No cameras for US shooting trial: defence
Prosecutors in the Colorado theatre shooting case have joined defence lawyers in opposing television coverage inside the courtroom during the trial, saying it would inflict intense and hurtful attention on victims who testify.
In a court filing dated Friday and made public on Monday, prosecutors also argued that television coverage could change the way trial witnesses behave.
Last week, lawyers for defendant James Holmes argued courtroom television would violate his right to a fair trial by making witnesses worry about public reaction if they gave testimony considered favourable to Holmes. They said it could also expose jurors and lawyers to death threats and cause other problems.
Prosecutors also asked the judge to bar still cameras from the courtroom. Defence lawyers focused their objections on television.
Six Denver television stations, a Denver radio station and the CourtTV cable channel asked the judge last month to allow a single TV camera and an audio system in the courtroom during the trial, scheduled to start on December 8.
The Denver Post filed a separate request to have a still photographer in the courtroom who would provide photos to the Post, The Associated Press and others.
Steven Zansberg, an lawyer representing the Post and the AP, said media organisations planned to file a response with the court on Tuesday on the requests for both still and television cameras.
Holmes pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to multiple counts of murder and attempted murder stemming from the July 2012 attack on a movie theatre in the Denver suburb of Aurora.
More than 400 people were in the theatre, and 12 were killed. Another 70 were injured.
In their latest filing, prosecutors said they plan to call about 70 people who survived the attack to testify, along with family members of the dead.
