The sentencing trial for Nikolas Cruz, the school shooter in Parkland, is now in its third week. Autopsy data was used by prosecutors once again on Monday to show the jury the catastrophic impact of the high-velocity rifle used in the massacre four years ago.
Dr. Terrill Tops, a former associate of the Broward Medical Examiner, testified first for the prosecution. Tops, MD, said that he was the one who conducted the autopsies of students Joaquin Oliver and Luke Hoyer. Additionally, he did the autopsy on Aaron Feis, the football coach at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
Dr. Tops testified about the victims of the school shooting, including Oliver, and he described in detail the injuries that they experienced. The teen, aged 17, was shot and died in the corridor outside of his classroom in the 1200 building at the school.
The medical examiner testified that Oliver died from several gunshot wounds. He also went into detail about Oliver’s head injuries. The testimony brought tears to the eyes of Oliver’s mother, sister, and girlfriend.
Luke Hoyer: Who happened to him in Parkland?
Even Luke Hoyer’s wounds were read out loud. On his way back to class on the ground floor, he was shot twice. “A large quantity of blood,” Dr. Tops stated, “the hemorrhage proceeded into his right chest cavity and started compressing his lungs, by effectively drowning his and compressing his lungs.” Both Hoyer’s mom and dad were there, wiping away tears as they listened.
Det. Ronald Faircloth of the BSO testified that he conducted a forensic study of the shooter’s cellphone. He displayed the shooter’s communications and internet searches, which demonstrated that the massacre had been planned in advance.
The shooter’s cell phone films, made days before to the shooting, were played for the jury and revealed his motive and method.
The jury started hearing victim impact statements Monday afternoon about how the unexpected deaths of loved ones have altered their life. Members of the defence team for the gunman broke down in tears during the testimony.
Kelly Petty, whose daughter Alaina was killed at age 14, broke down in tears as she described how devastating it is to lose her “love to help” daughter forever. Meghan Petty, her sister, expressed the universal sentiment, “The world has lost an angel.”
On Monday, Danielle Woodard, Cruz’s biological sister, came out and stated her desire to speak on his behalf in court. At the moment, Woodard, age 35, is incarcerated at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.
Woodard has a lengthy criminal history that includes attempts at felony murder and violent arrests as well as fraud. Legal expert Maria Schneider adds, “I worry myself, what she may lawfully say that is acceptable and significant.”
Schneider, a former prosecutor for the state attorney’s office, claims that the purpose of Cruz’s legal team is to make their client more likeable. Woodard could testify about her mother’s alleged substance addiction, but she didn’t grow up with Cruz.
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