In the end, it wasn’t a perfect trial. It wasn’t the verdict that some had hoped for. But in the end, in the grand scheme of things, it was a just trial.

James Holmes will never draw breath again as a free man. James Holmes will spend the rest of his days on Earth in a Colorado prison. The 27-year old Holmes, who killed 12 people and injured 58 others during a shooting rampage at an opening night screening of “The Dark Knight Rises” July 20, 2012 in Aurora, Colorado.

He had already been found guilty of the crimes that took place that July evening but the same jury that convicted him could not agree on a punishment. The options were death by lethal injection or life without  parole in prison. Even his defense team offered the idea of life without parole to the state, who turned the idea down and so the trial took place.

In the end, it was life that won. James Holmes will draw his last breath in a prison cell, away from society, away from the people that he harmed. While there were some that wanted him to die, others wanted nature to run its course. The one that wanted nature to win will get their wish. Had he been sentenced to death, it would have been years before he would even be moved to death row, let alone be ready to be executed. Recent history records only one execution in Colorado since 1967, suggesting Holmes had a very good chance of dying of other causes — or having his sentence revised for legal reasons and the only person put to death in recent decades, Gary Davis in 1997, had opposed further appeals.

Holmes’ crime was not just evil, it was sickening. 12 people are dead and those people will never be with their families for holidays, vacations, weddings and other special events. He had some mental health issues that needed to be addressed and those issues still need to be addressed now.

Even though a jury of his peers had found him guilty of taking 12 lives, convicted last month of 24 counts of first-degree murder — two for each of the slain victims, the jury could not agree on whether the state of Colorado kills him or if God kills him. In the end, it was the Almighty that won and since the Almighty is the house, so to speak, like Vegas, the house always wins. The 12-member jury reached a decision after deliberating almost seven hours since late Thursday. As they walked back into the courtroom shortly after 5 p.m. Denver time (7 p.m. Eastern), they made no eye contact with anyone. Some had a grim face and some were ashen. Holmes stood with his hands in his pockets as Judge Carlos Samour read the sentencing verdicts. Pins could be heard dropping in the courtroom that day. The verdicts took 11 minutes to read and Holmes will have to wait to be officially sentenced and that will take place August 24-26.

For Holmes, justice is his execution, Arapahoe County District Attorney George Brauchler told the jury. Holmes admitted to his crimes and had pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. told reporters outside the courthouse that he respects the outcome, even if he disagrees with it.

“As frustrated as I am at not achieving the result we wanted, those jurors did a hell of a job,” he said. “I am disappointed at the outcome, I’m not disappointed with the system. I still think death is justice for what that guy did but the system said otherwise.”

Brauchler said it was his fault that he couldn’t get a death penalty result for the families.

Holmes’ parents declined to speak to the media but issued a statement through an attorney.

“The Holmes family is unable to make any comment at this time other than to say that they are deeply sorry this has happened, and they are so sorry that the victims and families have suffered such tremendous loss,” Lisa Damiani said in a press statement.

At the time, Holmes reportedly held a “human capital” credo that killing people would add value to his life. “You take away life and your human capital is limitless,” Holmes said in a chat message to his then-girlfriend months before the massacre.

James Holmes is a monster that needed to be dealt with. In the end, a jury of 12 spoke for those that he killed and while they did agree that he should pay for his actions, they could not agree on the manner. In any case, the monster known as James Holmes will never be part of a society that he attempted to destroy. James Holmes will be locked in a cell, with time for exercise for one hour a day and will probably have his meals served to him in his cell. James Holmes will draw his last and final breath on this Earth behind bars. The monster is gone, never to be seen or heard from again.

We say good riddance.