Testimony underway in capital murder trial of Shane James

Testimony is expected to get underway Thursday in the capital murder trial of Shane James, who is accused of killing six people and injuring three others during a series of shootings in December 2023.

James’ defense attorneys plan to pursue an insanity defense, raising questions about how Texas law defines legal insanity and what happens if a jury agrees with the defense.

>> What to know as Shane James goes on trial in Austin shootings

KSAT’s Erica Hernandez will be in Austin for the first day of trial and will live-blog from inside the courtroom. Follow along for updates below:

BACKGROUND: What happened during the December 2023 shootings?

Investigators believe the violence began Dec. 4, 2023, at James’ family home in Kirby, where his parents, Phyllis James and Shane James Sr., were killed.

What to know as Shane James goes on trial in Austin shootings

The following morning, the shootings continued in Austin. Here’s a timeline of events:

• 10:41 a.m. Dec. 5, James is accused of shooting an Austin Independent School District police officer near Northeast Early College High School.
• 11:59 a.m. Dec. 5, a man and woman were fatally shot near South 1st Street and William Cannon Drive.
• 4:57 p.m., a cyclist was shot and injured on West Slaughter Lane.
• 6:50 p.m., in the 5300 Block of Austral Loop, two women were found dead inside their home and shootout with police.
• 7:14 p.m., at the intersection of South Highway 45 and FM 1826, James was arrested after a vehicle chase that ended in a crash.

If James is convicted in the Austin case, he faces an automatic sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.