The prosecution has rested its rebuttal case in the sentencing trial of Nikolas Cruz, the 24-year-old gunman who murdered 17 students and staff members in a mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School back on Valentine’s Day 2018.
Closing arguments will now take place on Tuesday with jurors expected to begin deliberations within a matter of days – where they will decide whether to sentence the Parkland shooter to life in prison or to death.
During the state’s rebuttal, prosecutors have sought to show that Cruz is a sociopath who carefully planned the massacre for many months – even years – before carrying out one of the worst school shootings in US history.
Clinical neuropsycholohgist Dr Robert Denney testified on Thursday that Cruz has antisocial personality disorder and borderline personality disorder – but not fetal alcohol spectrum disorder as the defence has claimed.
Jurors were also shown footage of Cruz telling the expert that he was sexually abused when he was nine years old by a boy who lived next door.
