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State rests case in Nikolas Cruz death penalty trial; jury drenched in tears

School Shooting Florida
Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooter Nikolas Cruz listens to testimony while seated at the defense table during the penalty phase of his trial, Friday, July 22, 2022, at the Broward County Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Cruz previously plead guilty to all 17 counts of premeditated murder and 17 counts of attempted murder in the 2018 shootings. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP, Pool)

(FORT LAUDERDALE, FL) – The prosecution of the Parkland murder trial rested their case Thursday afternoon, said Florida Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer.

The state is fighting to reach the death penalty for Nikolas Cruz, the shooter of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School catastrophe that occurred Valentine’s Day of 2018.

As part of the prosecution, the jury visited the blood-curdling school site, untouched since the shooting occurred and still stained with death.

Assistant State Attorney Michael Satz called 91 witnesses in 12 court days to testify, which included a teacher and 16 students injured, according to Local10.

An additional 33 witnesses were also called to present emotional trauma and revelations of the 17 victims murdered.

The state attorneys will return August 15 for a Daubert hearing, in which Circuit Judge Scherer will assess whether expert testimony can be properly applied.

Scherer asked jurors to return to the courtroom August 22 to resume the prosecution.

Staff Writer, Julianna Caban, contributed to this story.