CRIME

The Latest: Daughter remembers father killed in Colorado theater shooting as a protector

Associated Press
Published | Updated

In this image taken from video provided by the Colorado Judicial Department, Cierra Cowden, right, cries while giving testimony about her memories of her father Gordon Cowden, who was killed by Colorado theater shooter James Holmes, who sits third from left in back in a gray shirt, during Holmes' trial, in Centennial, Colo., Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2015. Cierra Cowden testified about the night of the shooting, when her father took her, age 16, and her 17-year-old sister to the movie and how he was gunned down in front of them. (Colorado Judicial Department via AP, Pool) (The Associated Press)

In this image taken from video provided by the Colorado Judicial Department, Cierra Cowden, right, gives testimony, while a family photo is displayed on the wall including herself and her father Gordon Cowden, who was killed by Colorado theater shooter James Holmes, who sits seventh from left in a gray shirt, during Holmes' trial, in Centennial, Colo., Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2015. Cierra Cowden testified about the night of the shooting, when her father took her, age 16, and her 17-year-old sister to the movie and how he was gunned down in front of them. (Colorado Judicial Department via AP, Pool) (The Associated Press)

In this image taken from video provided by the Colorado Judicial Department, Colorado theater shooter James Holmes sits, center sixth from left in a gray shirt, as members of his defense team lean above him discussing an issue during Holmes' trial, in Centennial, Colo., Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2015. The Holmes jury are hearing more heart-wrenching testimony from those who lost loved ones in the attack, as prosecutors begin their final push to have James Holmes sentenced to death. (Colorado Judicial Department via AP, Pool) (The Associated Press)

The latest in the sentencing phase of the Colorado theater shooting trial (all times local):

10:37 a.m.

The oldest person killed in the Colorado theater shooting went to the midnight Batman premiere with two of his daughters after teasing them that he had gotten tickets to the Disney movie "Brave" instead.

Cierra Cowden remembered her father, 51-year-old Gordon Cowden as a charming and patient man who watched over his children. Once, fully clothed, he jumped into a pool to save one of his daughters who had been pretending to drown as part of a game.

Cierra Cowden, a 19-year-old University of Colorado student, testified Wednesday that her sister felt so bad that he jumped back in and swam around to make her feel better.

Her testimony came as families of the 12 killed in the 2012 attack took the stand in the final round of the sentencing hearing for gunman James Holmes.