FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Nikolas Cruz pleaded guilty to the premeditated murder of 17 people on Feb. 14, 2018, at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland. A jury will have to decide if he deserves the death penalty or life in prison.
Broward Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer, who is presiding over the case, said she expects the trial’s penalty phase to start on May 31st and run through September.
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The court randomly selected a group of potential jurors who completed a questionnaire to help determine if they are qualified. The initial pool had 1,000 residents. The list will get shorter and shorter as the process continues.
Most will claim the length of the process will cause them hardship. Others will know a person who has a link to the case or have strong prejudices. And through a process known as voir dire, Scherer and the attorneys will question the potential jurors to exclude those who are not capable of fairness.
Scherer aims to select 20 Broward County residents who will serve for about six months. Eight will serve as alternate jurors and 12 will serve as jurors. Scherer will determine the law that applies to the case and will instruct the jury.
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