9/11, Va. Tech mediator helps in Colo. shooting

(AP) DENVER - People handling the distribution of funds to victims of the Aurora movie theater shooting are consulting with a mediator who oversaw compensation for victims of the Sept. 11 attacks and the Virginia Tech shooting.

An email sent to victims said that Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper's office, the 7/20 Committee and the Community First Foundation have initiated discussions with Kenneth Feinberg and plan to meet with him Friday in Denver.

Feinberg was traveling and couldn't immediately be reached for comment.

Last week, the families of 10 people killed and at least a dozen of the 58 wounded called on Hickenlooper and other lawmakers to appoint an independent arbitrator to oversee donations.

Of the $5.2 million collected, $350,000 has been given to families for immediate financial needs and $100,000 has been given to 10 nonprofit groups.

ABC News first reported Feinberg's involvement.

Colo. prosecutors give up on Holmes notebook
Colo. prosecutors seek access to James Holmes' notebook, add new charges
In depth: Colorado movie theater massacre

On Thursday, Colorado prosecutors gave up their fight to see a notebook the suspect, James Holmes, sent to a university psychiatrist and instead argued for a palm print to compare with one found on the inside of a theater exit door. The attorneys for the state said they were seeking to avoid any delays in the case.

Holmes appeared in court with short brown hair instead of a wild shock of orangish-red hair and seemed more animated than he has been in the past. He smiled and glanced around the courtroom, looking at his lawyers and reporters covering the hearing. He appeared to be moving his mouth but not actually talking.

Family members receiving updates about Holmes from the courtroom said it's all an act by the former University of Colorado, Denver, neuroscience graduate student to appear mentally ill.

"He's just putting on a show," said Greg Medek, of Aurora, whose daughter Micayla, 23, died in the shooting. "I don't think he's crazy. He's just evil."

Jessica Watts, whose cousin Jonathan Blunk, 26, died in the shooting was in the courtroom and provided the update to Medek.

"I don't want them rushing anything," Watts said. "I know they're (prosecutors) going to fight for this case."

Holmes is charged with 152 counts of murder, attempted murder and other crimes in the July 20 shooting that killed 12 people and wounded 58 others.

He has not entered a plea and won't do so until after a preliminary hearing, where prosecutors are to present evidence supporting the charges. That hearing is currently scheduled to begin Nov. 13.