Nikolas Cruz trial: Closing arguments conclude in Parkland shooting case as jury consider death penalty
Follow live updates of Parkland shooter’s sentencing trial
Closing arguments have concluded in the sentencing trial of Nikolas Cruz, the gunman who murdered 14 students and three staff members in a mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, on 14 February 2018.
Prosecutors, who are seeking the death penalty, have argued that Cruz, now 24, planned his attack – researching other mass shooters online and leaving comments about his desires to kill people.
The defence has argued that Cruz suffers from fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) because of being exposed to alcohol in the womb. They say that this contributed to his actions that day.
However, the prosecution argues that the aggravating factors in the case far outweigh such mitigating factors as laid out by the defence. Prosecutor Mike Satz concluded by saying: “The appropriate sentence for Nikolas Cruz is the death penalty.”
Defence attorney Melisa McNeill argued: “You now know that Nicholas is a brain-damaged, broken, mentally ill person, through no fault of his own ... He did not have control over who his biological mother is.”
Jurors will begin deliberations on Wednesday where they will decide whether to sentence him to life in prison or to execution.
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After a 15-minute recess, Ms McNeill continues her closing argument for the defence.
She promises to conclude soon but stresses the importance of the points she is trying to make.
‘A reason for life'
“We are not here to suggest that you do not punish Nikolas Cruz. We are asking that you take into consideration his damage when you make that decision,” Ms McNeill says. “And that you consider mitigation.”
She continues: “As you listened to the testimony over these past couple of months, are there things about Nikolas’s life that you wished hadn’t happened? Are there things about Nikolas’s life that didn’t happen that you wished happened? Are there things that he didn’t get that you wish he’d gotten? Was he missing people in his life that you wish you hadn’t missed?”
She adds: “I suspect you would answer yes to each of those questions, and every time you do, that’s mitigation. That’s a reason for life.”
‘I now put in your hands his life'
“Look into your heart. Look into your soul. The right thing here — not the popular thing — is a life sentence. And if you have to ask yourself: how do I know if I’m making the right decision? If you follow the law, you are making the right decision,” says Ms McNeill.
“And I promise you that one day — I don’t know when — but one day, you will ask yourself: did I make the right decision?” she continues. “You will never regret voting for life.”
“You can show Nikolas Cruz all the things that he did not show those 17 victims. You can show him all the things that he least deserves. Compassion. Grace. And mercy,” Ms McNeill says. “Grace is not a limited resource. Compassion is not a limited resource. Mercy is not a limited resource.”
She concludes: “Sentencing Nikolas Cruz to life is the right thing to do. So I now put in your hands his life.”
With the closing arguments concluded, the jury is given some guidelines by Judge Scherer ahead of the beginning of deliberations tomorrow.
They are advised to bring suitcases with them to the courthouse tomorrow ahead of sequestration.
Cruz defence asks for ‘mercy’ after prosecutor calls for death penalty over ‘calculated’ shooting
The fate of mass murderer Nikolas Cruz will soon lie in the hands of a 12-person jury as his sentencing trial finally draws to a close more than four years on from the Parkland massacre.
Closing arguments got underway in court in Broward County, Florida, on Tuesday morning, with prosecutor Mike Satz making a final passionate plea for Cruz, 24, to be handed the death penalty for his crimes.
The state has described how he planned his attack – researching other mass shooters online, making extensive preparations for his attack and recording a video where he outlined his plans.
The defence is calling for Cruz’s life to be spared, saying that mental and developmental conditions led him to carry out the massacre.
Rachel Sharp reports for The Independent.
Nikolas Cruz defence asks for ‘mercy’ after prosecutor calls for death penalty
Cruz’s sister says brother came from ‘polluted womb’
Nikolas Cruz’s sister told his sentencing trial that he came from the “polluted womb” of their mother who put her addiction to drugs and alcohol “before anything else”.
Danielle Woodard was the second witness to testify for the defence on Monday as Cruz’s legal team seek to argue that he suffers from foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) and other anti-social behavioural disorders caused in part by his mother drinking and taking drugs while pregnant.
Rachel Sharp reports.
Cruz’s team says his brain is ‘irretrievably broken’ because of mother’s drinking
At the start of the sentencing trial. Nikolas Cruz’s defence team said that his brain is “irretrievably broken” because of his biological mother’s drinking and drug-taking while pregnant, as they urged jurors not to sentence the Parkland mass shooter to death.
Nikolas Cruz team says his brain is ‘irretrievably broken’ as he fights death penalty
Chilling jailhouse drawings show Nikolas Cruz saying he wants to ‘go to death row’
Chilling jailhouse drawings and notes have revealed Nikolas Cruz saying he wants to “go to death row” and then be “buried with a woman who had a s***ty life like me”.
Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO) released a trove of disturbing sketches and ramblings which were scrawled by the mass murderer while he is being held behind bars in Broward County Jail.
Nikolas Cruz’s chilling jailhouse drawings released
Psychologist: Cruz didn’t get consistent treatment
A psychologist who treated Florida school shooter Nikolas Cruz when he was 8 years old testified Wednesday that Cruz was a “peculiar child” who had many behavioral and developmental issues but his widowed mother seemed overwhelmed and wasn’t consistent in her discipline or in getting him treatment.
