Jury selection starts today for panel that'll help decide if Parkland school shooter gets the death

[brooklynite]

Source: CNN

(CNN)Potential jurors are due to arrive Monday at a Florida courthouse where they could be chosen to help decide the fate of Nikolas Cruz more than four years after he killed 17 people in the deadliest high school shooting in US history.

Cruz, now 23, pleaded guilty in October to 17 counts of murder and 17 counts of attempted murder for the 2018 Valentine's Day shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland that galvanized a nationwide movement against gun violence, helmed largely by the tragedy's teenage survivors and victims' families.

Prosecutors want a death sentence for Cruz, who at minimum faces life in prison. In states with the death penalty, a defendant deemed guilty of a capital offense faces a separate phase of court proceedings to determine the sentence.

Following Cruz's guilty pleas, the 12-member jury now being impaneled for the penalty phase will be asked to decide whether to recommend his execution. Six to eight alternates also are due to be picked, the judge said last week during a hearing.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2022/04/04/us/nikolas-cruz-sentencing-parkland-shooting/index.html

[PatrickforB]

1. I wonder if the parents and survivors would like to see him executed, or

whether they would prefer he spend the rest of his life in a cage.

[OverBurn]

2. Generally against the death penalty, but if anyone deserves it. Let the victim's parents decide.

[hlthe2b]

3. There have been so damned many, though Parkland stands out. Still, I'm trying to remember if the

shooter was the (supposedly) abused foster kid... Did we ever learn anything about his motive?

[twodogsbarking]

4. America.

[Jetheels]

5. How do you apologize for gunning down 17 high school kids in a high school?

Disgusting that he thinks he can do so.
What the fck does that even bring the parents, relatives, friends, our country? Oh, I’m sorry for killing all those people. Wtf.!!!???
If he were really sorry, if he had any remorse, he would ask for the death penalty.

[OLDMDDEM]

6. I hope he gets life in prison

That will give him time to think about what he did. The death penalty would basically let him get away with it. Life is a more severe punishment.

[llashram]

7. yes death sentence

at the least 17 life sentences, with no chance for parole...ever

[MurrayDelph]

11. "17 life sentences"

To be served consecutively.

[llashram]

14. exactly

[PJMcK]

8. The death penalty is barbaric

The government should never have that kind of power.

This man should be put in a super-max for the rest of his life. No parole.

The death penalty is wrong.

[LudwigPastorius]

9. This piece of human waste is already serving 25 years for attacking, beating, and...

tasing a prison guard.

Life with no parole seems reasonable IF he serves it in a supermax. Otherwise, he needs to be put down so he doesn't hurt or kill anyone else.

[KS Toronado]

10. The older I get, the more I'm against the death penalty

hardly a month goes by when we hear of another innocent individual being set free because our Justice System
is flawed. That being said, I'd love to see IQ4.5 before a BB gun firing squad for being a traitor.

[oldsoftie]

12. Should've been executed 3 years ago.

Ridiculous that it has taken this long to get to sentencing.
ZERO doubt of guilt. Premeditated. Incited terror. The list goes on. Some no longer deserve to breath our air.

[Coventina]

13. always and forever against the DP. n/t

[maxsolomon]

15. No chance he'll ever be paroled or released.

In some ways, the Death Penalty is more merciful than 60 years in a Federal Penitentiary.

Putting semi-automatic weapons into the hands of homicidal children is America's shame.

[Dial H For Hero]

16. Not the slightest doubt he's guilty. Kill him. The sooner the better.