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3 jurors voted for Parkland schoolhouse shooter to walk beingness successful prison, foreman says
FIGHTING BACK TEARS WHILE PLEADING FOR GUN VIOLENCE TO STOP. REPEATEDLY IN SOUTH FLORIDA TODAY. TONIGHT, FAMILIES GOING TO BED AND THIS MAY AND DISCUSSED. THE GUNMEN WAS SPARED FROM EXECUTION AND WILL SERVE A LIFE SENTENCE WITH NO PAROLE. I’M TODD MCDERMOTT. FELICIA: I’M FELICIA RODRIGUEZ. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. DELIBERATIONS LASTED FOR ABOUT SEVEN HOURS THROUGH TWO DAYS. THE GRUESOME EVIDENCE OF THE DEADLIEST U.S. MASS SHOOTING TO EVER REACH A JURY. ONE BY ONE, THE NAMES OF THE 14 STUDENTS AND THREE STAFF MEMBERS WERE READ ALOUD BY THE JUDGE IN THE ORDER AS THEY WERE SHOT. TODD: THE JURY AGREED THE MASSACRE WAS HEINOUS, ATROCIOUS AND C COOL ENOUGH TO WARRANT A DEATH SENTENCE. BUT AT LEAST ONE JUROR THOUGHT THOSE FACTORS DID NOT OUTWEIGH WHAT THE DEFENSE PRESENTED, AND THEREFORE, THEY RECOMMENDED LIFE IN PRISON. WE HAVE TEAM COVERAGE TONIGHT. WE BEGIN WITH ARI HAIT. OUTRAGE OF THE FAMILIES OF THOSE MURDERED. ARI: OUTRAGE FOR SURE. THE MOTHER OF ONE OF THE VICTIMS POINTED OUT TODAY THAT IT’S BEEN 1703 DAYS SINCE THE SHOOTING AT MARJORY STONEMAN DOUGLAS HIGH SCHOOL. THAT’S 1703 DAYS THESE FAMILIES WAITED FOR JUSTICE. AND EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM WERE ADAMANT THAT JUSTICE IS NOT WHAT THEY GOT. THE FAMILIES OF THE VICTIMS MADE IT VERY CLEAR, THEY WANTED AND EXPECTED THE PARKLAND SHOOTER TO GET THE DEATH PENALTY, NOT LIFE IN PRISON. >> IT’S JUST A TRAVESTY OF JUSTICE. IT’S JUST HEARTBREAKING. >> TODAY’S RULING WAS YET ANOTHER GUT PUNCH. >> WE CAME HERE SEEKING JUSTICE. WE WERE HOPING FOR JUSTICE. AND UNFORTUNATELY, WE DIDN’T GET IT TODAY. ARI: AFTER SITTING SILENTLY IN COURT FOR MONTHS DURING THE TRIAL, LISTENING TO VERY SPECIFIC DETAILS OF HOW THEIR SONS AND DAUGHTERS, SPOUSES WERE KILLED, THEY LET OUT THEIR ANGER AND FRUSTRATION ON THURSDAY. >> THEY ARE SUFFERING, AND THIS RESULT MADE THEM SUFFER EVEN MORE. >> NO EXCUSE FOR LETTING THIS PIECE OF GARBAGE BREATHE. >> HE’S A MONSTER. HE DOESN’T DESERVE, AS SHE SAID, GRACE AND MERCY. >> THIS JURY FAILED OUR FAMILIES TODAY. ARI: AND MANY OF THOSE FAMILIES BELIEVE THEY’RE NOT THE ONLY ONES WHO WERE FAILED. >> YOU SET A PRECEDENT TODAY. YOU SET A PRECEDENT FOR THE NEXT MASS KILLING THAT NOTHING HAPPENS TO YOU. YOU’LL GET LIFE IN JAIL. I’M SORRY, THAT IS NOT OK. >> RIGHT NOW, IT FEELS THAT HIS LIFE IS MORE VALUABLE THAN CHRISTOPHER’S, AND THAT IS NOT TRUE. >> IF THIS WAS NOT THE MOST PERFECT DEATH PENALTY CASE, THEN WHY DO WE HAVE THE DEATH PENALTY