Florida school massacre finally goes to trial on Monday

By TERRY SPENCER
Associated Press

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — The deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history ever to make it to trial is finally about to go before a jury. Opening statements are scheduled Monday in Nikolas Cruz’s penalty trial. That’s four years after Cruz murdered 17 at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Prosecutor Mike Satz is expected to focus on the brutality of the 2018 massacre and the victims. Cruz’s attorneys may wait to give their statement until they present their case several weeks from now. Cruz pleaded guilty, so the jury will only decide whether the 23-year-old former Stoneman Douglas student receives a sentence of death or life without parole. The trial is expected to last four months.