Colorado Cinema Shooting: Gunman Felt 'Relief'
Colorado cinema gunman James Holmes felt "relief" after the shooting massacre, a court has heard.
Holmes made the comment in response to questions posed by a psychiatrist more than two years after the 20 July 2012 shooting that left 12 people dead and 70 injured.
"It was finally done," Holmes added when pressed by Dr William Reid to expand on the answer.
On Thursday, jurors in the 27-year-old's death penalty trial finished watching some 22 hours of videotaped interviews conducted by the psychiatrist.
Throughout the recordings Holmes referred to the shooting as his "mission".
The court heard the former neuroscience student say he chose not to shoot at two police officers outside the Aurora theatre because he "considered the mission over".
Holmes instead placed his handgun on the roof of his car and stood there until the officers realised he was there and placed him under arrest.
The interviews with Dr Reid - one of two psychiatrists to conduct court-ordered evaluations of Holmes - are a central piece to the prosecution's case.
The 70-year-old doctor has testified that he determined Holmes was mentally ill but legally sane when he opened fire inside the crowded theatre during a midnight screening of the Batman film The Dark Knight Rises.
Holmes has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.
Dr Reid's recordings have provided jurors with their first glimpse into the killer's thoughts and actions in the days and weeks leading up to the shooting.
On Tuesday the court heard Holmes tell Dr Reid the attack "went according to plan", but he could have killed more people had he wanted to.
Holmes also said he called the mental health hotline at the University of Colorado hospital while sitting in his car behind the cinema.
When Dr Reid asked what led him to make the call, Holmes responded: "Just one last chance to see if I should turn back or not."
He said he hung up after about nine seconds when he did not hear it ring on the other end.
Asked what he thought after he hung up, Holmes said: "Just that it's really going to happen."
Holmes faces 166 counts in connection with the shooting.
The defence is not expected to begin presenting its case until late June.
