Florida suspect’s case still in limbo

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The death-penalty case against Nikolas Cruz in the 2018 massacre at a Florida high school remains in limbo.

At a brief hearing Tuesday, no decisions were made on a trial date because of continuing obstacles from the coronavirus pandemic. Cruz’s defense lawyers say they have almost no access to him in jail. They also said that the defense experts they insist must see him to build a case don’t have access either.

“We’re in a worldwide pandemic. It’s just not safe to be doing that right now,” said defense attorney Melisa McNeill in the hearing, held remotely. “All of that, unfortunately, is on hold.”

Broward County State Attorney Michael Satz said his office is ready for trial but added that they must await the filing of various anticipated defense motions. That is one of the issues interrupted by the coronavirus pandemic.

Cruz, 21, is charged with killing 17 people and wounding 17 others during a Valentine’s Day 2018 rampage with an AR-15-style rifle at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla.

Cruz’s court-appointed public defenders have repeatedly said that he would plead guilty in exchange for a life prison sentence. The state attorney’s office has rejected that, contending that a jury should decide his fate.

Satz, the state attorney, is leaving his post after 44 years. There are new candidates to replace Satz, including Democrat Harold Pryor who, if elected in November, would be the first Black state attorney in Broward County history.