The Parkland school shooter’s defense team is preparing to call their 10th witness on Thursday, as they present their case to save his life in Broward County court in Fort Lauderdale.
The defense needs only one of the 12 jurors to oppose the death sentence, so Nikolas Cruz is sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Cruz pleaded guilty to 17 counts of murder and 17 counts of attempted murder in October.
Assistant Public Defender Melisa McNeill said on Tuesday that her team has over 80 witnesses to testify. They called their first nine on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday to establish his biological mother, Brenda Woodard, used drugs and alcohol while pregnant and he suffered from developmental delays.
“Nikolas was a very peculiar little child. He was eight. He probably acted like he was maybe six at the most,” and he was “anxious, tense, short attention span, at times a little bit hyper, obviously aggressive ... fearful at times, rather withdrawn ... I thought he certainly showed some autistic tendencies,” Frederick M. Kravitz, a clinical psychologist, said later adding that Cruz “stuck out like a sore thumb” partly because “he acted peculiar.”
While treating him for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and oppositional defiance disorder, Kravitz said he noticed Cruz also exhibited symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder and autism spectrum disorder. Kravitz said he concluded the disorders were related to developmental delays and the symptoms could improve with treatment.
McNeill also called Caridad Harvey, a licensed mental health counselor who met Cruz when he was a fourth-grade student. She said he was diagnosed with ADHD and OCD and suffered from obsessions and catastrophic thoughts.
“In the beginning, his fears were excessive, affecting his daily life,” Harvey said.
Prosecutors rested their case on Aug. 4, after calling 91 witnesses in 12 days, including the 17 who survived the shooting wounds they suffered on Feb. 14, 2018, at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High’s 1200 building.
Roger Cruz, 67, Cruz’s adopted father, died on Aug. 1, 2004, when Cruz was five. Cruz’s adoptive mother died of complications with pneumonia on Nov. 1, 2017, and his biological mother died of cancer last year.
SEQUESTRATION RULE
Scherer warned witnesses who have yet to testify to stop watching the proceedings. She said on Tuesday that the prosecution that is seeking the death penalty had invoked the rule of sequestration, meaning witnesses cannot be in the courtroom to listen to the testimony of other witnesses or watch the proceeding on television or online.
Scherer said her order excludes mental health experts.
“Your testimony could be compromised. Your ability to testify could be compromised,” Scherer warned the witnesses who have yet to testify.
Watch a video of the judge’s order
Broward County Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer, who is presiding over the Parkland school shooter’s death penalty phase, warned witnesses on Tuesday to stop watching the proceedings after the prosecution invoked the rule of sequestration.
Interactive graphic
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The defense needs only one of the 12 jurors to oppose the death sentence, so Nikolas Cruz is sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Cruz pleaded guilty to 17 counts of murder and 17 counts of attempted murder in October.
Assistant Public Defender Melisa McNeill said on Tuesday that her team has over 80 witnesses to testify. They called their first nine on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday to establish his biological mother, Brenda Woodard, used drugs and alcohol while pregnant and he suffered from developmental delays.
“Nikolas was a very peculiar little child. He was eight. He probably acted like he was maybe six at the most,” and he was “anxious, tense, short attention span, at times a little bit hyper, obviously aggressive ... fearful at times, rather withdrawn ... I thought he certainly showed some autistic tendencies,” Frederick M. Kravitz, a clinical psychologist, said later adding that Cruz “stuck out like a sore thumb” partly because “he acted peculiar.”
While treating him for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and oppositional defiance disorder, Kravitz said he noticed Cruz also exhibited symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder and autism spectrum disorder. Kravitz said he concluded the disorders were related to developmental delays and the symptoms could improve with treatment.
McNeill also called Caridad Harvey, a licensed mental health counselor who met Cruz when he was a fourth-grade student. She said he was diagnosed with ADHD and OCD and suffered from obsessions and catastrophic thoughts.
“In the beginning, his fears were excessive, affecting his daily life,” Harvey said.
Prosecutors rested their case on Aug. 4, after calling 91 witnesses in 12 days, including the 17 who survived the shooting wounds they suffered on Feb. 14, 2018, at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High’s 1200 building.
Roger Cruz, 67, Cruz’s adopted father, died on Aug. 1, 2004, when Cruz was five. Cruz’s adoptive mother died of complications with pneumonia on Nov. 1, 2017, and his biological mother died of cancer last year.
SEQUESTRATION RULE
Scherer warned witnesses who have yet to testify to stop watching the proceedings. She said on Tuesday that the prosecution that is seeking the death penalty had invoked the rule of sequestration, meaning witnesses cannot be in the courtroom to listen to the testimony of other witnesses or watch the proceeding on television or online.
Scherer said her order excludes mental health experts.
“Your testimony could be compromised. Your ability to testify could be compromised,” Scherer warned the witnesses who have yet to testify.
Watch a video of the judge’s order
Broward County Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer, who is presiding over the Parkland school shooter’s death penalty phase, warned witnesses on Tuesday to stop watching the proceedings after the prosecution invoked the rule of sequestration.
Interactive graphic
Continue reading...
