FORT LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) – Jury choice within the dying penalty trial of Parkland college shooter Nikolas Cruz is predicted to renew on Monday following a week-long delay.
The delay was issued after each prosecutors and protection attorneys informed Broward Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer they want extra time to arrange for skilled witnesses.
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Judge Scherer has additionally already moved the beginning of the sentencing trial from May 31 to June 13.
Hundreds of potential jurors will probably be screened over the subsequent few weeks because the pool is pared all the way down to 12 plus eight alternates for a four-month trial.
To be chosen, candidates should say they will choose Cruz pretty and vote for the dying penalty if the proof requires it. Under Florida legislation, all 12 jurors must unanimously agree earlier than the defendant is sentenced to dying.
The jury will weigh whether or not the prosecution’s aggravating elements such because the a number of deaths, Cruz’s planning and his cruelty outweigh mitigating elements similar to his lifelong psychological well being issues, doable fetal alcohol syndrome and the early deaths of his adoptive dad and mom.
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The scale of Cruz’s killings, the intensive native media protection and the trial’s size are requiring an extra-large pool of potential jurors. The case is the deadliest U.S. mass capturing to make it to trial.
More than 1,200 potential jurors have been screened since April 4, with about 250 passing the primary hurdle: Can they serve from June by way of September? Another 700 or extra are more likely to be screened beginning April 25.
Cruz confessed to killing 17 individuals when he opened fireplace at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland on February 14th, 2018.
He pleaded responsible to the murders final October.
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