The shooter of 34 people is on trial for attacking a jail guard while waiting for his murder trial. He asked to be given coloured pencils to help him relax during the assault jury selection process.

Photo: The lawyer for Nikolas Cruz gives him coloured pencils to help him relax during the jury selection process. The judge was not impressed.

When the judge saw that the lawyers for Mr. Cruz had brought coloured pencils to court, she was concerned. The lawyers for the defence had also brought along a colouring book.

This trial wasn’t for the killing of the 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. It was for a separate assault that happened at the jail. 

Cruz is accused of having assaulted a jail guard.

When the lawyer for the prosecution saw the colouring book and pencils, they objected. They said that the defence was trying to influence the jury. That it might be the strategy of the defence to make the jury think that Cruz is mentally stunted or legally retarded.

The judge asked a number of times why Cruz needed colour pencils and a book. The defence team spoke with their client and said he was stressed because of the trial. They denied it was to influence the jury.

Read more weird court stories:

• Defendant In Florida Gets Butt Injection While In Zoom Court
• Husband Requests Trial By Sword Fight In Divorce Court

Photo: Judge Elizabeth Scherer’s face when the defence attorneys explained Cruz needed to draw to relax.

Mr. Cruz was Given Coloured Pencils To Help him Relax

The judge said Cruz can take notes, but not act like a child. The sheriff then said that Cruz needed to use the court-appointed pen for security reasons.

Nikolas Cruz will go on trial for the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting at a later date. In that case, Cruz is alleged to have killed 17 people and injured another 17.

You might think that the Judge is being unfair. Or maybe you don’t think Cruz deserves to relax. But it is the job of the judge to run a fair trial.

The judge needs to weigh the needs of the public, and the defendant, and protect the jury from influence. Not an easy thing to do in high-profile cases.

Can Colored Pencils Help Nikolas Cruz Relax After Deadly Shooting Spree?

Who cares?

Cruz is alleged to have gone into a school in Florida on February 14, 2018. He then opened fire with a Smith & Wesson M&P15. There were 900 students at the school.

Many 14 years olds were killed. The ages of the deceased varied between the ages of 14 to 49. It also led to a police officer getting fired from their job. The police officer was already at the school when the shooting started but he did not rush into the school to stop the shooting.

The police officer was later arrested and charged with failing to act when legally required to do so. Police officers have a legal duty to act to save others.

Ordinary citizens do not have that duty unless they are family members (like parents.) People who have employment duties (like lifeguards) can also be required to act to save others.

The Nikolas Cruz Trial

The Nikolas Cruz trial was a heart-wrenching event that left many devastated and horrified. The trial drew nationwide attention due to the brutal nature of the crime and the number of people affected. The incident took place on February 14, 2018, at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Nikolas Cruz, a former 19-year-old student of the school, entered the premises armed with an AR-15 rifle and mercilessly fired, leaving 17 people dead, and many others injured.

The trial commenced on January 27, 2020, and continued for several weeks. Nikolas Cruz faced 17 charges of premeditated murder and 17 charges of attempted murder. During the proceedings, the prosecution contended that Cruz had carefully planned the attack and knew what he was doing. On the other hand, the defence argued that Cruz was not in his right state of mind and had been struggling with mental illnesses for a long time.

Throughout the trial, both parties presented compelling evidence to support their positions. The prosecution showed surveillance footage of Cruz entering the school with his weapon and called many eyewitnesses who testified to seeing Cruz carrying out the attack. The prosecution also produced evidence that Cruz had made disturbing posts on social media before the shooting.

Receiving Colored Pencils for Relaxation After 17 Murders

The defence, however, argued that Cruz was mentally ill and that the authorities had failed to provide him with adequate support. The defence called several experts who testified that Cruz was not in control of his actions during the incident. Despite the compelling evidence from both parties, there were several controversies surrounding the trial, including disruptions in the courtroom and concerns over the jury’s impartiality.

Finally, the jury found Cruz guilty on all 34 counts. The trial then moved to the penalty phase, where the jury had to decide whether to impose the death penalty or life imprisonment without parole. The prosecution sought the death penalty, citing the severity of the crime, while the defence argued for life imprisonment, given Cruz’s mental health condition.

Life imprisonment without the possibility of parole

After days of deliberation, the jury sentenced Cruz to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. The decision received mixed reactions from the community, with some feeling that the punishment was too lenient, while others believed it was the right decision given Cruz’s mental health struggles.

The Nikolas Cruz trial served as a wake-up call to society about the importance of mental health awareness and better access to mental health services. It triggered crucial debates about gun control and school safety, leading many to call for stricter laws and enhanced security measures in schools across the country. This trial was an enormous loss for the families of the victims, and the community continues to mourn the loss of their loved ones.