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CENTENNIAL, Colo. — The Aurora theater shooting trial is now expected to end three weeks earlier than originally planned.

Prosecutor George Brauchler, who initially requested two months to present his case, told the court Friday he expects to finish as early as June 19. Public defender Dan King said the defense will need less than two weeks. Several witnesses he intended to call have already appeared in court.

The court did not discuss the sentencing phase of the trial, which is expected to last to a month.

Brauchler and King appeared more rivalrous Friday than they have throughout the trial. At the start of the day, the defense told the judge that Brauchler had sent a tweet during Thursday’s proceedings. Defense attorney Tamara Brady said it was irresponsible given the seriousness of the case.

“If the prosecution is seeking the execution of a man, perhaps the district attorney should pay attention to the cross examination of the mental health experts,” Brady said.

Brauchler apologized to King, and Judge Carlos Samour Jr. ruled that no attorneys from either side should be texting or using social media while court is in session.

“If you’re bored and don’t want to pay attention to the proceedings” he told them, “You can leave.”

King later made a jab at Brauchler about the incident. After whispering to an aide without realizing his microphone was on, he remarked, “Maybe I should just text it out.”

Brauchler joked, “I just Dan King-ed it,” when he later did the same thing.

Cross, redirect, recross

Psychiatrist William Reid remained on the witness stand all day Friday, undergoing cross-examination from Dan King, redirection from George Brauchler, and then recross from King.  Jurors had several questions for Reid at the end of the day, and both attorneys had follow-up questions after he answered the jury’s questions.

King cross-examined Reid in an attempt to prove Holmes was insane at the time of the crime. Through Reid, he reminded the jury that schizophrenia is a genetic disease, and Holmes’ aunt Betty (father’s fraternal twin) and grandfathers were all hospitalized for psychiatric illnesses.

Reid admitted that Holmes’ “human capital” theory could have been a delusion, and said he had no doubt Holmes was psychotic when he heard voices, saw shadows and smeared feces all over his cell while in prison. King replayed the video clip in which Holmes tells Reid he felt compelled to carry out his attack. It “took hold” of his mind, he said.

During redirection, Brauchler reminded Reid of a statement he had made previously: “But for this mental illness, the crime wouldn’t have been committed.” Under questioning, Reid agreed that his statement doesn’t mean mental illness had caused the crime.

Further supporting the prosecution, Reid said that people with schizophrenia tend to be victims of violence more often than perpetrators, and that Holmes did not suffer from disorganized thinking during his last visit with Dr. Fenton.

Brauchler notably asked, “Can you circle a date on the calendar and say ‘This is when I’m having my psychotic break’?”

“No,” Reid answered.

Reid said he was “extremely confident” that the defendant had the capacity to know right from wrong at the time of the shooting and acted with intent. The defendant, he said, was legally sane.

During his recross, King tried to show Holmes was actually not sane, citing more of Holmes’ erratic prison behavior. Months after being arrested, he said, the defendant developed paranoia about food and water and refused to eat or drink — a possible cause of his later delirium. They then discussed a different psychiatrist who, upon evaluating Holmes, reported more symptoms like auditory hallucinations and his seeing shadows.

Jurors demonstrated their engagement with the trial by submitting more several questions for Dr. Reid. It was 6 p.m. by the time the jurors, defense and prosecution all had their questions answered.

Trial will resume at 8:40 a.m. Monday with the introduction of witness Dr. Jeffrey Metzner, another psychiatrist who evaluated Holmes.

Editors note: CU News Corps will honor the victims of this tragedy with every post via this graphic.