AT ALL? ARI: MANY FAMILY MEMBERS ASKED THAT SAME QUESTION, AND MANY EXPRESSED HOPE THAT LIFE IN PRISON WOULD ONLY MEAN A DIFFERENT KIND OF DEATH PENALTY. >> I HOPE AND PRAY HE RECEIVES THE KIND OF MERCY FROM PRISONERS THAT HE SHOWED TO MY DAUGHTER AND THE 16 OTHERS. >> I PRAY THAT THAT ANIMAL SUFFERS EVERY DAY OF HIS LIFE IN JAIL, AND HE SHOULD HAVE A SHORT LIFE. >> I WAIT AND WELCOME THE DAY THAT I GET THAT CALL THAT TELLS ME THAT THAT MURDERER WAS MURDERED IN PRISON. THAT’S GOING TO BE A VERY HAPPY DAY IN MY LIFE. ARI: MANY OF THESE FAMILIES NOW SPEND THEIR TIME WORKING ON MAKING SCHOOLS SAFER. THEY ALL SAID TODAY THAT THIS VERDICT ONLY MAKES THEM WANT TO WORK HARDER, TO MAKE SURE THERE ARE NO MORE SCHOOL SHOOTINGS, TO MAKE SURE NO OTHER FAMILIES HAVE TO GO THROUGH WHAT THEY’VE GONE THROUGH. REPORTING LIVE, ARI HAIT, WPBF 25 NEWS. FELICIA: THANK YOU. GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS SAID THAT SHOOTER DESERVES A HARSHER SENTENCE, THE DEATH PENALTY. A STUDENT WHO SURVIVED THE SHOOTING DEGREES. ISABELLA BENJUMEA SAYS SHE WAS LOCKED INSIDE A CLASSROOM AT MARJORY STONEMAN DOUGLAS HIGH SCHOOL WHEN THE GUNFIRE BEGAN. WHEN ASKED HER THOUGHT ON TODAY’S VERDICT, SHE SHARED THIS. >> IT WAS VERY, VERY FRUSTRATING KNOWING THAT EVEN THOUGH HE PLANNED EVERYTHING AND CALCULATED EVERYTHING, EVEN THOUGH HE KILLED 17 AND INJURED MORE, HE TRAUMATIZED THOUSANDS OF KIDS, THAT WASN’T ENOUGH FOR THE JURY TO DECIDE DEATH PENALTY. SO IF THAT’S NOT ENOUGH, WHAT IS? FELICIA: SHE IS NOW A SECOND-YEAR STUDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA. SHE STILL FACES CHALLENGES FROM THE LIFE-ALTERING EXPERIENCE, BUT SAID SHE CAN’T IMAGINE THE CHALLENGES FACED BY THE FAMILIES WHO LOST LOVED ONES. TODD: UNDER FLORIDA LAW, A DEATH SENTENCE REQUIRES A UNANIMOUS VOTE. IT’S STILL UNCLEAR WHAT THE FINAL VOTE TOTAL WAS FOR THIS TRIAL. ONE OF THE JURORS WHO VOTED NOT TO SENTENCE THE PARKLAND SHOOTER TO DEATH DETAILED SOME OF THAT EXPERIENCE IN A HANDWRITTEN LETTER TO THE JUDGE AND DESCRIBED THE UPROAR FROM FELLOW JURORS. FELICIA: THIS LETTER READS, "YOUR HONOR, I WOULD LIKE TO NOTIFY YOU THAT ONE OF THE JURORS IN THIS CASE HEARD JURORS WHO VOTED FOR THE DEATH PENALTY STATING THAT I HAD ALREADY MADE UP MY MIND ON VOTING FOR LIFE BEFORE THE TRIAL STARTED. THIS ALLEGATION IS UNTRUE AND I MAINTAINED MY OATH TO THE COURT THAT I WOULD BE FAIR AND UNBIASED. THE DELIBERATIONS WERE VERY TENSE AND SOME JURORS BECAME EXTREMELY UNHAPPY ONCE I MENTIONED THAT I WOULD VOTE FOR LIFE." TODD: A REACTION TO THAT. LAW ENFORCEMENT CAN INTERVIEW THE JUROR WHO MAY HAVE BEEN THREATENED BY A FELLOW JUROR DURING THOSE HEATED