The trial against Scot Peterson, the former school police officer at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas School in Parkland, is already in the final stretch, where the innocence or guilt of the defendant is decided, in relation to 7 felony counts of child neglect, and 3 other charges of culpable negligence.
The deliberations this Tuesday began at 9 in the morning and when everyone believed that there would finally be a verdict, it did not happen and it continues to spread. The jurors asked to see evidence, videos and posters that the defense presented during the trial, but the judge only granted the request for the videos.
The father of Gina Montalto, who was killed in the Parkland massacre, said Scot Peterson’s inaction contributed to the deaths of many children. “Anything that happens today does not absolve Scot Peterson of his failure that day. His lawyer spent a lot of time trying to clear his name, to me that was nonsense,” said Tony Montalto.
After a recess at noon, the deliberations continued, but not before the jury had a new question for the judge. They wanted to know if they could have the password for a USB memory device that contained 6 videos saved on that memory.
Max Schachter, the father of Max, who was shot and killed in Parkland, said law enforcement can’t stand behind a concrete pillar while people are being shot and killed, adding: “It’s unconscionable. There’s no excuse for that when his training told him to go towards the sound of gunshots and he didn’t. Failure “.
Deliberating takes time, said criminal lawyer Erick Cruz, who explained that “the first thing the jury has to do is determine specifically in each accusation whether the person is guilty or not guilty. They may not be able to reach a unanimous verdict on the first cessation, but they can determine and reach a unanimous verdict on the other charges.”
Minutes after 5 pm the jury returned to the courtroom. The judge asked that if any of the members left together that they not talk about the case or the trial, that they avoid watching the news or reading anything on social networks; and that he was waiting for them this Wednesday at 9 in the morning so that they could continue with the deliberation and issue a verdict.
When the jury deliberates, they must return to the courtroom with a decision. If you are not found guilty or innocent, it is because there was no unanimity of criteria, and the judge will ask you to deliberate again. If the decision is repeated “then the judge could annul the trial and in that case they would have to start over with a new jury,” explains criminal lawyer Erick Cruz.
So if there is no unanimity among the 6 members of the jury, the trial could be null and a new one should start.
MONDAY SESSION IN COURT
Monday was a day of closing arguments in the trial of Parkland School Resource Officer Marjory Stoneman Douglas in connection with the shooting that took place on February 14, 2018. After closing arguments it was left to the jury Scot Peterson’s future.
At 9:35 in the morning on Monday, the hearing began with the presentation of the prosecution. Assistant State’s Attorney Kristen Gomes said Peterson chose to run and let an unrestrained killer roam the halls for four minutes and 15 seconds.
He also told the jury that another reaction was expected from Peterson: “for example, that he valued the lives of children as much as he valued his own.”
After a brief recess, Peterson’s attorney presented his arguments, and he did so with a spirited defense.
“He was extraordinary for 32 years, but in 4 minutes and 15 seconds he became a criminal. We are here for that monster, questioned attorney Mark Eiglarsh. While in court, the monitors displayed a photo of the Parkland killer.
He later showed a video showing the school resource officer at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas school arriving in a golf cart to the building where the shots were heard.
“One minute and 6 seconds… That was the time my client had, from when Aaron Feis was shot, to the moment the monster reached the third floor and started shooting,” the lawyer said.
During his lawyer’s presentation, Scot Peterson broke down and cried. Then Mark Eiglarsh said that his defendant had dedicated years to the protection and care of children, that he cared about them and “now they are going to say that he sat and did nothing,” he said.
