14/03/2018 Florida Prosecutors Seek Death Penalty For Nikolas Cruz

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March 14, 2018

Florida Prosecutors Seek Death Penalty For

Nikolas Cruz

The teenage gunman previously claimed that he will plead

guilty if the death penalty is taken off the table, 'CNN' reports.

NEWS MIKE STOCKER-POOL / GETTY IMAGES

Nikolas Cruz will likely face the death penalty after

prosecutors filed a notice of intent to seek execution on
Tuesday.

Van
The office of Broward County State Attorney Michael Satz
Bermudez
filed the formal notice of its intent to seek the death
sentence, ahead of a formal arraignment scheduled on
Wednesday.

According to CNN, the notice cited multiple aggravating

factors under Florida law that affected its decision to seek
the death penalty for the teenage gunman.

Apparently, prosecutors believe that Nikolas Cruz

“knowingly created a great risk of death” to many people
and that the shooting was “especially heinous, atrocious or
cruel.” They also added that he committed the attack in a
“cold, calculated and premeditated manner.”

Shortly after the filing of the notice, Broward County

Public Defender Howard Finkelstein repeated their offer
for Nikolas Cruz to plead guilty if the death sentence is
taken off the table.

Finkelstein reiterated that they still stand “ready to

immediately plead guilty to 34 consecutive life sentences
without the possibility of parole.” In case they were not
allowed to do so, Nikolas Cruz will “stand mute” to the
charges, BBC reported.

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14/03/2018 Florida Prosecutors Seek Death Penalty For Nikolas Cruz

The move appears to be the first step in a legal strategy

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that will keep him away from death row even if he is guilty
of the charges.

IN THE STYLE O
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Prosecutors are now seeking the death penalty for Nikolas Cruz.
Mike Stocker-Pool / Getty Images
NAL FILM FESTIV
And while Nikolas Cruz opted to stand mute, the outlet
AL
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pointed out that it still has the same immediate effect as a
not guilty plea. Apparently, Broward Circuit Judge The 2018 Berlin International
Elizabeth Scherer will most likely enter a not guilty plea Film Festival has just come to an
on his behalf to keep the process moving. end… so of course it's time to take
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The death sentence for the Florida school shooting suspect and misses of this year's
has already gained mixed reactions. While some were not Berlinale.
in favor of the move, others expressed their agreement to
the said penalty.

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14/03/2018 Florida Prosecutors Seek Death Penalty For Nikolas Cruz

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