A prospective juror for the sentencing trial of Parkland school shooter Nikolas Cruz said Wednesday that she might have difficulty serving because of plans with her “sugar daddy.”
Cruz pleaded guilty last October to 17 counts of first-degree murder and 17 counts of attempted murder in the February 14, 2018, shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, as CrimeOnline previously reported. The guilty plea was accepted, but prosecutors refused to drop the death penalty in return for those pleas. The jury won’t be deciding guilt but rather whether Cruz should be executed or serve life in prison.
Potential jurors filled out a questionnaire and then submitted to in-court questioning to select a jury. One of those, identified as “Ms. Bristol” by Judge Elizabeth Scherer, said she had a number of dates over the summer when she wouldn’t be available.
Complaining that the trial might take “a whole entire month,” Bristol told Scherer she wouldn’t be available on July 7 — her birthday — or July 4 and 18, the birthdays of her sons, Fox News reported.
“I need to figure something out,” Bristol said after Scherer asked her to speak a little more slowly. “I have my sugar daddy that I see every day.”
“I’m sorry?” Scherer asked.
“My sugar daddy,” Bristol said.
“Okay,” Scherer responded. “I’m not exactly sure what you’re talking about.”
“Well, I’m married, and I have my sugar daddy,” Bristol replied. “I see him every day.”
“Alright,” said the judge. “Ma’am, we’ll come back to you, okay? Thank you.”
The jury selection process, which began on Monday, is expected to last two months, followed by a four-month trial.
Fox reported that 120 of the first 160 jurors interviewed this week were dismissed — including Bristol.
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[Featured image: Nikolas Cruz sits at the defense table during the third day of preliminary jury screening in the penalty phase of his trial. (Amy Beth Bennett/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP, Pool)]