DELIBERATIONS. FELICIA: MOST OF THOSE JURORS DID NOT SPEAK AFTERWARD, BUT OUR TARA JAKEWAY DID CATCH UP WITH ONE OF THEM. TODD: SHE SHARES WHAT THAT JUROR HAVE TO SAY AND HAS MORE ON THE FAMILY MEMBERS EXPRESSING THEIR ANGER WITH THE JURY AND OUR LEGAL SYSTEM. TARA: WE CAUGHT UP WITH ONE OF THE JURORS ON HER WAY OUT BEING ESCORTED BY A SHERIFF’S DEPUTY. SHE SAYS SHE WAS BOTH HAPPY AND RELIEVED THE TRIAL WAS OVER. THE JURY FOREMAN SAID HE WAS ACTUALLY FEELING PHYSICAL PAIN AFTER THE VERDICT AND DID NOT AGREE WITH THE DECISION BUT THAT IT IS THE LAW. FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS OF THE VICTIMS SPEAKING TO EVERYONE ON THE PANEL, MOST SAYING THEY ARE EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED. >> A VERY TOUGH, VERY TOUGH CASE. I’M FEELING ANXIOUS, NERVOUS. TARA: ARE YOU HAPPY THAT IT’S OVER? >> VERY HAPPY THAT’S OVER. TARA: WHAT LED YOU TO THE DECISION? >> I DON’T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT. TARA: ANY WORDS FOR THE FAMILIES OF THE VICTIMS? >> I AM VERY, VERY SORRY FOR THEIR LOSSES. >> I DONT KNOW IF YOU COULD SEE MY FACE, BUT IT HURTS, IT HURTS. I FEEL BAD FOR THEM. IT HURTS. THERE’S NOTHING WE CAN DO. IT’S THE WAY THE LAW IS AND THAT’S HOW WE VOTED. >> YOU LISTEN TO ALL THE EVIDENCE AND UNDERSTANDING WHAT HE DID. TO MURDER GOING UP AND DOWN ALL THOSE THREE FLOORS OF STAIRS AND HUNTING DOWN ALL OF HIS VICTIMS, SHOOTING THEM FROM DOWN THE HALL AND THEN GOING OVER AND EXECUTING THEM AT POINT BLANK RANGE. HOW COULD YOU -- HOW COULD YOU NOT GIVE HIM THE DEATH PENALTY? AND I THINK THAT THAT ONE JUROR THAT VOTED FOR LIFE WILL LIVE TO REGRET THAT FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE. TARA: ONE FAMILY MEMBER LIKENED HEARING THE VERDICT TO GETTING PUNCHED IN THE STOMACH. ANOTHER SAID THEY FOUND SOME SOLACE,VERY LITTLE IN THE FACT THAT CRUZ WILL HAVE TO SPEND THE REST OF HIS DAYS THINKING ABOUT WHAT HE HAD DONE BEHIND PRISON BARS. ANOTHER JUST SAID THAT JUSTICE HERE WAS NOT DONE. TARA JAKEWAY, WPBF 25 NEWS. TODD: THANK YOU. WE TALKED WITH PALM BEACH COUNTY STATE ATTORNEY DAVE ARONBERG AS WELL AS CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY MARC SHINER REGARDING THEIR REACTIONS TO THE VERDICT. THEY SAY THEY WERE A BIT SURPRISED BY THE VERDICT, BUT ALSO EMPHASIZED HOW RARE THE DEATH PENALTY IS HERE IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. STATE ATTORNEY ARONBERG TELLS US FOR EXAMPLE HERE IN PALM BEACH COUNTY, THEY HAD ONE DEATH PENALTY VERDICT IN THE PAST 20 YEARS. >> I RESPECT THE JURY’S VERDICT. THEY WERE THERE EVERY DAY LISTENING TO THE EVIDENCE, BUT THE DEATH PENALTY IS THE LAW OF THE LAND IN FLORIDA, AND