The judge in the deadly Colorado movie theater shooting case entered a not guilty plea on behalf of James Holmes after the former graduate student’s defence team said he was not ready to enter one.

If Holmes is convicted, he could be executed or spend the rest of his life in prison.

Judge William Sylvester said Holmes, 25, can change his plea to not guilty by reason of insanity later, if he chooses.

Such a change could be the only way Holmes could avoid life in prison or execution.

Prosecutors, for their part, have not said yet whether they will pursue the death penalty, announcing Tuesday that they will make their decision known on April 1.

The judge set Aug. 5 for the start of the trial. Prosecutors and defence attorneys declined comment.

'The death penalty does seem to be what everyone feels like'—Marcus Weaver, victim

As he has done in past hearings, Holmes sat silently through Tuesday’s proceedings. He wore a red jail jumpsuit and sported a thick, bushy beard and unkempt dark brown hair.

When he walked into the courtroom, he looked at his parents, James and Arlene Holmes. They sat silently at the front of the room and left without comment after the hearing.

Questions linger over mental health

Family members and victims arrive at district court for the arraignment of James Holmes, Aurora theater shooting suspect, in Centennial, Colo. (RJ Sangosti/Denver Post/Associated Press)

Holmes is charged with 166 counts, mostly murder and attempted murder, in the July 20 attack on moviegoers at a midnight showing of “The Dark Knight Rises” in the Denver suburb of Aurora that killed 12 people and injured 70.

In the nearly eight months since Holmes first shuffled into court with vacant eyes and reddish-orange hair, neither he nor his lawyers have said much about how he would plead.

Holmes’ lawyers repeatedly raised questions about his mental health, including a recent revelation that he was held in a psychiatric ward for several days last fall, often in restraints, because he was considered a danger to himself.

That raised the possibility that they could end up entering a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity at the hearing Tuesday. Holmes’ lawyers, however, said they were not ready to enter a plea.

The plea carries risk, however. Prosecutors would gain access to Holmes’ mental health records, which could help their case if the evidence of insanity is weak.

If Holmes does plead insanity, the proceedings would be prolonged further while he is evaluated by state mental health officials. With the judge entering the plea, prosecutors would not have access to Holmes’ health records.

Defence plea stalled

During Tuesday’s hearing, defence attorney Daniel King said he could not advise Holmes on what plea to enter. He said the defence wasn’t ready despite previous delays — prompting prosecutors to object.

Judge Sylvester asked King when Holmes might be ready to enter a plea.

“We could be ready by May 1. It may be June 1,” King said.

“So how am I supposed to make an informed decision?” Sylvester asked before entering the not guilty plea. He said the defence can always petition to change the plea to not guilty by reason of insanity.

James Holmes' defence attorney Daniel King hinted that the defence might have its own expert conducting a mental evaluation of Holmes. (RJ Sangosti/Denver Post/Associated Press)

At one point, in saying they weren’t ready to enter a plea, defence attorney King said, “we have ongoing work scheduled. We’re doing the best that we can.” But he said he couldn’t reveal what the work was or say when it would be finished.

He did hint that the defence might have its own expert conducting a mental evaluation of Holmes. King said if they enter a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity, the court would order a mental evaluation and “whatever evaluations we’re doing would be truncated.”

If a jury agrees he was insane, Holmes would be committed indefinitely to a state mental hospital. There would be a remote and unlikely chance he could be freed one day if doctors find his sanity has been restored.

Some call for death penalty

Prosecutors laid out a case that Holmes methodically planned the shooting for months, amassing an arsenal and elaborately booby-trapping his apartment to kill anyone who tried to enter.

On the night of the attack, they say, he donned a police-style helmet, gas mask and body armor, tossed a gas canister into the seats and then opened fire.

Some of the victims and their families said they were grateful the judge is moving proceedings along.

“I was glad the judge was able to enter a plea so we could get the clock ticking,” said Jessica Watts, whose cousin Jonathan Blunk was killed.

Marcus Weaver, who lost his friend Rebecca Wingo and was shot in the arm at the theater, said the district attorney’s office has been surveying families about whether Holmes should face the death penalty.

He said that based on conversations he’s had with other victims “the death penalty does seem to be what everyone feels like.”

Weaver said he thinks the death penalty should be pursued if Holmes fights the accusations but not if he pleads guilty.