![]() A plea of not guilty was entered on his behalf, though defense attorney Melisa McNeill emphasized that Nikolas Cruz is willing "at any time" to plead guilty "in exchange for a waiver of the death sentence" and instead spend the rest of his life behind bars.ĪBC News' Kevin Kraus and Benjamin Stein contributed to this report. 14 school shooting, for which Nikolas Cruz faces the death penalty. Zachary Cruz's latest arrest comes three weeks after his brother was formally arraigned on a 34-count indictment related to the Feb. The Broward County Sheriff's Office did not immediately respond to ABC News' request for comment on Kimok's statement. "That just wasn’t a condition we agreed to as part of his plea." We all drive past and walk past schools every day and many public parks are located near schools so I’m concerned if, as it appears, has violated him for going near a school," Kimok told ABC News in an email Wednesday. Zachary Cruz was expected to be called to the witness stand by the defense team, but he has since refused to testify after posting to Instagram on Tuesday. She observed Nikolas and Zachary Cruz being rough with the Cruz family dogs. "We agreed that Zach could not go on school property but there was nothing in his plea that said he couldn’t go near a school. He had also observed Cruzs Instagram with pictures of firearms posted. The SunSentinel reports that her lawyer, Brian Reidy said everyone has “hit the fear button” and that he doesn’t “blame a kid for taking a weapon to school, quite frankly, these days.” _Īssociated Press writer Gary Fineout in Tallahassee contributed to this report.Kimok, the attorney representing Zachary Cruz in the trespassing charge, said it's unusual for probation to be violated for driving without a license and that his client isn't banned from being near a school, other than Marjory Stoneman Douglas. Mollica separately imposed a $12,500 bail Wednesday on a Stoneman Douglas student who officials say pulled a small knife on a boy she accused of harassing her and a friend. Arreaza represents 15-year-old Anthony Borges, who was shot five times in the Valentine’s Day massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School that killed 17 people.Īrreaza had claimed the two offices have a conflict because both signed a 2016 agreement along with county school and law enforcement officials aimed at handling school disciplinary issues without involving law enforcement. Meanwhile, a judge rejected an attempt to remove Broward County prosecutors and its public defender from the Nikolas Cruz criminal case.Ĭircuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer said in an order dated Wednesday that attorney Alex Arreaza lacks legal standing to make such a motion. Nikolas Cruz will plead guilty to 17 counts of murder and 17 counts of attempted murder if prosecutors will waive the death penalty, his attorney has said. He spoke to the BBCs Samira Hussain about. Lynda Cruz died in November and their father died some years earlier. Patricia Devaney-Westerlind’s two children played with Nikolas and Zachary Cruz because they were about the same age and their mothers were close. Zachary Cruz is the only living relative of the man who has confessed to killing 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Both were adopted at very young ages by Roger and Lynda Cruz. They shared the same biological mother but had different fathers. ![]() Zachary and Nikolas, 19, both attended Stoneman Douglas. Zachary Cruz and Danielle Woodard, the biological brother and sister of Parkland gunman Nikolas Cruz are preparing to testify for him when the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting case. “They must be assured that every necessary step is being taken to increase safety and ensure no unauthorized people are allowed on campus.” “Parents, students and teachers have recently endured one of the worst tragedies in Florida history,” Scott said. The couple, who cofounded bond servicing company Nexus, took Zachary Cruz, 22, under their wing after his brother murdered 17 students and staff members at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on. An unspecified number of deputies, some armed with rifles, were added after the school reopened. Before the shooting, the school was patrolled by one armed deputy and unarmed guards. The troopers will be stationed at the school indefinitely, along with Broward County deputies, leaving an armed guard at every campus entrance point, Scott said in a statement.
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