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Florida Governor Ron DeSantis lashed out at the only “holdout” juror who convinced two others to give Parkland gunman Nikolas Cruz life behind bars instead of the death penalty, saying execution was the only “appropriate” sentence. before him.
Cruz was executed, but the jury voted against on Thursday, ending a months-long sentencing phase of his trial.
In 2018, he murdered 17 children and teachers at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas School.
The victims’ families had all requested that he be put to death, but a single juror refused.
In Florida, the jury must unanimously decide whether to sentence someone to death.
After the juror refused, they persuaded two others to vote for life in prison without the possibility of parole, bringing the final count to 9 for execution and three against.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis lashed out at the only “holdout” juror who convinced two others to give Parkland gunman Nikolas Cruz life behind bars instead of the death penalty, saying execution was the only “appropriate” sentence. was for him
Cruz killed 17 students and teachers at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Valentine’s Day in 2018. He killed more people than any previous death row inmate in Florida.
‘If you already have the death penalty, then you kill those students with premeditation, you deserve the death penalty.
“It was eleven to one with one steadfast, refusing to approve the ultimate penalty. That means this killer will end up getting the same punishment as people who committed bad deeds, but deeds that didn’t rise to this level,” DeSantis said.
He also criticized the slow pace at which the process has moved.
“We’re four and a half years after these murders and we’re only getting this now? They used to do this, he would be executed in six months.
‘He is guilty. Everyone knew that from the start. Yet it takes years and years in this legal system that does not serve the interests of the victims.
“I just don’t think anything else is appropriate in this case other than the main penalty,” he said.
Others are now asking what the point of the death penalty in Florida if it isn’t given to the worst killers.
Cruz killed 17 students and teachers at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Valentine’s Day in 2018 — more than any other death row inmate in state history.
Palm Beach Democratic Attorney General Dave Aronberg asked afterwards, “It’s rare to get a death penalty in South Florida.
“I respect the jury’s decision in the Nikolas Cruz case, but if the death penalty doesn’t apply to the slaughter of 17 innocents – almost all children – then when?”
The execution chamber at Florida State Prison. The last person to be executed there was in 2019
His opinion has been shared by countless others, many of whom say it is proof why it should be abolished.
“I don’t believe in the death penalty, but if this crime doesn’t deserve it, what crime does? Just wonder if he was black, would he get the death penalty? The death penalty should be abolished,” said one person.
The last person to be executed in Florida was Gary Ray Bowles. He murdered six men in random attacks and was executed in 2019
“If someone as guilty as Cruz avoids the death penalty, abolish it outright.
“There’s no point in keeping it quiet if cases that are obvious don’t get the penalty,” another joked.
Florida’s death penalty law requires a jury to vote unanimously in favor of execution.
The last person to be executed in the state was Gary Bowles, a serial killer who randomly attacked men — including gay men — on Interstate 59.
He was convicted in 1999 and was eventually executed in 2019 at Florida State Prison.
In Cruz’s case, it’s unclear how many jurors voted for and how many against.
The decision shocked some of the victims’ parents and relatives.
Corey Hixon, the special son of a teacher who was massacred, walked out of the courtroom as other parents clung to each other, incredulous at the verdict.
The parents of some of the murdered children watched in disbelief today as the jury spared Cruz from death
Outrage: Many of the families testified during the months-long sentencing phase of Cruz’s trial. They all wanted to see him put to death