Nikolas Cruz's defence claims his birth mother's addictions 'poisoned' his brain

Updated on August 23, 2022 22:48 PM by Dhinesh

Nikolas Cruz's counsel

Nikolas Cruz's counsel asked jurors to consider his chaotic family and mental health difficulties before deciding his fate. In relaying Nik's narrative, public defender Melisa McNeill remarked, "we'll offer you reasons for life." Mitigation. Mitigation is any reason why the death penalty isn't acceptable.

McNeill to Cruz

McNeill said Cruz displayed early indicators of foetal alcohol spectrum disorder and antisocial personality disorder due to his birth mother's drug and alcohol misuse during pregnancy. Nikolas was poisoned in the womb because of all these things. McNeill added that because of this, the man's brain was irreparably damaged. Cruz is on trial for killing 17 people and wounded 17 others at a high school in Parkland, Florida, in February 2018. It was Cruz's first defence appearance. His attorneys deferred their opening statements, didn't cross-examine any survivors, and asked basic questions of other witnesses. A lady said Cruz's birth mother used drugs and alcohol while pregnant, and Cruz's sister recounted living with a "terrible mother." Cruz pleaded guilty in October to 17 murder and 17 attempted murder counts; his sentencing is pending. Prosecutors want the death penalty, but Cruz's attorneys plead for life without parole.

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"Cold, calculative, manipulative, and murderous"

Over three weeks in July and August, prosecutors contended Cruz was "cold, calculative, manipulative, and murderous" in his attack and invited students, instructors, police officers, and victims' family members to testify. Prosecutors took jurors to the undisturbed shooting scene at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Jurors must unanimously recommend Cruz's execution. Alyssa Alhadeff, 14, Martin Duque Anguiano, 14, Nicholas Dworet, 17, Jaime Guttenberg, 14, Luke Hoyer, 15, Cara Loughran, 14, Gina Montalto, 14, Joaquin Oliver, 17, Alaina Petty, 14, Meadow Pollack, 18, Helena Ramsay, 17, Alex Schachter, 14, Carmen Schentrup, 16, and Peter Wang, 14, were killed.

Geography teacher Scott Beigel

Geography teacher Scott Beigel, 35, wrestling coach Chris Hixon, 49, and assistant football coach Aaron Feis, 37, were also killed. McNeill described Cruz's traumatic family life in opening statements Monday, including his birth mother's addiction and the death of his adoptive parents. McNeill called Cruz "broken and wounded" and said attorneys will show the court troubling things he said and wrote, his obsessions with weapons and devils, and his school shooting "manifesto."

Broken brain

She said, "His brain's broken." "He's broken brain. So this happens.” McNeill described Cruz's contacts with the public education system, which she said failed him. Cruz's early developmental problems included trouble communicating. McNeill stated he bit, lashed out emotionally, and had intellectual impairment. Cruz started special education at age 6 and struggled socially and intellectually, she added. He was barred from carrying a backpack and taken from class to class after bringing a gun to school, McNeill said. In October 2016, Cruz and his adoptive mother bought a weapon.

Stoneman Douglas High School

McNeill says Stoneman Douglas High School employees had concerns about his behaviour. Cruz, 18, was told to leave school in February 2017 and ran off, McNeill said. McNeill says a school monitor warned, "That kid will shoot up this school" McNeill's mother Lynda Cruz's death in November 2017 shook his stability. She said law enforcement had visited his home 40 times before the shooting. "We'll tell you Nikolas's story so you'll vote for life. She said, “Do that.” Brenda Woodard, Cruz's birth mother, allegedly took drugs and drank alcohol while pregnant. Carolyn Deakins, a recovering addict who took drugs, drank, and worked as a prostitute with Woodard in the 1990s, testified Woodard didn't care about the baby and spent all her money on drugs and alcohol. Danielle Woodard, Cruz's sister, said her mother's drug and alcohol problems made their childhood miserable.

Danielle Woodard

"She was hooked. She put that before me, him, Zach (Cruz), or anyone,” she said. She continued, "She showed me a life no child should see." She didn't care about our lives. Brenda Woodard gave Cruz up for adoption in 1998. Danielle Woodard cuddled Cruz as a baby but hasn't seen him since Monday. Cruz's siblings may testify in defence. Judge Elizabeth Scherer granted the state's move to compel Zachary Cruz's and Richard Moore's depositions last week. Zachary Cruz and Richard Moore must answer all state questions at their deposition on September 6. Prosecutors probed Danielle Woodward about her relationship with Michael Donovan and Michael Moore during cross-examination.

Zachary Cruz’s lawyer

Woodard said she's called Moore twice. She stated he sent her food and money during her last sentence, despite she didn't know him before the shooting. Assistant State Attorney Jeff Marcus asked Woodard if she knew Moore was paying for her new counsel. Zachary Cruz hired him, she said. Zachary Cruz had the same lawyer. Marcus asked Woodward if she knew Moore and Donovan produced "Being Zachary Cruz" She hadn't seen the show. Susan Hendler Lubar, a South Florida special needs teacher, said Cruz was hostile and non-communicative at age 4.

Children pushed by Nikolas

"Nikolas pushed children, scratched them, and overturned furniture," she alleged. "He avoided other kids and pounced if they went too close." Hendler Lubar began observing and recording his behaviour, especially his anger and "animal fancies" She sought to determine his behavior's reason and prevent it. She believed Cruz's aggressive behaviour was prompted by other kids. Hendler Lubar's form as Cruz's teacher was produced in court. She wrote on the form that the youngster rarely overreacted to reprimands or redirection, rarely cooperated with peers, and rarely made friends readily. She noted he rarely showed self-control or obeyed rules.

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