What to Know
- Judge Elizabeth Scherer, considering having the trial start as soon as September 2019, issued her original order during a hearing this week.
- With agreement from the public defender, Scherer granted the motion, extending the deadline until at least August 15.
The judge overseeing the death penalty trial of accused Stoneman Douglas mass killer Nikolas Cruz has revised her order that originally demanded the sheriff’s lead detective produce his completed investigative report by Friday.
Judge Elizabeth Scherer, considering having the trial start as soon as September 2019, issued her original order during a hearing this week, after the public defenders representing Cruz complained her suggested trial date target was “unrealistic.”
They noted they had not yet even received the lead detective’s homicide report from the February 14 attack, so she ordered BSO to have it turned over to the defense by Friday.
But prosecutors requested an extension, arguing “investigation in this matter is extremely complex, involving multiple agencies, numerous witnesses and expert reports.”
With agreement from the public defender, Scherer granted the motion, extending the deadline until at least August 15, when the parties will meet again in court for a status hearing.
After being informed of the judge’s original order, the sheriff’s office told NBC 6:
Local
“There's no case in the history of our county of greater magnitude than the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Our investigators are working tirelessly to produce a factual and accurate account of events and will finalize the report as soon as possible.”
