FORT LAUDERDALE – What led the Parkland shooter to commit mass homicide? His protection attorneys, Â who’re combating to maintain him off dying row, say the reply lies earlier than he took his first breath
One of the nation’s main fetal alcohol researchers testified Tuesday that Nikolas Cruz’s start mother drank extra throughout her pregnancy than any lady he is ever seen documented.
Dr. Kenneth Jones mentioned medical and different data present Brenda Woodard effectively exceeded the requirements that grossly endanger a fetus: six drinks per week for 2 weeks or three drinks in a sitting twice. A buddy additionally testified earlier that Woodard, a Fort Lauderdale prostitute, heavily drank fortified wine and malt liquor throughout her pregnancy with Cruz earlier than placing him up for adoption. She died final 12 months.
“I know I have never seen so much alcohol consumed by a pregnant woman,” mentioned Jones, a former University of California, San Diego, medical school professor who did a number of the pioneering analysis on fetal alcohol abuse 50 years in the past.
Cruz, 23, pleaded responsible final October to murdering 14 college students and three workers members on Feb. 14, 2018, at Parkland’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. His trial, now ending its second month, is just to find out whether or not he’s sentenced to dying or life with out parole.
His attorneys are attempting to indicate that Woodard’s alcohol abuse throughout pregnancy put Cruz onto a lifelong path of erratic, weird and sometimes violent habits that culminated in the shootings.
Jones informed the jury that whereas there may be disagreement over whether or not Woodard abused cocaine throughout her pregnancy – witnesses mentioned she did, assessments point out she did not – that would not have made a major distinction given her alcohol abuse.
“You can take all of the illicit drugs you can think of – heroin, marijuana, methamphetamine, cocaine – and wrap them up in a single bag and they don’t hold a candle to alcohol for its effect on a developing baby,” Jones mentioned.
He mentioned his examination exhibits Cruz falls into fetal alcohol spectrum dysfunction – a broad class – however doesn’t have the extra narrowly outlined fetal alcohol syndrome. He mentioned the latter has sure bodily traits that pediatricians can acknowledge akin to skinny lips, slender eyelid openings and a easy philtrum – the ridge between the nostril and mouth.
He mentioned that lack of bodily traits can really be detrimental because the little one will not get the right early therapy for the injury the alcohol has achieved to the mind. He mentioned adoptive moms like Lynda Cruz may additionally be afraid to report back to docs what they find out about a start mother’s alcohol abuse due to the stigma it could connect to their little one.
Jones mentioned indicators of fetal alcohol injury to a baby embrace irritability, severe mood tantrums and important behavioral issues. He mentioned like Cruz, they’re usually recognized with consideration deficit hyperactivity dysfunction, lack management at school and are aggressive towards their moms and academics. Earlier testimony has proven Cruz demonstrating all these points. He additionally mentioned such sufferers usually have issue organizing and planning their actions.
Under cross-examination, nevertheless, prosecutors confirmed that Cruz spent months mapping out the bloodbath.
Jones conceded throughout cross-examination by lead prosecutor Mike Satz that he was not conscious that Cruz spent months researching different mass shootings, how lengthy it takes police to reply to a school taking pictures, what sort of gun to make use of and the way he might conceal it whereas getting into the school.
Jones’ testimony adopted neuropsychologist Paul Connor, who mentioned Cruz by way of his life has proven indications on assessments that he has alcohol-related psychological points.
Cruz’s public defenders are attempting to persuade at the least one of many 12 jurors to vote for all times – a dying verdict have to be unanimous.
They are attempting to beat the prosecution’s case, which targeted on Cruz’s bloodbath as he stalked a three-story classroom constructing for seven minutes with an AR-15-style semiautomatic rifle. Lead prosecutor Mike Satz performed safety movies of the taking pictures and confirmed the rifle Cruz used. Teachers and college students testified about watching others die.
Satz confirmed graphic post-mortem and crime scene images and took jurors to the fenced-off constructing, which stays blood-stained and bullet-pocked. Parents and spouses gave tearful and indignant statements about their loss.
After the protection concludes its case in the approaching weeks, the prosecution will current a rebuttal case earlier than the jury’s deliberations start.
