Attorneys for Nikolas Cruz seek evidence from school shooting commission
Prosecutors to turn over about 180 witness statements by Jan. 29
January 15, 2019
"FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Lawyers for Parkland school shooter Nikolas Cruz are trying to pry loose evidence for his defense from a state commission that investigated the massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
The commission conducted dozens of interviews and collected numerous pieces of evidence before releasing its 446-page report earlier this month.
Public defender Melisa McNeill said at a hearing Tuesday that Cruz's defense team needs access to that material for his defense.
A prosecutor said his office would turn over about 180 witness statements to Cruz's lawyers by Jan. 29.
Another hearing scheduled for Wednesday includes a defense attempt to prevent further contact between Cruz and a corrections deputy he's accused of assaulting in November...."
Attorneys for Nikolas Cruz seek evidence from school shooting commission
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Defense for Florida school shooting suspect Nikolas Cruz seeks evidence from school shooting commission
Jan 15, 2019
"FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Lawyers for Florida school shooting suspect Nikolas Cruz sought Tuesday to pry loose evidence for his defense from a state commission that investigated last year's Valentine's Day massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
The commission did dozens of interviews and collected numerous pieces of evidence before releasing its 446-page report earlier this month. Cruz attorney Melisa McNeill said at a hearing Tuesday the defense needs access to that material for his defense.
"We don't know what they have. We just want to know what they have," McNeill told Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer.
Jason Jones, who represents the chairman of the 15-member Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission, said most of the key witness statements and transcripts had already been turned over to Broward County prosecutors. Jones said he'd have a list of other evidence to Cruz's defense by Friday.
"We have turned over all recorded and or transcribed statements," Jones said. "All those have been turned over to the state as we promised."
Assistant State Attorney Steven Klinger said prosecutors were still going through about 180 witness statements collected by the commission but would soon turn them over to Cruz's lawyers. Judge Scherer set a Jan. 29 deadline for that to happen.
"We would at least like to have the time to review them and read them," Klinger said. "We haven't even seen most of them."...
Another hearing is set Wednesday for a defense attempt to prevent further contact between Cruz and a corrections officer he's accused of assaulting in November...."
Defense seeks evidence from school shooting commission
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