Prosecutors of the man alleged of shooting up a movie theater in Colorado during the premiere of "Dark Knight Rises" want James Holmes to face the death penalty.  

At a court hearing Monday, George Brauchler, Arapahoe County's District Attorney, formally rejected a defense bid that Holmes pleads guilty in exchange for a life sentence without parole, the Associated Press (AP) reported.

Holmes is set for trial in August for killing 12 and injuring nearly 70 others last July in Aurora, Colo.

"In this case, for James Egan Holmes, justice is death," Brauchler said at the hearing Monday.

The AP reported that after he explained his office has spoken with more than 800 victims and their families.

"Mr. Holmes is currently willing to resolve the case to bring the proceedings to a speedy and definite conclusion for all involved," Holmes' lawyers said in their motion.

Legal experts told the AP that if Holmes can't get life in prison for Holmes, they said Holmes can plead insanity.

The defense said that it started when Holmes failed a final exam while attending the University of Colorado. He was allegedly undergoing psychiatric care before he dropped out after that final exam.

At Holmes's preliminary hearing in January, prosecutors presented evidence that showed Holmes methodically planning his July 20 attack at Aurora's Century 16 theater complex, buying an assault rifle, shotgun, two semi-automatic pistols, over 6,000 rounds of ammunition, bomb-making material and other gear for nearly two months prior to shootings. Thus, allowing for Holmes to face trial for the murder of 12 and injuries to others.

Holmes allegedly used smoke bombs to screen the potential victims' attention before letting out the gunfire.