Judge reconsiders trial, hearing dates for Holmes

James Holmes had a tidier appearance in court Tuesday in the Colorado theater shooting case.

Holmes had previously worn a bushy beard and unruly hair. On Tuesday, the beard was down to a slight shadow on his chin. His hair appeared combed. He smiled when a member of his defense team spoke in his ear.

The judge gave a state mental health hospital an extra six weeks to evaluate Holmes’ sanity. The hospital says the delay is partly because the psychiatrist must review some of the 40,000 pages of evidence in the case.

Holmes is charged with killing 12 people and injuring 70 on July 20 at an Aurora movie theater.

He has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. The trial cannot begin until the sanity evaluation is completed