Top Moments From Day 1
The first day of Parkland shooter Nikolas Cruz’s sentencing hearing was packed with emotions for the family of the shooting’s victims and survivors.
Cruz pleaded guilty to 17 counts of first-degree murder last fall. Jurors were sworn in last month to decide whether Cruz will be sentenced to the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole. The penalty phase of his case could take four months.
Day 1 Begins With Opening Statements
Cruz’s sentencing hearing began Monday morning at the Broward County Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Family members of some of the victims were photographed arriving at the courthouse before proceedings began.
The prosecution presented its opening statement first. Surrounded by his defense team, Cruz could be seen sitting with his head down while doodling as lead prosecutor Michael Satz delivered his team’s opening remarks.
Satz described a video he said Cruz filmed days before the shooting occurred. Satz said that, in the video, Cruz said he was “going to be the next school shooter in 2018” and added, “I can’t wait.”
The shooting that followed was a “systematic murder,” Satz said.
The defense team decided to save its opening statement for when the time comes to present Cruz’s case. After breaking for lunch, court resumed with the prosecution calling its first witnesses.
First Witness Takes the Stand
First to take the witness stand was Brittany Sinitch, who was a teacher at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School at the time of the shooting. Sinitch’s testimony was delayed as courtroom officials dealt with technical issues that arose in the first few minutes after she took the stand. Cruz’s defense team meanwhile requested a 45-day continuance, saying one of its key witnesses is retiring.
Once the technical issues were resolved, Sinitch began describing her memory of how the shooting unfolded. Her students were quick to react once they heard gunshots, she said, and made sure the classroom door was closed and the lights were off. Some students hid under Sinitch’s desk with her, while others hid in the corners of the classroom, she said.
Sinitch described calling 911 “out of instinct” shortly after the shooting began. She started crying on the stand as audio from that 911 call was played for the courtroom.
Court Plays Videos From Shooting
The prosecution called up former Marjory Stoneman Douglas student Danielle Gilbert as its second witness of the day. Gilbert recorded videos during the shooting, which were then played for the courtroom. Jurors were able to hear the video and watch the clips play, but the gallery could only hear the audio.
Cruz could be seen holding his head in his hands as the recordings played. Some of the victims’ family members who were in the gallery could be seen crying or leaving the room. Gilbert could also be seen crying on the stand as the recordings continued.
Audio of the Parkland gunman’s rampage filled a courtroom today as videos taken from inside a classroom were played for jurors.
“Somebody help me!” a boy could be heard screaming. “This can’t be real,” a girl whispered.
In court, parents sobbed. https://t.co/Bl4KaSIfDR
— Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs (@NickAtNews) July 18, 2022
The prosecution called former student Dylan Kraemer as its next witness. Kraemer had also recorded a video during the shooting, which was played to the courtroom.
Journalists in the courtroom reported that some people in the gallery could see the video Kraemer recorded from the shooting as it played. Some of the victims’ family members reacted by shouting, “Shut it off.” A deputy walked over to remind people in the gallery that they were not permitted to make comments as court was in session.
Kraemer’s snapchat video just played on the tv screens. Some of the family members of the victims said “shut it off!” with their hands in the air. The video played again as a deputy approached. He told them they couldn’t make comments. Sidebar @LawCrimeNetwork
— Angenette Levy (@Angenette5) July 18, 2022
Defense Calls for Mistrial
Cruz’s defense team then called for a mistrial, citing the yelling from victims’ family members in the gallery. Judge Elizabeth Scherer denied the motion.
The prosecution’s next few witnesses included the school’s former assistant principal, a retired FBI special agent and an FBI digital forensic examiner, all of whom took the stand briefly to answer questions about the school’s surveillance system.
Court in Recess
Court adjourned around 4:30 p.m. on Monday afternoon. The second day of Cruz’s sentencing hearing is expected to begin on Tuesday at about 9 a.m.