IF IT DOESN’T APPLY TO SOMEONE WHO SLAUGHTERS 17 INNOCENTS, NEARLY ALL OF THEM CHILDREN, THEN WHEN DOES IT EVER APPLY? >> IT’LL GIVE EVERYONE CLOSURE. MAYBE NOT THE CLOSURE THAT THE PUBLIC OR THE COMMUNITY WANTED, BUT IT’S GOING TO BE CLOSED NOW FOREVER. TODD: MARC SHINER TOLD ME PREVIOUSLY THIS WOULD BE A VERY TOUGH JOB FOR PROSECUTORS. AGAIN, ALL IT TAKES IS ONE JUROR OUT OF THE 12 TO SAY THAT MITIGATING FACTORS OUTWEIGHED THE AGGRAVATORS TO NOT IMPOSE THE DEATH SENTENCE. FELICIA: IT TOOK A LONG TIME TO GET THIS MOMENT. THE TRIAL KEPT GETTING DELAYED IN PART DUE TO THE PANDEMIC AND ARGUMENTS OVER WHAT EVIDENCE AND TESTIMONY COULD BE USED. JURY SELECTION BEGAN IN APRIL. TWO WEEKS INTO IT, THE JUDGE ORDERED TO RESTART THE PROCESS BECAUSE OF A PROCEDURAL ISSUE REGARDING A GROUP OF POTENTIAL JURORS. IN JUNE, SEVEN MEN AND FIVE WOMEN WERE SWORN IN FOR THE PENALTY TRIAL WHICH STARTED IN JULY. SINCE THEN, WE’VE HEARD FROM SURVIVORS, PARENTS, AND MENTAL HEALTH EXPERTS, AND SEEN NEW VIDEOS FROM THE DAY OF THE MASSACRE. FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE HISTORY OF A SCHOOL SHOOTING TRIAL, JURORS WALKED THROUGH THE EXACT BUILDING WHERE THE CRIME HAPPENED. BOTH SIDES MADE THEIR FINAL CASE TUESDAY AND THE VERDICT WAS ANNOUNCED TODAY. TODD: SO, WHAT COMES NEXT? THE JUDGE WILL ISSUE HER FORMAL RULING ON THAT SENTENCE ON NOVEMBER 1. AFTER A FULL SENTENCING HEARING TO ALLOW THE RELATIVES OF THE MURDER VICTIMS TO SPEAK, UNDER FLORIDA LAW, THE JUDGE CANNOT DEPART FROM THE JURY’S RECOMMENDATION OF LIFE. FELICIA: IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO NOT FORGET THE VICTIMS. THE 14 STUDENTS AND THREE STAFF MEMBERS WHO LOST THEIR LIVES FOUR YEARS AGO. TODD: THEIR FACES, NAMES, SMILES, AND LAUGHS WILL FOREVER BE IMPRINTED IN OUR MEMORIES OF WHO THEY WERE BEFORE THEY BECAME VICTIMS OF SUCH CRUELTY. >> THERE ARE 17 VICTIMS WHO DID NOT RECEIVE JUSTICE TODAY. MY DAUGHTER WAS THE 16TH OF THE 17 TO BE READ TODAY. >> WE STILL HAVE TO GO THE CEMETERY TO GO SEE OUR DAUGHTER. >> OUR FAMILY IS NOT WHOLE ANYMORE AND WE MOVE THROUGH THE PROCESS OF HOW WE GET THROUGH EACH DAY. >> I SEE MY BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER’S FACE AROUND OUR HOME, IN MY DREAMS, AND I MISS HER VERY MUCH. >> THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN TO ANYONE ELSE. THIS SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN. >> IT LEAVES ME WITH ANGER, SADNESS, AND EMPTINESS TO KNOW THAT NONE OF US WILL BE ABLE TO SEE THEM HERE AGAIN. >> 17 PEOPLE DIED. 14 BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN, 14. THREE ADULTS DEDICATED THEIR LIVES TO EDUCATING CHILDREN.
