One potential juror asked to be removed from Nikolas Cruz’s trial because she had to fulfill obligations to her sugar daddy. She claims that $8,000 per month would have been lost if she was chosen to serve on the jury.
Following her outrageous reason she did not want to take part in the lengthy trial for months, the married woman known only as Ms. Bristol went viral.
“Well, I’m married. I also have my sugar daddy. I see him every day,’ she explained to Judge Elizabeth Scherer last week.
The judge was confused at first, but she dismissed her later.
She shared her dilemma with a local television station on Saturday.
“It’s all night for six months, and what’s my hardship?” WPLG told her that she needs $8,000 per month from her sugar daddy.
She is a native New Yorker and says that she can lose her house if he doesn’t come to visit.
‘If I do this case for six months, I have a hardship that means my sugar daddy can’t support me,’ she explained, though the case is only expected to stretch from June to September.
On Monday, jury selection became even more complex when Judge Scherer dismissed a whole pool of potential jurors. After eight people wept after the confession of a school shooter entered the courtroom, they were all led out of it in tears.
Ms. Bristol claims she requested to be removed from Nikolas Cruz’s sentencing because she wants to visit her sugar daddy.
She claims she could have lost $8,000 each month from her lover if the juror was not removed. She claims she can lose her New York house if she doesn’t get to see him.
Elizabeth Scherer, Judge, was puzzled by the woman’s explanation, which she shared first in court. She said, “OK ma’am. We’ll return to you” before dismissing her last Wednesday
Sentencencing will take place in the summer with 12 jurors plus eight alternative judges.
The courtroom video last week showed Scherer, 46 asking whether anybody has any questions about the requests.
“Miss Bristol” said that not only did the trial take her a month but it also clashed with her birthday which would have an impact on her love life.
First, let me say that July 2nd is my birthday. July 4th is the birth of my son. The 18th is my second son. Again, something needs to be figured out. My sugar daddy is there every day.
“I am sorry?” replied the judge. Bristol replied: ‘My sugar daddy.’
The judge was becoming increasingly confused and said: “I’m not sure exactly what you’re talking.”
“Well, I am married. He’s there all day.
Judge Scherer was unable to speak and replied, “OK. Okay. We’ll be right back, Ma’am. We are grateful. Later, Miss Bristol was excused.
Now, the axed juror claims she would have lost $8,000 per month in this case. It is anticipated that it will last from June to September.
As she talked to the reporter about her hardships if she wasn’t able see her sugar daddy in South Florida, she wore a purple tank and pink lipstick.
On Monday, Judge Elizabeth Scherer dismissed the whole 60-person juror pool. At least eight people with emotional issues had to be taken out.
When Cruz, who admitted to the murder of 17 South Florida students in 2018, entered the jury room, it caused emotional reactions from them.
Jury selection continues for the sentencing of Nikolas Cruz, who killed 17 people at a South Florida high school in 2018.
A 60-member panel of possible jurors was released by Judge Elizabeth Scherer Monday after they had been affected by emotions in the room.
The Sun Sentinel reports that seven women and one man were required to be removed from the panel’s third section. Cruz, 23 years old, entered the courtroom. This was when the exodus began. All of them were finally released.
That day, she had already seen two panels of 60 people. After that, another panel was screened. The potential jurors for this round have been 147.
A woman heard exclaiming to the judge, “My son is a victim.” He was 15 years old when he was gunned down. According to WPLG video, “My spirit is so disturbed.” To keep the emotions of the woman from being influenced by the rest, the judge intervened.
Emotional outbursts have marred the jury selection process.
As jurors were being led from Fort Lauderdale’s Broward County Courthouse, Fort Lauderdale on Monday, they looked visibly teary eyed.
Sun Sentinel reported that the Sun Sentinel heard the woman first to go cry loudly when she got there.
Cruz appeared at court sporting unkempt hair and large-rimmed spectacles. He was reported to have dropped his head, and then he faced the emotion panel again.
Following the removal of potential jurors, Judge Scherer declared Monday, “The ladies and gentlemen taken out so so far are people who are just so upset they can’t eat here without getting emotional,” and added, “The ladies and gentleman that have been taken away so far are people that cannot sit here without getting emotional.”
“If you are unable to sit down without getting emotionally involved, then you may raise your hand.
Minutes later the judge exonerated the jury pool.
Judge Scherer had already gotten through one panel of 60 people in the morning, and another panel of 60 in the afternoon.
As soon as Monday’s panel ended, the first female to exit was heard crying out loudly. Judge Scherer declared, “We do not want to cause any trauma.”
From 629 possible jurors in the pool, 147 of them have made it to the next round. On Monday, Jeff Marcus, Mike Satz, and Carolyn McCann were questioned by prosecutors.
Another 60-person group was brought in about half an hour later, and 13 were chosen, WTVJ reports.
Three people were chosen from a subsequent 14-person panel, bringing the total to 147 people from a pool of 629.
One man, who claimed he had known one of Parkland’s victims, and another with language or medical barriers were among those dismissed.
A Broward County State Attorney’s Office prosecutor was one potential juror that was struck.
The death penalty will again be questioned by those who have made it this far.
This trial is set to last through the summer.
Cruz, above in his booking photo, was a 19-year-old expelled student with a history of mental health and behavioral issues at the time of the killings
Cruz was convicted of 17 counts first-degree murder. He also pled guilty in 17 cases of attempted murder.
Cruz, 19, was an expelled student at the age of 19. He had mental health issues and behavior problems prior to the murders.
Florida law states that Cruz must be executed by a jury.
Cruz could be sentenced to life without parole if Cruz is opposed by any 12 jurors.
The defense will request that the jury consider Cruz’s brain damage due to his mother’s alcohol and drug abuse, long-standing mental disorders and claims that he was bullied and sexually abused.
Broward County resident Judge Scherer is a registered Republican and has been on this case since Cruz was arrested in 2019.
During proceedings she disagreed with her attorneys, calling them sometimes ‘disrespectful.
Broward County’s registered Republican Judge Scherer has been on this case since Cruz was arrested in 2019.
The Parkland case, which Scherer is currently on for ten year’s, has been her highlight.
She threatened to reduce reporting on the case in 2018 after Cruz-related information was made public by a local newspaper.
Fort Lauderdale lawyers told The Sun Sentinel that the woman was known for arriving late at court, being cranky and testy.
Scherer is a wife, mother, and an avid horse rider. She, according to social media profiles was once part of the Stanford Equestrian team.