Week-long hearing starts for US theater shooting

Colorado shooting suspect James Holmes is pictured in a courtroom sketch as he is led into court for a preliminary hearing in Centennial, Colorado January 7, 2013. Holmes, a former graduate student charged with shooting a dozen people to death last July at a screening of a "Batman" film in Colorado, returned to court on Monday as prosecutors set out to convince a judge they have enough evidence to put him on trial.[Photo/Agencies]

AURORA, Colorado - The Aurora theater mass shooting suspect James Holmes on Monday appeared again as a local court reopened for more chilling details over his case.

In the packed courtroom of Arapahoe County Monday, two of the first four police officers who testified broke down on the witness stand recalling the bloody scene, while Holmes sat motionless, without emotion.

Local reports say the hearing, which will last for one week, is expected to include testimonies from survivors, along with playing of video evidence and 911 calls. Judges will decide if there is enough evidence to stage a full trial for James Holmes who has been accused of opening fire on a packed midnight screening of a Batman film premiere in July 20, 2012.

Holms allegedly wore a suit of armor on July 20 when he broke into the Century 16 theater in the Denver suburb of Aurora shortly after midnight during the screening of the blockbuster, "The Dark Knight Rises," and started the shooting rampage, killing 12 people and injuring 70 others. He made his first appearance in court shortly after the massacre and faced more than 160 charges including murder and attempted murder.