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Expert in Nikolas Cruz trial says he has ‘never seen’ pregnant woman drink so much alcohol
The sentencing trial of Parkland gunman Nikolas Cruz resumed on Tuesday morning, with prosecutors beginning their rebuttal case.
Jurors were shown some of the internet history and online searches made by Cruz in the lead-up to the massacre, including searches for Nazi paraphernalia and for nude images of little girls.
Cruz also used racist language and spoke of his hatred for Black people online.
In the rebuttal, the state is seeking to show that Cruz is a sociopath who planned his attack and has shown no remorse for the murders of 17 students and staff members challenging Cruzs defense that behavioral and psychological issues, including fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) led him to carry out one of the worst mass shootings in American history.
Back on Valentines Day 2018, Cruz, then 19, traveled to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School armed with an AR-15.
He entered the freshman building and stalked the three floors, gunning down students and staff.
Cruz, now 24, pleaded guilty in October 2021 to 17 counts of murder and 17 counts of attempted murder.
Jurors will now decide whether to sentence him to death or to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Nikolas Cruzs sentencing trialShow latest update 1664296219What is antisocial personality disorder?
Antisocial personality disorder is a mental disorder where the individual consistently shows no regard for right and wrong and ignores the rights and feelings of others, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Often referred to as sociopathy, people with the disorder often break the law and engage in criminality, commit acts of violence, lie and abuse alcohol and drugs.
They show no guilt or remorse for their behavior.
Early symptoms include behavioral problems such as aggression toward people and animals, stealing, destroying property and deceitfulness. Typically, adults with the disorder will have begun showing signs and symptoms of the disorder before the age of 15.
Rachel Sharp27 September 2022 17:30
1664294419Legal teams argue over evidence to be presented in court
During the recess, the defense and prosecution disagreed about evidence to be presented in court in the states rebuttal.
Prosecutors are seeking to argue that Cruz is a sociopath who planned his attack and has shown no remorse for his actions.
Part of this argument involves jurors hearing what Cruz told a doctor about the 2018 massacre.
Cruz said that when he killed student Peter Wang, he watched his head blow up like a water balloon, the judge heard.
He also described seeing another victim crawling in the stairwell after being shot. I shot her again, he said, according to prosecutors.
The doctor recorded how Cruz admitted to killing staff member Chris Hixon because he gave him a nasty look.
The security guard gave me a nasty look so I shot him in the head, he said.
Hixons widow Debbi Hixon was seen wiping away tears as she listened in the gallery.
The defense is asking the judge not to allow the state to present this evidence.
Meanwhile, lead prosecutor Mike Satz argued that it is relevant to the states case that he has an anti-social personality disorder, as it shows that Cruz is callous and has no feeling for others.
Rachel Sharp27 September 2022 17:00
1664292637Judge dismisses jurors for lunch
Judge Elizabeth Scherer has dismissed the jurors for lunch.
The jury had not yet returned from the morning break as the defense and prosecution continue to argue about evidence that can be presented in court.
At around 11.30am, the judge decided to tell jurors they could break for lunch as the housekeeping is likely to continue for at least another 15 minutes.
The afternoon session will resume at 1pm ET.
Rachel Sharp27 September 2022 16:30
1664290819Court is on morning recess
The judge ordered an extended recess after Detective Nicholas Masterss testimony, so that she could hear arguments for motions from the defense and prosecution.
The two legal teams are arguing over evidence that the state plans to admit in its rebuttal.
Rachel Sharp27 September 2022 16:00
1664289733Jurors hear Cruzs racist and Nazi online searches
Nikolas Cruzs racist and Nazi online searches are being revealed in court.
Detective Nicholas Masters, an electronic data analyst with the Broward County Sheriffs Office, searched Cruzs online search history and internet activity from the lead-up to the 2018 massacre.
He read out several of Cruzs searches where he searched for Nazi paraphernalia and information, used racist language and spoke of his hatred for Black people and searched for nude images of little girls.
On 17 September 2017, Cruz searched for Nazi flag buy. The next month, he carried out a search for Hitlers birthday. He later searched for a swastika tattoo.
Much of Cruzs online activity revealed his hatred of Black people and threats to kill.
I cant wait to kill Black people and rape a girl in 2020, he wrote online.
I will kill as many Black people as I can.
Cruz also carried out searches for nude images of young girls prior to the massacre.
Among the searches were the phrases little girls naked in shower and little girl p***ies.
The gunman also wrote online about hating people and animals and claimed he killed 12 cats.
Under cross-examination, the defense pointed out that Cruz had also conducted online searches for mental disorders, group therapy sessions, autism and lonely and loneliness.
Detective Masters tested earlier at the trial, during the states case.
During that testimony, he read aloud several of Cruzs other online searches for information and videos about mass shootings, including those at Virginia Tech, in Las Vegas and at Columbine High School.
He searched for how many rounds were fired in the massacres, the weapons used and information about the gunmen, the court heard.
Rachel Sharp27 September 2022 15:42
1664288501Second witness testifies to seeing swastika on Cruzs boots
Broward Sheriffs Office Detective Clint Williams is the second witness to testify, joining over video call.
He visited the local hospital in the aftermath of the Valentines Day attack where he came into contact with Cruz.
He tested that he seized and photographed his boots.
The court was shown a photo of Cruzs black military style boots which had a swastika carved into them.
He said the Nazi symbol was carved into the right boot, while there was nothing on the left boot.
Photo shown in court of Nikolas Cruzs boots with a swastika carved into one of them
(Law&Crime)
Rachel Sharp27 September 2022 15:21
1664287909Jurors shown gun magazine with swastika
The AR-15 used by Cruz to murder 17 students and staff members was brought into court and shown to the jurors.
Sgt Gloria Crespo testified that she photographed the gun on the third floor stairwell where Cruz left it following the massacre.
Jurors were shown a photo of the gun at the scene and a photo of a 30-capacity magazine, with a swastika scratched on the side.
The sergeant tested that there were two swastikas on the magazine one on each side.
Nikolas Cruzs gun magazine with a swastika carved into it
(Law&Crime)
Rachel Sharp27 September 2022 15:11
1664287563Tuesdays first witness: Sgt Gloria Crespo
The first witness called to the stand in the states rebuttal is Sgt Gloria Crespo, a crime scene investigator on the case.
The officer tested that she found and photographed Nikolas Cruzs AR-15, the Smith & Wesson M&P 15, in Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in the immediate aftermath of the massacre.
Rachel Sharp27 September 2022 15:06
1664286632Judge denies new defense motion for mistrial
Judge Elizabeth Scherer has denied a new defense motion for a mistrial.
Before the jury entered the courtroom on Tuesday morning, the defense requested a mistrial based on the judges ruling to allow the gun used in the massacre and Nikolas Cruzs drawings of swastikas to be shown in court.
The judge immediately denied the request.
She said that the state is permitted to enter evidence in the scrap that was not previously admitted in the trial.
Rachel Sharp27 September 2022 14:50
1664285909Nikolas Cruz, victims families enter courtroom
Nikolas Cruz, the defense team and the prosecution team entered the courtroom at around 9.30am ET ahead of the days proceedings.
Cruz, who turned 24 on Saturday, was seen speaking to David Wheeler at the defense table.
Several family members of the victims entered the courtroom and sat in the gallery minutes later.
The victims families have been present throughout the trial, being forced to listen to harrowing testimony about their loved ones final moments.
Rachel Sharp27 September 2022 14:38
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