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3 jurors voted for Parkland schoolhouse shooter to walk beingness successful prison, foreman says
Jurors recommended beingness successful situation for the Parkland schoolhouse shooter Nikolas Cruz Thursday aft the last ballot for the decease punishment was not unanimous. Jury foreman Benjamin Thomas said 3 of the jurors didn't ballot for the decease penalty. One was a "hard no," and 2 others voted the aforesaid way.The last sentencing by the justice volition instrumentality spot connected Nov. 1.The authorities of Florida is asking the Court to assistance an interrogation with 1 of the jurors of the Parkland schoolhouse shooting sentencing proceedings who voted for a beingness condemnation aft she reported "what she perceived to beryllium a menace from a chap juror portion successful the room."Video below: Cruz gets recommended to beingness successful situation What happened during the speechmaking of the verdict? As the justice work done each number related to each victim, and the idiosyncratic verdicts from the jurors, household members became affectional successful the courtroom. The jurors were told that to ballot for death, the prosecution’s aggravating circumstances for that unfortunate must, successful their judgment, “outweigh” the defense’s mitigators. For immoderate of the victims, the reply was "no." Why does the authorities privation to investigate?According to a question filed by the authorities to the court, "At astir 2:14 p.m. connected October 13, 2022, the time the verdict was rendered successful the instant case, a juror who shall beryllium referred to for purposes of this pleading arsenic Juror X, called the Office of the State Attorney and requested to talk to Assistant State Attorney Michael Satz. Juror X spoke with a enactment unit subordinate and informed the enactment unit subordinate that during deliberations she received what she perceived to beryllium a menace from a chap juror portion successful the room."The authorities filed a announcement to the tribunal and is requesting an probe into "this superior allegation due to the fact that a transgression whitethorn person been committed," according to the motion.To work the afloat motion, click here.After the verdict, a juror wrote to the judge, stating that she had maintained her oath to the tribunal to beryllium "fair and unbiased." In her letter, the juror heard others "who voted for the decease punishment stating that (they) had already made up (their) caput connected voting for beingness earlier the proceedings started."To work the afloat letter, click here.How did the families of the victims react?Families of the victims of the Parkland schoolhouse shooting astatine Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School released their grief, disappointment and choler aft a verdict was reached successful the sentencing proceedings for Nikolas Cruz.After the courtroom, each of the families that spoke discussed the important enactment of the authorities and however thankful they were.The failure, they each said, was placed connected the jury. Their disappointments were successful the jurors and successful the instrumentality enforcement systems that brought them each to the courtroom."This assemblage failed our families today," said Fred Guttenberg, the begetter of Jaime Guttenberg.Shock and disorder threaded passim the families."If this was not the astir cleanable decease punishment case, past wherefore bash we person the decease punishment astatine all," said Linda Biegel Schulman, the parent of Scott Biegel, who was 35.All of the families discussed that their lives volition beryllium dedicated to stopping aboriginal schoolhouse shootings successful the hopes that nary families volition spell done what they do.What volition hap to Cruz next?Since the assemblage could not unanimously hold that Cruz should beryllium executed for astatine slightest 1 victim, helium volition beryllium sentenced to beingness without parole — Scherer cannot overrule the jury.After helium is sentenced, the Florida Department of Corrections volition delegate him to a maximum information situation wherever helium would beryllium portion of the wide population. McNeill, successful her closing argument, alluded that could beryllium an exceedingly unsafe spot for idiosyncratic similar Cruz. What happened astatine the trial?Lead authoritative Mike Satz kept his lawsuit simple. He played information videos of the shooting and showed gruesome transgression country and autopsy photos. Teachers and students testified astir watching others die. He took the assemblage to the fenced-off building, which remains blood-stained and bullet-pocked. Parents and spouses gave tearful and aggravated statements.Video below: Families contiguous affectional statements during Cruz sentencing trialClosing arguments were Tuesday successful the lawsuit of Florida schoolhouse shooter Nikolas Cruz.Video below: Closing argumentsCruz’s pb attorney, Melisa McNeill, and her squad ne'er questioned the fearfulness helium inflicted but focused connected their content that his commencement mother’s dense drinking during gestation near him with a fetal intoxicant spectrum disorder. Their experts said his bizarre, troubling and sometimes convulsive behaviour starting astatine property 2 was misdiagnosed arsenic attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, meaning helium ne'er got the due treatment. That near his widowed adoptive parent overwhelmed, they said. To work the afloat deliberation instructions, click here.Video below: Judge Elizabeth Scherer reads immoderate of the assemblage instructionsBefore the sentencing trial, Cruz, 24, pleaded blameworthy past twelvemonth to the murders of 14 students and 3 unit members astatine Parkland’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School connected Feb. 14, 2018. It is the deadliest U.S. wide shooting to spell earlier a jury.Trial backgroundMoments from the proceedings
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. —
Jurors recommended beingness successful situation for the Parkland schoolhouse shooter Nikolas Cruz Thursday aft the last ballot for the decease punishment was not unanimous.
Jury foreman Benjamin Thomas said 3 of the jurors didn't ballot for the decease penalty. One was a "hard no," and 2 others voted the aforesaid way.
The last sentencing by the justice volition instrumentality spot connected Nov. 1.
The authorities of Florida is asking the Court to assistance an interview with 1 of the jurors of the Parkland schoolhouse shooting sentencing proceedings who voted for a beingness condemnation aft she reported "what she perceived to beryllium a menace from a chap juror portion successful the room."
Video below: Cruz gets recommended to beingness successful prison
What happened during the speechmaking of the verdict?
As the justice work done each number related to each victim, and the idiosyncratic verdicts from the jurors, household members became affectional successful the courtroom.
