The defense in the Parkland mass shooting trial rested its case. The abrupt announcement came Wednesday morning and sparked criticism from the judge, who accused attorneys of wasting a day of court by not letting anyone know ahead of time.
Assistant State Attorneys, from left; Carolyn McCann, Jeff Marcus, and Mike Satz speak at the prosecution table after the defense rested 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. Cruz previously plead guilty to all 17 counts of premeditated murder and 17 counts of attempted murder in the 2018 shootings.
The defense in the Parkland mass shooting trial rested its case Wednesday, shocking the judge and prosecutors who were unprepared for the start of the next and final phase of testimony.The abrupt announcement came Wednesday morning and sparked heated criticism from a visibly stunned Broward Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer, who accused attorneys of wasting a day of court by not letting anyone know ahead of time.
There was no prior warning to the public, the prosecution or the judge. Defendant Nikolas Cruz, 23, did not take the stand, and prosecutors had not made preparations to begin presenting their rebuttal case.I am in complete shock. That is all I will say about the trial at this time. Once the jury renders its verdict, I will have much to say.“We’re not playing chess,” the judge said when the defense announced its intention. “This is the most uncalled for, unprofessional way to try a case.
“You all knew about this. Even if you didn’t make your decision until this morning,” she said. “To have 22 people plus all of the staff and every attorney march into court and be waiting as if it’s some kind of game ... I have never experienced a level of unprofessionalism in my career. It’s unbelievable.”
Lead defense lawyer Melisa McNeill attempted to explain the decision, but the judge told her to wait.Assistant Public Defender Melisa McNeill speaks to the court after Judge Elizabeth Scherer called McNeill “unprofessional” when 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.
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