James Holmes, the man accused of gunning down 12 people at the screening of the The Dark Knight Rises in Aurora, Colorado, looked disheveled and despondent as he made his first appearance at Arapahoe Country Court yesterday.

Holmes with his brown hair dyed in a shade of orange sat virtually motionless next to his public defender Tamara Brady. The 24-year-old refused to even acknowledge the sobbing families of his victims and remained silent during the hearing in Centennial, Colorado.

James, who identified himself as “The Joker” to detectives after the atrocity, struggled to his feet when asked to stand as the judge entered. Dressed in a maroon prison jumpsuit, Holmes, a former neuroscience student, appeared to struggle to stay awake as he slumped silently in a chair.

Police informed that Holmes, who is accused of killing around 12 people and injuring 58 at the screening of latest Batman, was dressed in body armour and toting three guns when he opened fire at the midnight screening.

Holmes, held on suspicion of first-degree murder, is expected to be formally charged next Monday. He could face death penalty as well as additional counts of aggravated assault and weapons violations.

Tom Teves, father of Alex Teves, a man gunned down in the Dark Knight massacre last week, stared at Holmes and said, “You’re no tough guy now.” Judge William Sylvester, reading Holmes his rights and explaining him of his charges, said, “Ordinarily individuals are entitled to bail. Given the nature of the charges, you are currently being held on a no bond hold.”

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