James Holmes: Hand puppets, online dating, and tear-gas grenades

He said the system had two other initiating systems. One was a pyrotechnics firing box that would have been triggered by the remote control unit of a toy car left along with a portable stereo set to play loud music. Gumbinner said Holmes told him he hoped the music would lure someone and lead them to play with the car, thereby detonating the explosives.

The other initiating system was a model rocket launch box which operated by means of infrared light, but Holmes told investigators it wasn't armed, Gumbinner said.

The attempt at a distraction speaks to a plan to escape but the traps weren't triggered. Holmes, clad from head to toe in body armor, was found standing by his car outside the theater. He told investigators that the apartment setup was an effort to pull police away from the theater so, under that scenario, he wouldn't expect to see police so quickly.

Police said he volunteered information about the traps. Authorities went to the apartment and carefully dismantled them.

Prosecutors also used Holmes' dating website profiles to try to prove he knew the consequences of his actions. On two social networking websites — Match.com and FriendFinder.com — Holmes asked: "Will you visit me in prison?"

The Match profile was created in April; the FriendFinder account was opened on July 5. Holmes last accessed the sites two days before the July 20 shooting, detective Tom Welton testified.

As prosecutors lay out their case, Holmes' lawyers have been asking questions throughout the hearing that suggest a mental health defense.

Attorney Tamara Brady asked Steven Beggs, a federal agent who testified, whether there was anything to prevent "a severely mentally ill person" from purchasing things like chemicals, ammunition and handcuffs.

He replied no.

Defense attorney Daniel King asked Appel if Holmes was tested for drugs or other substances.

"I saw no indication that he was under the influence of anything," Appel said.

Holmes' lawyers could have waived the first public airing of the case against him, but legal analysts say they may see the mini-trial as a chance to gauge the prosecution's case or tactics to prepare for a possible plea agreement.

Cases rarely advance to this stage without a judge agreeing to set a trial.

If Holmes is found sane and goes to trial and is convicted, his attorneys can try to stave off a possible death penalty by arguing he is mentally ill.

If he's found not guilty by reason of insanity, he would likely be sent to the state mental hospital, not prison. Such a defendant is deemed not guilty because he didn't know right from wrong and is therefore "absolved" of the crime, said former Jefferson County District Attorney Scott Storey, who recently lost an insanity case.

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Thomas Peipert, Nicholas Riccardi and Colleen Slevin contributed to this report.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.

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