Thread by @FierroNicole

Good morning! In Boulder today to cover closing arguments in the Justin Bannan case. The former Broncos and Colorado Buffaloes football player is accused of shooting a woman in Boulder in 2019. Bannan entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity. @KDVR

The state is starting opening statements. First line - "Senseless violence and choices that’s why we are here."

State says they don't need to prove that Bannon intended to kill the specific doctor he shot for burden of proof beyond reasonable doubt. Instead, they have to prove that he intended to kill "a person" by pointing a gun at them and shooting.

"He had to load the gun, he had to rack the gun, had to put his finger on the trigger. He pointed it at the door and waited for almost an hour."

State says they have to disprove "involuntary intoxication." Prosecutor says he took cocaine and adderall.

"The intoxication in this case was self induced so it wasn’t involuntary."

Defense starting now, saying the charges the DA brought are basically “let’s throw all these charges against the wall and see what sticks”

There are four charges in this case jurors will consider.

Defense says prosecution has to prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, what was inside Justin Bannan's brain, what was going on in his mind. Defense suggests they did not based on their own evidence.

"These are these big strong guys that society puts on pedestals and admires and puts on prowess, and once they are done, we don’t to see form them or hear from them....the brain injuries he suffers make his brain sick."