( CNN ) Opening statements in the murder trial of movie theater massacre suspect James Holmes are scheduled for April 27 , more than a month ahead of schedule , a Colorado court spokesman said . Holmes , 27 , is charged as the sole gunman who stormed a crowded movie theater at a midnight showing of `` The Dark Knight Rises '' in Aurora , Colorado , and opened fire , killing 12 people and wounding 58 more in July 2012 . When the trial began in January , some 9,000 potential jurors were summoned , and jury selection was expected then to continue until May or June , when the trial would finally start . The jury selection process , however , appears to be moving faster than expected , according to court spokesman Rob McCallum . In January , Judge Carlos A. Samour Jr. told the first pool of potential jurors that if chosen for the jury , they can not read , watch or hear anything about the case . `` This will require great effort on your part , '' the judge said three times . Holmes , a one-time neuroscience doctoral student , faces 166 counts , including murder and attempted murder charges . Holmes has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity . If convicted of the most serious charges , he could face a death sentence . Prosecutors have charged in court that Holmes `` intended to kill them all , '' referring to patrons in the crowded cinema watching the Batman film `` The Dark Knight Rises . '' Holmes colored his hair a comic-book red and told police he was `` The Joker '' upon arrest after the mass killing . Holmes was heavily armed and `` dressed head-to-toe in protective gear , '' authorities said . He wore black contact lenses to conceal his eyes . His AR-15 jammed during the shooting , police said , and they arrested him in the parking lot . The trial itself could last four months . If there 's a conviction , the death penalty phase could last another month , which means court proceedings could last until fall . CNN 's Sara Weisfeldt contributed to this report .
Opening statements on April 27 would be a month ahead of an earlier schedule . James Holmes , 27 , faces 166 counts , including murder and attempted murder charges .