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Jury: Aurora Gunman Could Face Death Penalty

The gunman in the Colorado movie massacre could face the death penalty after jurors found that aggravating factors in the case counted for more than mitigating ones such as mental illness.

After deliberating for less than half a day, the panel of nine women and three men said they had reached the decision unanimously.

If just one juror had found that they did not, the 27-year-old James Holmes would have received a life sentence with no chance of parole.

Holmes, who is taking anti-psychotic drugs that dull his reactions, stood as ordered and appeared emotionless as the judge read the decisions.

The decision clears the way for another round of arguments before the jury makes a final decision between capital punishment and life in prison without parole.

Prosecutors will call victims to testify about the impact of Holmes' crimes on their lives.

Holmes was found guilty of the first-degree murder of all of the victims last month, and guilty of the attempted first-degree murder of those injured.

In the 2012 attack, 12 people were killed while they watched Batman movie The Dark Knight Rises in Aurora, and another 70 wounded.

Last week, Holmes' father, Robert Holmes, pleaded for his son to be spared the death penalty , telling his trial he is an "excellent kid".