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| Parkland families address school gunman at sentencing | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Family members of victims vented their anger that the gunman was spared the death penalty | Family members of victims vented their anger that the gunman was spared the death penalty |
| The gunman who killed 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, has been sentenced to life in prison without parole. | The gunman who killed 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, has been sentenced to life in prison without parole. |
| A jury last month voted for the defendant to be spared the death penalty, in a decision that outraged relatives of the victims. | A jury last month voted for the defendant to be spared the death penalty, in a decision that outraged relatives of the victims. |
| Ahead of the sentencing, victims' family members delivered emotional messages of grief and anger. | |
| The gunman pleaded guilty in October last year to the 2018 murders. | The gunman pleaded guilty in October last year to the 2018 murders. |
| Shackled and wearing a red prison jumpsuit, the killer showed no emotion as Broward County Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer formally sentenced him on Wednesday. | |
| During hard-hitting statements over the course of two days, family members of the victims addressed the murderer - 24-year-old Nikolas Cruz - without ever using his name. | |
| Florida shooting: Who are the victims? | Florida shooting: Who are the victims? |
| Why the Parkland gunman was spared the death penalty | Why the Parkland gunman was spared the death penalty |
| Earlier on Wednesday he removed a mask after Jennifer Guttenberg, the mother of Jaime Guttenberg, said it was "disrespectful" of him not to show his face. | Earlier on Wednesday he removed a mask after Jennifer Guttenberg, the mother of Jaime Guttenberg, said it was "disrespectful" of him not to show his face. |
| Beigel Schulman said she was glad the killer would have to worry about his personal safety for the rest of his days in a maximum-security prison. | Beigel Schulman said she was glad the killer would have to worry about his personal safety for the rest of his days in a maximum-security prison. |
| Theresa Rabinovitz, whose 14-year-old granddaughter, Alyssa Alhadeff, was among those killed, said: "I hope your every breathing moment here on earth is miserable." | Theresa Rabinovitz, whose 14-year-old granddaughter, Alyssa Alhadeff, was among those killed, said: "I hope your every breathing moment here on earth is miserable." |
| Meghan Petty, the sister of 14-year-old victim Alaina Petty, said she felt "betrayed" by the jury's decision on 13 October to let the gunman live. | Meghan Petty, the sister of 14-year-old victim Alaina Petty, said she felt "betrayed" by the jury's decision on 13 October to let the gunman live. |
| Parkland families angrily rebuke gunman in court | Parkland families angrily rebuke gunman in court |
| Parkland families angrily rebuke gunman in court | Parkland families angrily rebuke gunman in court |
| "He has escaped this punishment because a minority of the jury was given the power to overturn the majority decision made by people who were able to see him for what he is - a remorseless monster who deserves no mercy," Ms Petty was quoted as saying by the Washington Post. | "He has escaped this punishment because a minority of the jury was given the power to overturn the majority decision made by people who were able to see him for what he is - a remorseless monster who deserves no mercy," Ms Petty was quoted as saying by the Washington Post. |
| A former Stoneman Douglas student, the gunman was 19 years old when he entered the school and opened fire using a legally purchased rifle. In addition to the 14 students and three staff members who were killed, 17 people were wounded. | |
| Over the course of a three-month trial, prosecutors sought to prove the crimes were "cold, calculated and premeditated" and met the state's definition of "aggravating factors" warranting execution. | Over the course of a three-month trial, prosecutors sought to prove the crimes were "cold, calculated and premeditated" and met the state's definition of "aggravating factors" warranting execution. |
| The defence team argued that their client was plagued by mental illness, partly as a result of being exposed to drugs and alcohol while still in his mother's womb. | The defence team argued that their client was plagued by mental illness, partly as a result of being exposed to drugs and alcohol while still in his mother's womb. |
| Before the sentencing, some victims' family members directed their anger at the defence team, prompting public defender Melisa McNeill to unsuccessfully ask the judge to impose restrictions. | |
| "Karma will eventually catch up to you all," said Patricia Oliver, whose son, Joaquin, was killed in the incident. | "Karma will eventually catch up to you all," said Patricia Oliver, whose son, Joaquin, was killed in the incident. |
| The shooting reignited the US debate over guns, and prompted a wave of youth-led activism that gained national attention, but failed to achieve its legislative goals such as a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. | The shooting reignited the US debate over guns, and prompted a wave of youth-led activism that gained national attention, but failed to achieve its legislative goals such as a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. |