Relatives of Colo. shooting victims reject "disgusting" movie theater invitation

Police are pictured outside of a Century 16 movie theater in Aurora, Colo., Friday, July 20, 2012. / AP Photo/Ed Andrieski

Updated 1:52 PM ET

CENTENNIAL, Colo. Relatives of the majority of people killed in a Colorado movie theater rejected an invitation on Wednesday to attend its reopening later this month, calling it a "disgusting offer."

The parents, grandparents, cousins and widow of nine of the 12 people killed released a letter sent to the theater's owner, Cinemark, in which they criticized the Plano, Texas-based company for not reaching out to the families of victims to offer their condolences. They also said the company refused to meet with them one-on-one without lawyers present.

The families said they were asked to attend an "evening of remembrance" followed by a movie when the Aurora theater reopens on Jan. 17 in invitations sent two days after Christmas.

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"Thanks for making what is a very difficult holiday season that much more difficult. Timing is everything and yours is awful," they wrote.

The company had no immediate comment.

Cinemark has been renovating the Aurora theater and plans to re-open it Jan. 17, a move the city's mayor said had widespread support in the community. Gov. John Hickenlooper is among those planning to attend.

The families of some victims have sued Cinemark. The father of the youngest person killed in the shooting, 6-year-old Veronica Moser-Sullivan, is among them. He didn't sign the letter but the girl's grandparents did.

Also Wednesday, prosecutors and defense lawyers said they're ready for a crucial hearing next week in which prosecutors will outline their case against James Holmes, who is charged with killing 12 people and wounding 70 during a midnight showing of the Batman movie "The Dark Night Rises" on July 20.

It starts Monday and is scheduled to run all week. At its conclusion, state District Judge William B. Sylvester will decide if the evidence is sufficient to put Holmes on trial.

During Wednesday's hearing, prosecutors and defense lawyers also discussed with Sylvester a sealed motion from the prosecution that made some reference to witnesses. Sylvester said he planned to rule on it later in the day but wouldn't refer to witnesses by name.

Holmes didn't say anything during the half-hour hearing.

He is charged with multiple counts of first-degree murder and attempted murder and hasn't been asked to enter a plea yet. His lawyers have said he suffers from mental illness.

Next week's preliminary hearing will give the public its first officially sanctioned look at much of the evidence against Holmes.

Sylvester imposed a gag order shortly after Holmes' arrest barring attorneys and investigators from speaking publicly about the case, and many documents have been sealed.

The University of Colorado, where Holmes was a graduate student, has also been tight-lipped about the case.

At prosecutors' request, Sylvester barred the university from releasing records requested by numerous media organizations. Prosecutors argued that the information could jeopardize Holmes' right to a fair trial. Sylvester initially agreed but amended his order last month to allow the release after media organizations objected in court.

Holmes was enrolled in a Ph.D. neuroscience program at the university. Investigators said he began stockpiling firearms and ammunition while taking classes in the spring.

In June, he made threats to a professor and on June 10 filed withdrawal papers after failing a year-end exam, prosecutors said. The next day he saw his school psychiatrist who tried to report him to a campus security committee, according to Holmes' lawyers.

[EvolvedLiberal]

Absolutely disgusting! We must forever hold responsible those who didn't do it.

[brsinai]

It is a shame that people can't resolve issue without resorting to suing anyone and everyone in situations like this. The theater is also a victim in this shooting, but it seems that since the relatives of those that were shot can't directly punish the person that did the killing, they will make SOMEONE pay, and it doesn't matter who it is.
Lives are worth more than money, but it seems that since the shooter probably has no money, these folks are going to go after the owners of the theater because, surely, they have deep pockets and can offer a profit to the relatives of the lives lost.

[ralphing]

Come for the movie, stay for the killings. Smooth move, Cinemark.

[saturn05]

Why are they upset. The theater had nothing to do with the crazy who shot up the place. Be mad and sue the guy who shot everyone, but not the theater. I hope thier lawsuits don't win. It is like everyone just has to sue someone, even though blame doesn't rest at their feet.

[taxchurches]

No, timing isn't everything, intent is everything. When the company reaches out you complain that the company didn't reach out. What happened is in no way Cinemark's fault and there's no reason they shouldn't re-open their doors; they're a business which provides a service and employment to the community. Climb down off your crosses and get over yourselves. You're entirely justified in lamenting your loss and reviling Holmes, but when you start whining about the actions of the theater, you're milking it.

[vissionquest]

I agree, but the irony is that if they had a rememberence for the victims, the relatives would complain if they were not invited. I do think that a time of reflection should not be held in conjunction with the opening, that was really a bad plan. (pain and a movie).

[Type_Z]

No one said they shouldn't re-open their doors.

[boforillo]

This man is entirely sane but knows how the mind works. He is hoping for an insanity defense so he can be sent to a mental hospital rather than a prison. He deserves nothing less than the death penalty but Colorado is chicken when it comes to actually executing anyone. This man deserves to sit on death row for some 20 years before his time comes to an end. He should have done the honorable thing and just killed himself when he was finished with his temper tantrum. James Holmes can have Nathan Dunlap's cell as he is not going to be needing it much longer!

[democracy8]

That truly is grossly insensitive to say the least.

[TheDocD]

The only right to anything this scum deserves is a right to a bullet to the back of his head. Save the people time and money just shoot the scum.

[Type_Z]

I put myself in those families shoes. I walked myself through this article. If the facts in it are true, it's no wonder families were offended and traumatized.