Nikolas Cruz trial: Closing arguments conclude in Parkland shooting case as jury consider death penalty

Mr Satz concludes his closing argument by once again naming all of the victims of the massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School as their parents and family members look on from the gallery.

For each victim, he says: “The appropriate sentence for Nikolas Cruz is the death penalty.”

The court breaks for an early lunch ahead of the defence team’s closing statement.

The lead prosecutor of Florida school shooter Nikolas Cruz made his final push Tuesday to persuade jurors to sentence him to death, telling them during his closing argument that the 2018 attack that killed 17 people was cold, calculated and meticulously planned and deserving of execution.

Mike Satz said Cruz “was hunting his victims” as he stalked a three-story classroom building at Parkland‘s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School for seven minutes, firing into some victims at close range and returning to some wounded victims as they lay helpless “to finish them off.”

He pointed to Cruz’s internet writings and videos, where he talked about his murderous desires such as when he wrote, “No mercy, no questions, double tap. I am going to kill a ... ton of people and children.”

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The defence team is beginning its closing argument as to why Cruz should not face the death penalty.

Defence lawyer Melisa McNeill is putting forward the case for Cruz’s sentence to be life in prison. She is reiterating the mitigating factors the defence argues are behind Cruz’s actions.

In laying out her case, Ms McNeill says: “The things that I want to tell you are really, really important.”

A man in the gallery is seen shaking his head “no” as she said this.

She lists foetal alcohol syndrome and other early life problems among other reasons. She refers to him as brain-damaged and mentally ill and was “literally poisoned in the womb”.

Ms McNeill contends that as a society we do not execute mentally ill people. She insists that life in prison is the punishment he deserves.

The fate of mass murderer Nikolas Cruz will soon lie in the hands of a 12-person jury as his sentencing trial finally draws to a close more than four years on from the Parkland massacre.

Closing arguments got underway in court in Broward County, Florida, on Tuesday morning, with prosecutor Mike Satz laying out the state’s argument that Cruz, 24, should be handed the death penalty for his crimes.

The state has described how he planned his attack – researching other mass shooters online, making extensive preparations for the shooting and recording a video where he spoke of his plans.

Rachel Sharp reports for The Independent.

“Punishment without understanding is not justice,” Ms McNeill argues. “We can give mercy to the very people that deserve it the least. Mercy is not earned or deserved. It is bestowed on someone.”

“Mercy is what makes us civilized. Mercy is what puts an end to violence. Giving mercy to Nikolas will say more about who you are than it will ever say about him.”

Ms McNeil argues that Cruz’s problems stem from birth and were beyond his control.

“You now know that Nicholas is a brain-damaged, broken, mentally ill person, through no fault of his own. He was literally poisoned and Brenda’s womb.”

She adds: “He did not have control over who his biological mother is…”

Rachel Sharp reported on the earlier testimony that Cruz was subject to the effects of his mother’s alcohol abuse during pregnancy.

Ms McNeill pleads with the jury to choose “courage over comfort” and let Cruz live.

“You must be willing to do what is uncomfortable. You must be brave enough to follow your heart,” she said.