Attorneys for the Parkland school shooter have suddenly and surprisingly rested their case, leading to a heated exchange after the judge accused them of a lack of professionalism.
The sudden announcement by lead attorney Melisa McNeill led to a heated exchange between her and Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer, who called the decision without warning to her or the prosecution"the most uncalled for, unprofessional way to try a case."
Mike Satz threw his hands up when Scherer asked if they could begin and, with a nervous laugh, said"no."Scherer then accused the defense attorneys of being inconsiderate to all involved, but especially the jurors for wasting their trip to court. Judge Elizabeth Scherer speaks sharply calling lead defense attorney Melisa McNeill"unprofessional" after McNeill announced the defense's intention to rest their case during the penalty phase of the trial of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooter Nikolas Cruz at the Broward County Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale on Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2022. McNeill countered angrily,"You are insulting me on the record in front of my client," before Scherer told her to stop.
Cruz, 23, pleaded guilty last October to murdering 14 students and three staff members on Feb. 14, 2018, at Parkland's Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. His trial, now ending its second month, is only to determine whether he is sentenced to death or life without parole.His attorneys' theme throughout their case has been to show how his birth mother's alcohol abuse during pregnancy put him ontoof erratic, bizarre and often violent behavior that culminated in the shootings.
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