The armed suspect of Parkland Nikolas Cruz will get a huge legacy

Terry Spencer, Associated Press

Posted at 05:59 (HA) on April 25, 2019 | Updated at 6:49 am ET on April 25, 2019

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Survivors and family members of victims of the shooting at a school in Parkland, Florida, sue the school district, the sheriff's office, a deputy and a school monitor, claiming that their negligence had allowed the perpetration of the massacre (April 10)
AP, AP

FORT LAUDERDALE – Nikolas Cruz, accused of the Parkland School massacre, unexpectedly asked for his withdrawal on Wednesday, claiming that this 20-year-old would soon inherit nearly half a million dollars and would not would be more eligible for free legal representation.

The Broward County Public Defender's Office released the unexpected notification on Wednesday night, saying Cruz would soon receive more than $ 432,000 from his late mother's life insurance policy. Under state law, the public defender can only represent defendants who can not afford private lawyers.

Cruz is charged with 17 counts of first degree murder and 17 counts of attempted murder as a result of the Feb. 14, 2017 shootout at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

Opinion: Nikolas Cruz legally had a gun. 17 victims paid the price

Former student of Stoneman Douglas faces a death sentence. Public defender Howard Finkelstein and his senior assistant, Gordon Weekes, said their office had learned of the existence of the insurance policy this week. At a hearing in court last year, their office had stated that the amount would likely be about $ 30,000, which is insufficient to hire a private attorney.

"By law, we can only represent the poor and the needy," Weekes told The Associated Press by telephone on Wednesday. "We ask to withdraw from the case because the defendant is poorer."

Nikolas Cruz, 19 years old. Charges: 17 counts of premeditated murder. (Photo: Broward County Sheriff's Office)

But Cruz might not have the money. It is likely that the families of the victims who sue Cruz will say that the money should be paid to them and that the judges will have to determine who will receive it.

Constable Elder Elizabeth Scherer, who is presiding over the criminal case, has not yet decided to hold a hearing on the motion to withdraw public defenders and may have to ask them to stay until this happens. be settled.

David Brill, a lawyer representing the father of victim Meadow Pollack in a lawsuit against Cruz and other people, said on Wednesday that he was exploring his options. Other lawyers representing families and victims did not immediately respond to e-mails seeking their comments.