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Judge: Parkland school shooting trial off indefinitely due to COVID-19 restrictions

Judge: Florida school shooting trial off indefinitely
Posted at 1:15 PM, Jun 22, 2020
and last updated 2020-06-22 13:19:37-04

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — The death penalty trial of the man charged with killing 17 people at a Parkland, Florida, high school is off indefinitely because of restrictions related to the coronavirus.

Broward Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer said Monday in a hearing held remotely that it’s not even clear when the courthouse will reopen to the public. It's been closed since March 16.

Nikolas Cruz is charged with fatally shooting 17 people and wounding 17 others at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Valentine’s Day 2018.

His lawyers say Cruz would plead guilty in exchange for a life prison sentence, but prosecutors reject that.