Policy

Miranda Issues Raised in Colorado Mass Killing Case

James Holmes wasn't read his rights for two hours after capture

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CENTENNIAL, Colo. (AP) — A police officer responding to the deadly Colorado theater shooting testified Tuesday that he asked James Holmes twice whether he had an accomplice, but Holmes only looked at him and smiled.

Officer Justin Grizzle described the smile as "a self-satisfying offensive smirk" during a pretrial hearing over Holmes' statements to police before he was read his Miranda rights.

Grizzle and officer Jason Sweeney were among the first officers to arrive at the back exit to the theater on July 20, 2012, and found Holmes standing beside his car. It was a chaotic scene with screaming and bloodied victims still fleeing the theater as officers handcuffed Holmes and searched him.