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Theater shooter's parents plead against death penalty

The parents of the Colorado man accused in the movie-thearter shooting that left 12 dead asked for his life to be spared. They said James Holmes is mentally ill and "not a monster."

By Amy R. Connolly
The parents of accused movie theater shooter James Holmes (left) asked prosecutors to consider a plea deal. Holmes makes his first court appearance at the Arapahoe County Courthouse with his public defender Tamara Brady on July 23, 2012 in Centennial, Colorado. According to police, Holmes committed one of the worst mass shootings in American history, killing 12 people and injuring 58 when he opened fire on a movie theater showing the premier of 'The Dark Knight Rises'. Photo by RJ Sangosti/UPI/Pool
The parents of accused movie theater shooter James Holmes (left) asked prosecutors to consider a plea deal. Holmes makes his first court appearance at the Arapahoe County Courthouse with his public defender Tamara Brady on July 23, 2012 in Centennial, Colorado. According to police, Holmes committed one of the worst mass shootings in American history, killing 12 people and injuring 58 when he opened fire on a movie theater showing the premier of 'The Dark Knight Rises'. Photo by RJ Sangosti/UPI/Pool | License Photo

DENVER, Dec. 20 (UPI) -- The parents of the man accused of opening fire in a movie theater and killing 12 people begged the court to spare his life because he is mentally ill.

Robert and Arlene Holmes asked prosecutors to agree to a plea deal that would give James Holmes life in prison. They said a trial would cause "additional trauma" for everyone involved.

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"We have read postings on the Internet that have likened him to a monster. He is not a monster. He is a human being gripped by a severe mental illness," the couple said in a letter to prosecutors. "We believe that the death penalty is morally wrong, especially when the condemned is mentally ill."

Holmes, 27, pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity after the 2012 attack at a theater in Aurora, located outside Denver. Investigators said Holmes donned riot gear after entering the movie theater, tossed two gas canisters inside and opened fire. In addition to the 12 killed, 58 others were injured.

Jury selection is scheduled to being Jan. 20.

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