He said he wanted to do something evil, but the Aurora movie theater shooting gunman's ex-girlfriend says she originally thought "he was joking."
Gargi Datta returned to the courtroom Thursday morning to continue testifying about her relationship with the gunman. Prosecutors quizzed her about Google chat conversations she had with the shooter-to-be, and provided those chats for the jury to read.
"You get into a discussion where the defendant brings up to you that what he wants to do is evil," said District Attorney George Brauchler.
"Initially I was thinking that he was just messing with me, that he was joking," Datta responded.
As it turned out, his plan was just developing. James Holmeswent on to open fire in a midnight movie premiere, killing 12 people and injuring 70 others.
He has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.
Brauchler asked Datta if her interpretation of the gunman's ideas changed during the course of the chat.
"He starts talking about justice," she said. "At that point, I start thinking, 'Maybe he is serious.' But at that point it seems very philosophical."
Datta testified that she told the defendant she did not understand that philosophy. She also showed the chat to a mutual friend and they decided to speak to him together.
They asked if the defendant was talking to his therapist about his ideas.
"He said he was," Datta testified.
During her testimony, Datta added that the gunman never said he was suicidal.