The jurors were told that to ballot for death, the prosecution’s aggravating circumstances for that unfortunate must, successful their judgment, “outweigh” the defense’s mitigators.
For immoderate of the victims, the reply was "no."
This contented is imported from Twitter. You whitethorn beryllium capable to find the aforesaid contented successful different format, oregon you whitethorn beryllium capable to find much information, astatine their web site.
The lone due condemnation for the massacre of 17 guiltless radical is the decease penalty. That the assemblage had a azygous holdout garbage to authorize a superior condemnation represents a miscarriage of justice.
My prayers are with the Parkland families. pic.twitter.com/f2M0Fw1SLo
Why does the authorities privation to investigate?
According to a question filed by the authorities to the court, "At astir 2:14 p.m. connected October 13, 2022, the time the verdict was rendered successful the instant case, a juror who shall beryllium referred to for purposes of this pleading arsenic Juror X, called the Office of the State Attorney and requested to talk to Assistant State Attorney Michael Satz. Juror X spoke with a enactment unit subordinate and informed the enactment unit subordinate that during deliberations she received what she perceived to beryllium a menace from a chap juror portion successful the room."
The authorities filed a announcement to the tribunal and is requesting an probe into "this superior allegation due to the fact that a transgression whitethorn person been committed," according to the motion.
To work the afloat motion, click here.
After the verdict, a juror wrote to the judge, stating that she had maintained her oath to the tribunal to beryllium "fair and unbiased." In her letter, the juror heard others "who voted for the decease punishment stating that (they) had already made up (their) caput connected voting for beingness earlier the proceedings started."
To work the afloat letter, click here.
How did the families of the victims react?
Families of the victims of the Parkland schoolhouse shooting astatine Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School released their grief, disappointment and choler aft a verdict was reached successful the sentencing proceedings for Nikolas Cruz.
After the courtroom, each of the families that spoke discussed the important enactment of the authorities and however thankful they were.
The failure, they each said, was placed connected the jury. Their disappointments were successful the jurors and successful the instrumentality enforcement systems that brought them each to the courtroom.
"This assemblage failed our families today," said Fred Guttenberg, the begetter of Jaime Guttenberg.
Shock and disorder threaded passim the families.
"If this was not the astir cleanable decease punishment case, past wherefore bash we person the decease punishment astatine all," said Linda Biegel Schulman, the parent of Scott Biegel, who was 35.
All of the families discussed that their lives volition beryllium dedicated to stopping aboriginal schoolhouse shootings successful the hopes that nary families volition spell done what they do.
What volition hap to Cruz next?
Since the assemblage could not unanimously hold that Cruz should beryllium executed for astatine slightest 1 victim, helium volition beryllium sentenced to beingness without parole — Scherer cannot overrule the jury.
After helium is sentenced, the Florida Department of Corrections volition delegate him to a maximum information situation wherever helium would beryllium portion of the wide population. McNeill, successful her closing argument, alluded that could beryllium an exceedingly unsafe spot for idiosyncratic similar Cruz.
What happened astatine the trial?
Lead authoritative Mike Satz kept his lawsuit simple. He played information videos of the shooting and showed gruesome transgression country and autopsy photos. Teachers and students testified astir watching others die. He took the assemblage to the fenced-off building, which remains blood-stained and bullet-pocked. Parents and spouses gave tearful and angry statements.
Video below: Families contiguous affectional statements during Cruz sentencing trial
Closing arguments were Tuesday successful the lawsuit of Florida schoolhouse shooter Nikolas Cruz.
Video below: Closing arguments
Cruz’s pb attorney, Melisa McNeill, and her squad ne'er questioned the fearfulness helium inflicted but focused on their content that his commencement mother’s dense drinking during gestation near him with a fetal intoxicant spectrum disorder. Their experts said his bizarre, troubling and sometimes convulsive behaviour starting astatine property 2 was misdiagnosed arsenic attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, meaning helium ne'er got the due treatment. That near his widowed adoptive parent overwhelmed, they said.
To work the afloat deliberation instructions, click here.
Video below: Judge Elizabeth Scherer reads immoderate of the assemblage instructions
Before the sentencing trial, Cruz, 24, pleaded guilty past twelvemonth to the murders of 14 students and 3 unit members astatine Parkland’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School connected Feb. 14, 2018. It is the deadliest U.S. wide shooting to spell earlier a jury.
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