched.

Holmes faces 165 charges.  The jurors said they would look at each one individually. It took the judge an hour and a half to read each one of them. “Is it just too big?” asked Brady. The retired nurse had a good line. She’s old and her voice is shaky and she’s already a favorite of the media in the listening room. “It’s kind of like eating an elephant.  You take one bite at a time.”

Quote of the day:

“Sir, I see that you put some Cheetos in your bag.  If you did, you have to share them with the court.” ~ Judge Carlos Samour to Juror #29