Florida judge enters not-guilty plea for suspected Parkland shooter

[DonViejo]

Source: Reuters




MARCH 14, 2018 / 1:48 PM / UPDATED 3 MINUTES AGO

REUTERS
14 MAR 2018 AT 14:15 ET

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (Reuters) - A Florida judge on Wednesday entered a not-guilty plea for Nikolas Cruz, who is charged with shooting to death 17 students and staff last month in a massacre at a high school in Parkland, Florida.

Cruz, 19, chose to remain mute during the arraignment hearing in Broward County circuit court. Judge Elizabeth Scherer then entered the not-guilty plea on his behalf for 17 counts of first-degree murder and 17 counts of attempted murder. Scherer set April 27 for a hearing for attorneys to agree to a trial date.

Cruz, wearing an orange prison jumpsuit and shackled at wrists and ankles, sat alone and head bowed in what is normally the jury box, guarded by a dozen deputies.

State prosecutors have said they will seek the death penalty in the case. Cruz’s attorneys had said the teenager would plead guilty if prosecutors took away the death penalty option.


Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-guns-florida/florida-judge-enters-not-guilty-plea-for-suspected-parkland-shooter-idUSKCN1GQ2OB

[sandensea]

1. And the NRA, no contest.

At least it would be consistent.

[SoCalMusicLover]

2. All Of These Big Bad Murderers With Their Precious Guns

Then during the trial he sits there like some zombie, unable to speak or raise his head. I guess perhaps they want to keep the insanity defense as a possibility, but it's not gonna work.

I don't think they're going to have much trouble getting the death penalty on this one, which is why they did not entertain his lovely offer to plead guilty.

How come these fucking killers feel they have a right to choose between whether they get sentenced to death or not. They did not give their victims ANY choice whatsoever. It escapes me how they feel entitled to life, when they obviously have no regard for it.

[Aristus]

3. It's the gun-fuck mentality.

"See this? I have power over your life! Don't like it?" BLAMM!!

[Frustratedlady]

5. I imagine that when they dream of the thrill of the kill, they don't get far enough into it for

the consequences. All of a sudden, reality hits them between the eyes and they can't handle it. Most have been killed, so we don't see this part of the horrid scene.

Hate is a powerful thing when you are planning these killings. They must go through a high when they are planning it.

[ck4829]

7. You aren't the only one who noticed this. Some of us call it "the Shrug"

http://rw-infopedia.pbworks.com/w/page/117936291/%22The%20Shrug%22

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

4. That would be the normal procedure in any criminal prosecution.

At the arraignment the defendant can plead guilty; otherwise, he pleads not guilty and the process continued to trial (or to a later guilty plea). If the defendant refuses to say anything, the judge has to enter a not guilty plea for him because only the defendant himself can plead guilty, and he has to do so by specifically admitting to the crime (allocution) before the court can pass sentence. Since the prosecution has refused to take the death sentence off the table, Cruz has nothing to lose at this point by pleading not guilty and going to trial. In Florida, the jury has to vote unanimously to impose the death penalty so it looks like he has decided to take his chances with the jury.

[Laffy Kat]

6. Wonder if they are going for insanity? nt