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She told the jury they should have a full picture of Cruz's troubled history before they decide on his sentence. McNeill says she isn't trying to justify or explain the attack and the 17 deaths. Later, over the objections of counselors and friends, she brought him first a BB gun, and then when he turned 18, helped him buy a rifle.
Cruz at first ignored her son's problems and need for help, McNeill says. And that's why these things happen.ĪLLEN: McNeill placed some of the blame for Cruz's problems on his adoptive mother, Lynda Cruz, now deceased. She also talked about disturbing drawings and threats of violence Cruz continues to produce now while he's in jail. Defense attorney Melisa McNeill said she'll present evidence and testimony from experts that Cruz suffers from fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. She noted at the time that he was developmentally delayed and had significant behavioral problems. Another witness was one of Cruz's first teachers when he was just 3 years old. MCNEILL: And then she addressed Cruz directly.ĭEAKINS: Nikolas, I'm sorry, but that's how it was.ĪLLEN: The jury also heard from Cruz's older sister, who spoke about her mother's rampant drug and alcohol abuse. And so I'm not going to have to worry about it. She says she was angry when Woodard told her she was pregnant.ĬAROLYN DEAKINS: And I rant and raved a little bit. Deakins says both women worked as prostitutes to support their drug habit.
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Among the witnesses was Carolyn Deakins, who described herself as a recovering addict who used to abuse alcohol and crack cocaine with Cruz's birth mother, Brenda Woodard. Yesterday, the defense began telling Cruz's history in hopes that it may sway some jurors from a death sentence. Prosecutors have laid out a host of reasons they're asking for the death penalty - among them, the fact that multiple murders were committed and that it was, in legal parlance, horrendous, atrocious or cruel. Jurors must decide if aggravating factors outweigh mitigating factors. That means they must convince at least one juror that Cruz deserves a sentence of life in prison. But life without the possibility of parole is a severe enough penalty.ĪLLEN: Under Florida law, a unanimous verdict is required for the jury to deliver a sentence of death. MELISA MCNEILL: Everyone here agrees that Nikolas deserves to be punished, without a doubt.
In her opening statement yesterday, defense attorney Melisa McNeill acknowledged Cruz's responsibility and tried to turn the page.
In court, students and teachers who survived the shooting described the horrific events. The murders were captured on surveillance video. When he was done, 17 people were dead and 17 others were wounded. In February of 2018, Cruz, a troubled former student, entered a school building with an AR-15-style rifle and began shooting students and staff members. For weeks, the jury heard emotional and graphic testimony as prosecutors laid out the grim facts. GREG ALLEN, BYLINE: Defense lawyers for Nikolas Cruz deferred delivering their opening statement until the prosecution had made its case. Defense lawyers are asking the jury to spare Cruz's life. The jury now has two options, a sentence of life in prison without parole or the death penalty. Nikolas Cruz has already pleaded guilty to 17 counts of murder. Lawyers for the gunman who opened fire on Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida have begun to present their case.
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