Well, I certainly did try to keep up with the Aurora Theater Shooting trial and unfortunately it became difficult to add to my time because of work and other commitments. I do want to try and finish them all eventually, but I will no longer be posting video overviews from the trial. Since then, a lot has happened in this case. This was my reaction when the defendant was sentenced to life in prison over the death penalty. Mind you, one juror's choice to abstain from the death penalty caused the jurors to not be unanimous, which by Colorado law prohibits the death penalty from being charged: "Life in prison without parole. He gets to live. I've tried to grasp at what I truly feel reading these same words over and over. Was justice done? Is this real closure? My mind is in a whirlwind of thoughts. Are we better people to let him live and suffer for his wrongdoings? He doesn't even feel remorse for what he did. Will he ever? Was this an economic choice, a religious choice, a sociological choice? I don't know. I just don't know. All I know is that I am concerned about this verdict. Won't he try and do all he can to end up in a mental institute, where he would have ended up based off a 'not guilty' verdict? Who really wins here? He can't harm us anymore, that I know. I want to see to it that he wastes away in prison, that's what he deserves. But you know what this sentence will do to me? As the years continue, I will pass by that theater everyday, merely going about daily life, and the tragedy will come to mind - the man will come to mind. And each time that happens, pain will come stinging because I know that he is still alive and that AJ and the 11 others never will be. Why does he get afforded that luxury, that he is permanently worth 12 more 'points' according to his sick, deluded mind? I've followed this case from beginning to end, but I feel like I haven't comprehended this ruling at all. That isn't justice to me." It has now been a few weeks since that verdict. The defendant has completed his sentencing phases. Judge Samour has given the defendant 12 life sentences plus 3,318 years in prison, the maximum punishment the law can bestow, and he deserves each and every life and year. Samour dismissed the defendant, saying, "Get the defendant out of my courtroom, please." The courtroom applauded. It is finally over. Now that I have had time to think about things and reevaluate my emotions over this case's conclusion, I find peace. To quote Caren Teves, mother of victim Alex Teves said, "The trial is over and that thing will never see the light of day again." Lonnie Phillips, stepfather of victim Jessica Ghawi, said, "He's going to die in prison, and for us, that's enough." That's enough.
