The moment Nikolas Cruz, 23, Alleged killer At Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School In Parkland Spared Death Penalty’ On Thursday, a Florida jury recommended that Nikolas Cruz, who murdered 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in 2018, spend the rest of his life behind bars.
Nikolas Cruz, 23, Alleged killer At Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School In Parkland Spared Death Penalty
From July 18 to October 5, the 12 jurors in Broward County heard testimony about how Cruz, 24, carried out the shooting spree that left 14 kids and three staff members dead, according to WPLG. Defense counsel blamed fetal alcohol syndrome for his violent tendencies in the meanwhile.
In Florida, a defendant can only be sentenced to death if a jury unanimously concludes that various aggravating factors are present and that they supersede any mitigating factors. A defendant will receive life in prison if a single juror does not vote for death, The New York Times reported.
The 17 murder counts are separate, meaning Cruz could be sentenced to life for one slaying and death for another.
Cruz was present in court for Thursday’s hearing.
PREVIOUS READING: Crime Update: Nicolas Cruz, 23, Alleged killer at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School In Parkland, Florida
Before making a judgment, the jury took nearly seven hours to deliberate. The jury unanimously concluded that multiple aggravating elements existed for all counts. However, one or more jurors in each case came to the conclusion that the state’s aggravating considerations were overcome by the mitigating circumstances.
Nicolas Cruz, 23, Alleged killer At Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School In Parkland, Florida
Alleged killer at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School In Parkland, Florida’ The sentencing trial for the gunman who killed 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, more than four years ago is set to begin on Monday.
After nearly three months of jury selection, jurors must decide whether Nikolas Cruz, 23, gets a life sentence in prison or is put to death. He has already pleaded guilty to all charges.
Cruz’s legal team is pushing for the only other sentence available—life in prison without the possibility of parole—while the prosecution is asking for the death penalty. (Life sentences in Florida do not permit parole.) Read more
Their verdicts are as follows:
For the murder of Luke Hoyer—life in prison
For the murder of Martin Duque—life in prison
For the murder of Gina Montalto—life in prison
For the murder of Alex Schachter—life in prison
For the murder of Alaina Petty—life in prison
For the murder of Alyssa Alhadeff—life in prison
For the murder of Nicholas Dworet—life in prison
For the murder of Helena Ramsay—life in prison
For the murder of Christopher Hixon—life in prison
For the murder of Carmen Schentrup—life in prison
For the murder of Aaron Feis—life in prison
For the murder of Scott Beigel—life in prison
For the murder of Meadow Pollack—life in prison
For the murder of Cara Loughran—life in prison
For the murder of Joaquin Oliver— life in prison
For the murder of Jaime Guttenberg—life in prison
For the murder of Peter Wang—life in prison
This is a breaking story.
For More, Click: Alberto Santacruz Accused Of Shooting 5 At Las Vegas Birthday Party Was Tackled By Partygoers
