Prosecutors: Aurora, Colo., theater massacre inventory 'unprecedented'

AURORA, Colo., April 17 (UPI) -- Police have taken extraordinary measures to record reports and evidence in the Aurora, Colo., movie theater slayings, prosecutors said in a court filing.

In a motion filed Tuesday, prosecutors say Aurora police detectives have either entered or scanned all reports on the investigation into a computer database, then created a spreadsheet to index the reports, The Denver Post reported.

Among other things, detectives also uploaded photos, videos and audio clips taken as evidence into a separate database.

Prosecutors said they were sharing this information with attorneys for suspect James Holmes as a part of the discovery phase in a criminal case.

Holmes is accused opening fire in the movie theater July 20, killing 12 people and wounding 58 others.

"[T]he Aurora Police Department has undertaken an unprecedented effort at quality control in the discovery process," prosecutors wrote in a motion responding to a judge's order that prosecutors certify they turned over everything they have to Holmes' attorneys.

In their motion, prosecutors said the judge doesn't have the authority to issue such an order if the defense hasn't filed a complaint about documents not being shared, the Post said.

"[T]here is a robust system in place for ensuring compliance with discovery obligations, and ... there is no reason for the court to impose the requirements of the order on the prosecution," the motion said.

The next hearing is May 13.