Nikolas Cruz might face the death penalty if the jury defines it unanimously.
Photo: Taimy Alvarez/Pool/Getty Images
A Florida judge denied the request by Nikolas Cruz’s lawyers to delay his client’s sentencing hearingwho is the confessed perpetrator of a mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, that left 17 dead.
The 23-year-old’s lawyers pointed out that in the face of the recent shootings in Buffalo, New York and Uvalde, Texas, a “wave of emotions” has been unleashed at the national level that would cause a “bias” in the decision-making of the jury, for what they pointed out that scheduling the hearing for July 18 is too early.
Faced with such a request, Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer denied the request on Thursday, and stated that the process that was done to select the jury did not show inconveniences related to the recent mass shootings, reported Fox News.
“There has been no negative impact on their rights to a fair trial, and there is no basis to pursue this matter.”specified Judge Scherer in the ruling.
Last Tuesday, seven men and five women were selected as jurors for Cruz’s trial. Jurors are expected to determine at the hearing whether it is recommended that the Parkland massacre perpetrator be sentenced to life in prison or whether he will receive the death penalty.
For the death penalty to be determined, it will be necessary for the jury to vote for that option unanimously.
For its part, the defense is looking for at least one member of the jury who does not vote for the application of the death penalty, in order to fulfill the objective of the defense, which is that Cruz spends the rest of his days in prison.
Cruz pleaded guilty in October 2021 to murdering 17 people at the high school on February 14, 2018, a case that caused shock in the United States.
Cruz’s sentencing trial is expected to last approximately four months.
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