Colo. theater shooting lawyers head back to court

[January 02, 2013]  CENTENNIAL, Colo. (AP) -- Prosecutors and defense lawyers in the Colorado theater shooting are heading back to court in advance of a crucial hearing in the case.

The judge has told both sides to appear in court Wednesday to make sure everything is ready for next week's preliminary hearing, where prosecutors are expected to outline their case against the defendant, James Holmes.

At the conclusion of the preliminary hearing, the judge will decide if the evidence is sufficient to put Holmes on trial.

Holmes is charged with killing 12 people and wounding 70 on July 20 in a theater in the Denver suburb of Aurora. The theater was showing the Batman movie "The Dark Night Rises."

Holmes hasn't yet entered a plea. His lawyers have said he suffers from mental illness.

[Associated Press; By DAN ELLIOTT]

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.