Trial of former BSO school resource officer Scot Peterson expected to begin next week
FORT LAUDERDALE - The trial of former Broward sheriff school resource Scot Peterson is expected to get underway in the next couple of weeks.
Peterson is facing multiple child negligence charges for his response during the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in 2018.
He was in court on Monday when the jury questionnaire and other issues are addressed.
The judge will tell potential jurors that the trial may go to August 11th.
On Wednesday, May 31st, the first group of 250 potential jurors will be brought in to see if they can sit for the length of the expected trial. On June 2nd, another 250 potential jurors will be brought in to see it they can sit for the duration of the trial.
On Monday, June 5th, questioning begins of the jurors said they could sit for the trial. Once enough jurors are selected, the trial will start the next day.
The panel will consist of six jurors and four 4 alternates.
"I'm looking forward to it, to be honest with you, I want the truth to come out. And if it's going to be through a trial so be it. I'm eager, I think, not only the people in Florida, the country, and most importantly the families, they need to know the truth of what happened because unfortunately it's never been told," said Peterson of the trial after the hearing.
Peterson is facing seven counts of child neglect with great bodily harm and other counts related to his alleged failure to confront the mass shooter who killed 17 people and injured 17 others.
The neglect charges specify that Peterson was a caregiver who, according to prosecutors, abdicated his responsibility by taking cover instead of taking action.
Days after the 2018 Valentine's Day shooting, footage surfaced of Peterson taking position near the 700 and 800 buildings at the high school, a spot he stayed at for more than 45 minutes. Prosecutors have said that video shows Peterson failing to come to the rescue during the massacre.
Peterson's defense attorney wants jurors to hear the statute that excludes law enforcement officers from being labeled caregivers. But prosecutors have argued his role as a school resource officer falls into the category.
The judge says that the jurors should be able to decide if the caregiver label applies to Peterson.
Peterson has spoken out himself, saying he was never hiding when the shooting took place but did what he was trained to do.
