Judge: Holmes’ attorneys won’t attend sanity exam

The judge in the Colorado theater shooting case has rejected a request by defense attorneys to attend the suspect’s court-ordered psychiatric examination.

James Holmes has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity in a movie theater attack that killed 12 and injured 70 in Aurora on July 20.

Judge Carlos Samour ruled Wednesday that Holmes doesn’t have a constitutional right to have his attorneys and an investigator at his sanity examination. Samour noted concerns that the examination’s validity could be undermined if others attend.

Separately, he granted a request by Holmes’ attorneys to be given a videotape of Holmes undergoing psychiatric care at a hospital. Court documents indicate Holmes was taken from jail to the hospital in November after he was deemed a danger to himself.