James Holmes' Lawyers: He Was Aurora Gunman

For the first time, James Holmes' lawyers have acknowledged that he was the gunman in the Aurora theater massacre. But he "suffers from a severe mental illness and was in the throes of a psychotic episode when he committed the acts that resulted in the tragic loss of life and injuries," the defense said in a motion filed Tuesday. The motion, along with another filing, objected to Holmes having to be strapped down during hearings, the Denver Post reports.

Holmes has been "compliant and well-behaved" during the trial, the lawyers note, and the tethering—following an order by judge Carlos Samour—is "incorrect, troubling, and inhumane." Samour said the nature of Holmes' charges require the courtroom restraint, and the court "chose the least restrictive form of restraint available and the one that could be hidden from the jury's view." (More James Holmes stories.)