Boulder Reporting Lab is providing daily updates from the courtroom. Updates from the first week of the trial are here. Week 3 updates are here. Week 4 is here.
Last updated 8:20 p.m. on Sept. 6, 2024.
What to know from Week 2 (Sept. 3-6, 2024):
- Opening statements began this week in the high-profile trial of Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa, presided over by Judge Ingrid Bakke. The 16 jurors’ identities, plus four alternates, will remain private for their protection.
- Witnesses provided emotional testimony about their close encounters with Alissa during the heinous attack.
- Several described narrow escapes, including one woman who slipped and broke her vertebrae and was rescued by a stranger, and another who made eye contact with the shooter.
- The prosecution presented evidence tracking Alissa’s gun purchases and movements leading up to the attack. They claim his premeditation and selective actions show he knew right from wrong, countering the mental health defense.
- About 60 witnesses are expected to testify, but with no defense cross-examination yet, the trial is moving quickly.
- The trial continues on Sept. 9 and is being livestreamed here.
Thank you for these updates.
I am somehow not understanding the crux of the trial. Its obvious that Mr Alissa committed an insane terrible crime that has caused much pain for many people. Whether he did the crime in a methodical rational manner gathering weapons intending to hurt people, it was still insane. He seems to be worse now and will hopefully be incarcerated either in a mental hospital or medicated in a prison forever.
So my question what is gained if he is found not guilty by reason of insanity? Why didn’t the defense lawyers recommend a guilty plea and not subject the victims to a reliving of the whole ordeal?
Lastly, are there any plans to charge members of his family who ignored obvious signs.