James Holmes, the suspect in the murder of 12 people at last Friday's midnight premiere of The Dark Knight Rises in Colorado, was being treated by a university psychiatrist prior to the deadly attack, CNN reported Friday.
The disclosure came in a court filing by lawyers for the
24-year-old former graduate student in neuroscience. They asked the
judge in the case to order that a package Holmes sent to the
psychiatrist, which police seized earlier in the week, be handed over
to them.
The filing came just three days before Holmes is due in court to
face charges. Holmes' previous court appearance last Monday sparked
widespread speculation about his mental health given his strange
appearance. Television cameras will not be allowed in the courtroom
for Monday's hearing.
Media reports earlier this week quoted law enforcement officials
saying that the package contained a journal detailing plans of the
attack.
According to attorneys' request, the package, which Holmes sent to
Dr Lynne Fenton, a psychiatrist as the University of Colorado, was a
protected communication.
"The materials contained in that package include communications
from Mr. Holmes to Dr. Fenton that Mr. Holmes asserts are
privileged," said the document filed by public defenders representing
Holmes.
"Mr. Holmes was a psychiatric patient of Dr. Fenton, and his
communications with her are protected."
Prosecutors asked District Court Judge William Blair Sylvester to
deny the request. Sylvester will hold a hearing on the request
Monday.
In a related matter, police in the state of Maryland announced
Friday the arrest a man who made allusions to the Colorado shooting
in threats to his employer. Police found a cache of weaponry,
including semi-automatic rifles, at the man's home.
