Nikolas Cruz would plead guilty to avoid death penalty, lawyer says

Should Nikolas Cruz be executed

  • Yes

    Votes: 7 36.8%
  • No

    Votes: 12 63.2%

  • Total voters
    19

Landon Caeli

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Nikolas Cruz, the 19-year-old accused of killing 17 students and teachers in Parkland, Florida, would plead guilty if prosecutors agree not to seek the death penalty, his lawyers say

Public Defender Howard Finkelstein said guilt is not an issue in the case of Cruz, who was taken into custody shortly after Wednesday’s shooting spree at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

“There is no way anyone can minimize the tragedy of what took place,” said Finkelstein. “It’s time to mourn; it’s time to figure out how to prevent future tragedies. He should spend the rest of his life in prison, but he does not deserve to die.”

A trial, he said, would be a waste of time when punishment is the only issue.
Nikolas Cruz would plead guilty to avoid death penalty, lawyer says

...I disagree entirely with Public Defender Finkelstein. Cruz deserves a trial and the death penalty if the jury unanimously believes so. What do you think?
 

Desk trauma

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The shooter taking life without parole will save a great deal of money and remove him from society, I'm not seeing the upside to insisting on a trial and the cost of prosecuting a capital case.
 
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Tallguy88

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If he will plea guilty in exchange for life, I say do it. Saves everyone time, money, and allows the community to move on. Trials and appeals will last decades.
 
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Landon Caeli

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If he will plea guilty in exchange for life, I say do it. Saves everyone time, money, and allows the community to move on. Trials and appeals will last decades.

It took only 2 years and 2 months for Boston marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev ro recieve his death sentence (charged on April 22, 2013, and was sentenced to death on June 25, 2015).
 
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Desk trauma

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It took only 2 years and 2 months for Boston marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev ro recieve his death sentence (charged on April 22, 2013, and was sentenced to death on June 25, 2015).
The appeals continue and will for many years at great cost.

If this deal is made all of that time and money is saved, a circus is avoided and this person is permanently removed from society never to be heard from.
 
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Albion

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...I disagree entirely with Public Defender Finkelstein. Cruz deserves a trial and the death penalty if the jury unanimously believes so. What do you think?
I agree with you, Landon, but I also agree with Hammster that it's the public defender's job to represent the defendant as best as can be done. Given everything that we know, this proposal is about the most Cruz and his lawyer can hope for.
 
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GoldenBoy89

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Nikolas Cruz, the 19-year-old accused of killing 17 students and teachers in Parkland, Florida, would plead guilty if prosecutors agree not to seek the death penalty, his lawyers say

Public Defender Howard Finkelstein said guilt is not an issue in the case of Cruz, who was taken into custody shortly after Wednesday’s shooting spree at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

“There is no way anyone can minimize the tragedy of what took place,” said Finkelstein. “It’s time to mourn; it’s time to figure out how to prevent future tragedies. He should spend the rest of his life in prison, but he does not deserve to die.”

A trial, he said, would be a waste of time when punishment is the only issue.
Nikolas Cruz would plead guilty to avoid death penalty, lawyer says

...I disagree entirely with Public Defender Finkelstein. Cruz deserves a trial and the death penalty if the jury unanimously believes so. What do you think?
What will killing him achieve that locking him away forever wont?
 
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Albion

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1. A deterrent against future actions of this kind.
2. A cost savings for the public.
3. A sense of closure and justice given to the victims' loved ones.
4. A public declaration of the seriousness of the crime.
5. No possibility remaining of some goofy court ruling that he should be released on some technicality or that the death penalty is unconstitutional under all circumstances.
 
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GoldenBoy89

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A much, much larger expense to the taxpayers.
There's also the retribution angle but if that's the case, then it should be left up to the actual victims and their families to decide something like that.
 
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Anto9us

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I cannot VOTE to say execute or not -- i would have to be on a jury and see all the evidence

as far as EXPENSE to TaxPayers being only the consideration, there is such a thing as DETERRENT

would kind of set a precedent -- kill 17 wound many others --
live off the state rest of your life...

might make someone think about doing something similar, MAYBE

but i am just an opinion, and not settled on anything at this horrible time
 
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Anto9us

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$83.00 to execute an inmate by lethal injection

I compare 83 bucks to an average salary of Bell County deputies of 83 grand -- three of them to watch round the clock the now-paralyzed Major in our own Army who went berzeck -- day after day

83 bucks sounds like a bargain

(I worked at Ft Hood Army Airfield when the guy killed 13 - injured 31 others - 31 gunshot wounds was a huge drain on all the surrounding hospitals

blood and dignitaries came in in droves on that airfield
I guess the dignitaries made speeches
the blood was in huge demand
 
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GoldenBoy89

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1. A deterrent against future actions of this kind.
The DP didn't deter this murderer. What makes you think it will deter others?

2. A cost savings for the public.
How frugal of us.

3. A sense of closure and justice given to the victims' loved ones.
Let them decide what brings them closure. None of us can speak for them.

4. A public declaration of the seriousness of the crime.
Pretty sure we all know how serious this is. It's not like you can get extra executed for killing more people. And it didn't stop this guy from doing what he did. Is this only to remind people who would never do such a thing?

5. No possibility remaining of some goofy court ruling that he should be released on some technicality or that the death penalty is unconstitutional under all circumstances.
If he's locked away for good, I don't see that being likely.
 
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Tallguy88

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He has fetal alcohol syndrome, you can tell by looking at him. That makes it unlikely that the DP will be used, either as they convince a jury to not use it, or a court on appeal. Better to do a guilty plea with life and save time, money, effort, and community heartache.
 
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Tallguy88

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I compare 83 bucks to an average salary of Bell County deputies of 83 grand -- three of them to watch round the clock the now-paralyzed Major in our own Army who went berzeck -- day after day

83 bucks sounds like a bargain

(I worked at Ft Hood Army Airfield when the guy killed 13 - injured 31 others - 31 gunshot wounds was a huge drain on all the surrounding hospitals

blood and dignitaries came in in droves on that airfield
I guess the dignitaries made speeches
the blood was in huge demand
Plus cost of trial and all appeals.
 
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Tallguy88

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It took only 2 years and 2 months for Boston marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev ro recieve his death sentence (charged on April 22, 2013, and was sentenced to death on June 25, 2015).
He’s still alive and appealing. Initial conviction is only part of the issue.
 
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Landon Caeli

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He’s still alive and appealing. Initial conviction is only part of the issue.

A part of me thinks attorneys and legal staff will be working on one case or another, of the tens of thousands they already have, regardless. Taking this to trial will only slightly prolong other cases... Unless they plan on hiring more people, because one can only work so many hours a day. But I don't see that happening.
 
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