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Nikolas Cruz pleads guilty to 2018 Parkland school massacre
[IsraelTimes] Nikolas Cruz ...diagnoses of autism, depression and significant psychological problems, described as a troubled kid obsessed with guns — the police came to the family home frequently to deal with him — Mr. Cruz was adopted at birth. His adoptive father died when he was young, then his adoptive mother died a few months before he ran amok, so really he was a classic school shooter... has pleaded guilty to murder in the 2018 high school massacre in Parkland, Florida, that left 17 dead.Cruz, 23, entered his pleas in a courtroom hearing attended by a dozen relatives of victims, after answering a long list of questions from Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer aimed at confirming his mental competency. He was charged with 17 counts of murder and 17 counts of attempted first-degree murder for those maimed in the February 14, 2018, attack at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, located just outside Fort Lauderdale. A penalty trial will determine whether Cruz will receive a sentence of death or life in prison without parole. Scherer plans to begin screening jurors next month in hopes testimony can begin in January. As several parents shook their heads, Cruz apologized, saying, "I’m very sorry for what I did... I can’t live with myself sometimes." He also added that he wished it was up to the survivors to determine whether he lived or died. Several parents and other relatives of victims broke down in tears while listening to the court proceedings via a Zoom call. Related: Nikolas Cruz: 2021-10-15 Good Morning Nikolas Cruz: 2021-10-15 Parkland mass shooter Nikolas Cruz 'will plead guilty to all 17 counts of premeditated murder and 17 counts of attempted murder' rather than going through full trial Nikolas Cruz: 2021-09-03 Lawyers for Parkland school shooter Nikolas Cruz insist he shouldn't be called 'the killer' during his trial, and murder of 17 people should not be referred to as a 'massacre' because they are 'prejudicial references' Posted by: trailing wife 2021-10-21 |
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