Parkland School Shooting Report Must Be Released To Public, Judge Rules
Source: Sun Sentinel
3 hrs. ago.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — The public has a right to see the Broward school district's report about Parkland shooter Nikolas Cruz, a judge ruled Friday. Cruz's attorneys argued unsuccessfully in court that the report, based on a consultant's review of Cruz's educational records, would hinder his right to a fair trial.
"It's a whitewash," said David Frankel, one of the defense attorneys on the case, told the judge in court. He said the report was commissioned by the school district to absolve it of responsibility for how it handled Cruz's complex psychological problems.
Broward Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer ruled that nothing in the report would affect Cruz's right to a fair trial. She noted that the report is heavily blacked out — about 27 pages that deal with the specific details of Cruz's school records are concealed at the school district's request.
Attorneys for the school district said they were waiting to see if the Broward Public Defender's Office appeals the ruling before releasing the report. The defense team immediately said it does not plan to appeal...More...
Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/parkland-school-shooting-report-must-be-released-to-public-judge-rules/ar-BBLsONo
Handcuffed, shackled and wearing red "maximum security inmate" jail scrubs, Cruz sat and stared into his lap during the hearing. He did not speak publicly but chatted briefly with his attorneys.
Security in the courtroom was tight, with about a dozen armed Broward sheriff's deputies fanned out around the room.
The defense team had asked the judge handling his criminal case to block the release of the report, saying it would make it difficult to find an impartial jury if the case goes to trial on charges he murdered 17 people and wounded 17 others on Feb. 14.
