Defense Rests <br />in Parkland Shooter, Nikolas Cruz's , Sentencing Trial.<br />On September 14, mass murderer <br />Nikolas Cruz's defense team announced that it was <br />resting its case in the 23-year-old's sentencing trial.<br />On September 14, mass murderer <br />Nikolas Cruz's defense team announced that it was <br />resting its case in the 23-year-old's sentencing trial.<br />'The Independent' reports that Cruz's <br />legal team previously announced plans to call <br />approximately 80 witnesses to the stand. .<br />'The Independent' reports that Cruz's <br />legal team previously announced plans to call <br />approximately 80 witnesses to the stand. .<br />However, Cruz's lead attorney, Melisa McNeill,<br />said the defense was resting after only <br />calling about 25 of those witnesses.<br />However, Cruz's lead attorney, Melisa McNeill,<br />said the defense was resting after only <br />calling about 25 of those witnesses.<br />The shocked judge was reportedly forced to put the trial on pause until September 27 as the prosecution said it was unprepared to begin its rebuttal case. .<br />The shocked judge was reportedly forced to put the trial on pause until September 27 as the prosecution said it was unprepared to begin its rebuttal case. .<br />The bewildered prosecutors said they <br />had expected approximately 40 more <br />defense witnesses to take the stand. .<br />Cruz's defense team argued that their <br />client had a troubled upbringing and suffered <br />from behavioral and developmental issues.<br />Cruz's defense team argued that their <br />client had a troubled upbringing and suffered <br />from behavioral and developmental issues.<br />On September 13, the last defense witness called <br />to the stand was Dr. Kenneth Jones, a leading <br />expert in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.<br />On September 13, the last defense witness called <br />to the stand was Dr. Kenneth Jones, a leading <br />expert in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.<br />The doctor testified that Cruz meets the criteria for <br />someone exposed to alcohol in the womb and suffers from <br />consequential behavioral and developmental problems.<br />The doctor testified that Cruz meets the criteria for <br />someone exposed to alcohol in the womb and suffers from <br />consequential behavioral and developmental problems.<br />In October, Cruz changed his plea to guilty <br />and addressed the court in a brief speech, <br />apologizing to the 17 victims he murdered.<br />In October, Cruz changed his plea to guilty <br />and addressed the court in a brief speech, <br />apologizing to the 17 victims he murdered.<br />I am very sorry for what I did, <br />and I have to live with it every day. <br />If I were to get a second chance, <br />I would do everything in my <br />power to try to help others, Nicholas Cruz, via 'The Independent'
