James Holmes’ charges are likely to increase from 142 counts, following his US theatre rampage that killed 12 in one of the worst mass shootings in the country’s history. Prosecutors are seeking more charges against Holmes, though have dropped their efforts to get access to a notebook, thought to contain details of a violent attack.

According to The Guardian, documents filed in court this week show that 10 more counts have been requests against Holmes, though a gagging order has been placed on the release of further information. The suspect has already been charged with 142 counts, including murder and attempted murder, in the June 20 attack on a midnight screening of the latest Batman movie ‘The Dark Knight Rises’, by Christopher Nolan. 58 people were wounded in the incident, as the gunman roamed around a darkened theatre shooting indiscriminately until police arrived. Defence attorneys maintain that Holmes is mentally ill, though after an initial hearing in which he appeared confused and distant, the suspect was more animated on Thursday. He regularly smiled and glanced around the courtroom, clearly aware of his situation.

Holmes was a student in the neuroscience program at the University of Colorado, though pulled out after performing poorly on a key exam. His apartment was found to be booby-trapped after the shooting.