Photo courtesy Colorado Judicial Department

A jury has decided the shooter responsible for killing 12 and injuring 70 should be sentenced to life in prison without parole.

James Holmes was convicted last month of 165 counts of murder and attempted murder in the rampage which took place on July 20, 2012, in Aurora, Colo.

Arapahoe County District Judge Carlos Samour read the verdict at 4:10 p.m. local time before a virtually silent courtroom, bringing to a close the three-month trial which many expected might result in the death penalty.