PIX: Parkland Shooter Nikolas Cruz In Court For Indigency Hearing
/ CBS News
Nikolas Cruz, who could face the death penalty if convicted of murdering 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland on Valentine’s Day, appears in court with his attornies
Defense, (left) Melisa McNeill and (right) Diane Cuddihy in front of Broward Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer Wednesday for a hearing that may decide who will represent him in a bid to spare his life Wednesday, April 11, 2018, in Broward Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale, FL.
Cruz, 19, is now represented by the Broward Public Defender’s Office, which is funded by taxpayers to handle clients who cannot afford to hire their own lawyers.
Taimy Alvarez/Sun Sentinel/POOL
Judge to consider whether Parkland school shooter Nikolas Cruz can afford his own lawyer
Nikolas Cruz’s brother Zachary Cruz looks at his brother while sitting in the gallery in court before the beginning of a hearing in front of Broward Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer to decide who will represent him in a bid to spare his life Wednesday, April 11, 2018, in Broward Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale, FL.
Cruz, 19, is now represented by the Broward Public Defender’s Office, which is funded by taxpayers to handle clients who cannot afford to hire their own lawyers.
Taimy Alvarez/Sun Sentinel/POOL
Judge to consider whether Parkland school shooter Nikolas Cruz can afford his own lawyer
(left) Broward County Public Defender Howard Finkelstein speaks to Broward Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer during a hearing to determine decide who will represent Nikolas Cruz in a bid to spare his life Wednesday, April 11, 2018, in Broward Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale, FL.
Cruz could face the death penalty if convicted of murdering 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland on Valentine’s Day. Cruz, 19, is now represented by the Broward Public Defender’s Office, which is funded by taxpayers to handle clients who cannot afford to hire their own lawyers.
Taimy Alvarez/Sun Sentinel/POOL
Judge to consider whether Parkland school shooter Nikolas Cruz can afford his own lawyer
Nikolas Cruz, who could face the death penalty if convicted of murdering 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland on Valentine’s Day, appears in court in front of Broward Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer Wednesday for a hearing that may decide who will represent him in a bid to spare his life Wednesday, April 11, 2018, in Broward Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale, FL.
Cruz, 19, is now represented by the Broward Public Defender’s Office, which is funded by taxpayers to handle clients who cannot afford to hire their own lawyers.
Sitting to the left of Cruz is his attorney Melisa McNeill.
Taimy Alvarez/Sun Sentinel/POOL
Judge to consider whether Parkland school shooter Nikolas Cruz can afford his own lawyer
Nikolas Cruz, who could face the death penalty if convicted of murdering 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland on Valentine’s Day, brother Zachary Cruz sits in court as his brother appears in front of Broward Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer Wednesday for a hearing that may decide who will represent him in a bid to spare his life Wednesday, April 11, 2018, in Broward Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale, FL.
Cruz, 19, is now represented by the Broward Public Defender’s Office, which is funded by taxpayers to handle clients who cannot afford to hire their own lawyers.
Taimy Alvarez/Sun Sentinel/POOL
Judge to consider whether Parkland school shooter Nikolas Cruz can afford his own lawyer
Broward Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer made no decision Wednesday, April 11, 2018, on weather Nikolas Cruz, who could face the death penalty if convicted of murdering 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland on Valentine’s Day, is entitled to a taxpayer-funded lawyer or he has enough cash on hand to hire his own in Broward Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale, FL.
Cruz, 19, is now represented by the Broward Public Defender’s Office, which is funded by taxpayers to handle clients who cannot afford to hire their own lawyers.
Taimy Alvarez/Sun Sentinel/POOL
Judge to consider whether Parkland school shooter Nikolas Cruz can afford his own lawyer
Nikolas Cruz, who could face the death penalty if convicted of murdering 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland on Valentine’s Day, appears in court in front of Broward Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer for a hearing that may decide who will represent him in a bid to spare his life Wednesday, April 11, 2018, in Broward Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale, FL.
Cruz, 19, is now represented by the Broward Public Defender’s Office, which is funded by taxpayers to handle clients who cannot afford to hire their own lawyers.
Taimy Alvarez/Sun Sentinel/POOL
Judge to consider whether Parkland school shooter Nikolas Cruz can afford his own lawyer
Broward County Assistant Public Defender Homicide Division Melisa McNeill, who is representing Nikolas Cruz, told Broward Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer that Cruz doesn’t have access to a $25,000 life insurance policy during a hearing to determine whether he is entitled to a taxpayer-funded lawyer or he has enough cash on hand to hire his own Wednesday, April 11, 2018, in Broward Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale, FL.
Cruz, 19, is now represented by the Broward Public Defender’s Office, which is funded by taxpayers to handle clients who cannot afford to hire their own lawyers.
But whether Cruz falls into that category remains an open question — one that Broward Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer said she will not answer immediately.
Taimy Alvarez/Sun Sentinel/POOL
