Parkland shooter Nicolas Cruz has been sentenced to life in prison as grieving parents and relatives of the victims broke down in tears.
Some of the parents slammed the defense team who defended the gunman for their ‘defensive’ behavior in court and pleaded with the judge to put the 24-year-old in the general population.
Many called for other prisoners to ‘exercise the judgment that the court can’t and take the life of Cruz for the 2018 campus shooting that killed 14 students and three staff members.
Judge Elizabeth Scherer, who could only impose a maximum term of life in prison, thanked the families for being ‘strong and patient’ throughout the sentencing phase of the trial.
She froze Cruz’s commissary until restitution was paid. This meant he cannot receive benefits from any money donated to his account in prison.
On Wednesday, some parents told of their hope that the gunman will be killed in prison.
“What will happen to you in jail? You’ll be passed around like an inanimate object. Your protection will be paid for with your body. You’ll be someone’s b***h and you’ll deserve it,” said Michael Schulman, father of murdered teacher Scott Biegel.
“You will be a commodity, traded like bubblegum, cigarettes and candy. My hope for my 70th birthday is to get word that you are dead, that the inmates executed the judgment that this court can’t.
“I hope your death is slow and agonizing. It won’t be like a state execution. Prison justice is a b***h.
“You will be wishing that the state of Florida had executed you in the compassionate way that they must by law.”
Others lamented having to keep silent throughout the sentencing phase of the trial.
Ilhan Marc Aldaheff, the parent of one of the victims, said: “Let me share how angry and frustrated I am with the judicial sentence after four grueling years. Do I see this as accountability? Absolutely not. Do we now have closure? Absolutely not.
“The system values this animal’s life over the 17 now dead. We sent a message to the next killer out there that the death penalty won’t apply. This is wrong.”
The grieving father also begged the judge to “let this creature be erased from society. Let him wear shock collar like the animal he is.”
Prosecutors, who had sought the death penalty, were also seen wiping their tears as grieving families showed their gratitude for their efforts.
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