the greater weight of the evidence, yes. we the jury unanimously find that the aggravating factors that were proven beyond a reasonable doubt outweigh the mitigating circumstances outweigh the evidence, no. signed and dated by the foreperson, mr. benjamin thomas. count three, we the jury find that the state has established beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor, nikolas cruz was previously convicted of another felony involving the use of threat of violence to another person we. we the jury find that the state has established beyond a reasonable doubt the existence

of the aggravating factor nikolas cruz knowingly created a great risk of death to many persons, yes. we the jury unanimously find that the state has established beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor, the first-degree murder of gina montalto was committed, yes. we the jury find the existence of the aggravating factor that the first-degree murder of gina montalto was especially heinous, atrocious or cruel, yes. we the jury unanimously find that the state has established beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor, the first-degree murder of gina montalto was committed in a premeditated manner without any pretense of moral or legal

justification. yes. reviewing the aggravating factors that we unanimously found to be established beyond a reasonable doubt, we the jury unanimously find that the aggravating factors are sufficient to warrant a possible sentence of death, yes. one or more individual jurors find that one or more mitigating circumstances was established by the greater weight of the evidence, yes. we the jury unanimously find that the aggravating factors that were proven beyond a reasonable doubt outweigh the mitigating circumstances established, no. signed and dated by the foreperson, mr. benjamin thomas. count four, we the jury that the state has established beyond a

reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor nikolas cruz was previously convicted of another capital felony or of a felony involving the use or threat of violence to another person, yes. we the jury unanimously find that the state has established beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor, nikolas cruz created a great risk of death to many persons, yes. we the jury unanimously find that the state has established beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor that the first-degree murder of alexander schachter was committed by nikolas cruz was engaged in committing a burglary, yes. we the jury that find that has the state has established beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor that the first-degree murder of

alexander schachter was especially heinous, atrocious or cruel, yes. we the jury unanimously find that the state has established beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor, the first-degree murder of alexander schachter was committed in a cold, calculated and premeditated manner without any pretense of moral or legal justification, yes. eligibility for the death penalty, we the jury unanimously find that the aggravating factors that were proven beyond a reasonable doubt outweigh the mitigating circumstances established as to count four, no. signed and dated october 13th, foreperson benjamin thomas.

verdict form as to count five, alaina petty. we find that the state has established beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor, nikolas cruz was previously convicted of another capital felony or of a felony involving the use or threat of violence to another person, yes. we the jury unanimously find that the state has established beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor, nikolas cruz knowingly created a great risk of death to many persons, yes. we the jury unanimously find that the state has established beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor, the first-degree murder

of alaina petty was committed while engaged in the commission of a burglary, yes. we the jury find that the state has established beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor, the first-degree murder of alaina petty was especially heinous, atrocious or cruel, yes. we the jury unanimously find that the state has proven beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor that the first-degree murder of alaina petty was committed in a cold, calculated and premeditated manner without any pretense of moral or legal justification, yes. reviewing the aggravating factors that we unanimously found to be established beyond a reasonable doubt, we the jury unanimously find that the aggravating factors are sufficient to warrant a possible sentence of death, yes.

one or more individual jurors finds that one or more mitigating circumstances was established by the greater weight of the evidence, yes. eligibility for the death penalty as to alaina petty, we the jury unanimously find that the aggravating factors that were proven beyond a reasonable doubt outweigh the mitigating circumstances established, no. signed and dated october 13th by the foreperson, mr. benjamin thomas. count six, we the jury unanimously find that the state has established beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor, nikolas cruz was previously convicted of another capital felony or of a felony involving

the use or threat of violence to another person, yes. we the jury unanimously find that the state has established beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor nikolas cruz knowingly created a great risk of death to many persons, yes. we the jury unanimously find that the state has established beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor that the first-degree murder was committed while nikolas cruz was engaged in the commission of a burglary, yes. we the jury unanimously find that the state has established beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor, the first-degree murder of alissa was especially heinous, atrocious or cruel, yes. we the jury unanimously find that the state has established

beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor, the first-degree murder of alissa was committed in a cold, calculated and premeditated manner without any pretense of moral or legal justification, yes. reviewing the aggravating factors that we unanimously found to be established beyond a reasonable doubt, we the jury unanimously find that the aggravating factors are sufficient to warrant a possible sentence of death. yes. one or more individual jurors finds that one or more mitigating circumstances was established by the greater weight of the evidence. we the jury unanimously find that the aggravating factors that were proven beyond a reasonable doubt outweigh the mitigating circumstances established as to alissa, no.

signed and dated october 13th, by the foreperson benjamin thomas. count seven, we find the existence of an aggravating factor, nikolas cruz was previously convicted of another capital felony or of a felony involving the use or threat of violence to another person, yes. we the jury find that the state has established beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of it have aggravating factor, nikolas cruz knowingly created a great risk of death to many persons, yes. we the jury that the state has

established beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor, that the first-degree murder of nicholas dworet was committed by nikolas cruz was engaged in the commission of a burglary, yes. we the jury unanimously find that the state has established beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor that the first-degree murder of nicholas dworet was especially heinous, atrocious or cruel, yes. we the jury unanimously find that the state has established beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor, the first-degree murder of nicholas dworet was committed in a cold, calculated and premeditated manner without any pretense of moral or legal justification, yes. reviewing the aggravating

factors that we unanimously found to be established beyond a reasonable doubt, we the jury unanimously find that the aggravating factors are sufficient to warrant a possible sentence of death, yes. one or more individual jurors find that one or more mitigating circumstances was established by the greater weight of the evidence, yes. eligibility for the death penalty as to nicholas dworet, we the jury find that the aggravating factors that were proven beyond a reasonable doubt outweigh the mitigating circumstances established, no. signed october 13th, foreperson benjamin thomas. verdict form as to count eight,

jelena ramsey. we find that the state has established beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor, nikolas cruz was previously convicted of another capital felony or of a felony involving the use or threat of violence to another person. yes. we the jury unanimously find that the state has established beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor nikolas cruz knowingly created a great risk of death to many persons, yes. we the jury unanimously find that the state has established beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor. the first-degree murder of jelena ramsey was committed while nikolas cruz was engaged

in the commission of a burglary, yes. we the jury unanimously find that the state has established beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor, that the first-degree murder of jelena ramsey was especially heinous, atrocious or cruel, yes. we the jury unanimously find that the state has established beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor, the first-degree murder of jelena ramsey was committed in a cold, calculated and premeditated manner without any pretense of moral or legal justification, yes. reviewing the aggravating factors that we unanimously found to be established beyond a reasonable doubt, we the jury unanimously find that the aggravating factors are

sufficient to warrant a possible sentence of death, yes. one or more individual jurors find that one or more mitigating circumstances was established by the greater weight of the evidence, yes. eligibility for the death penalty as to jelena ramsey. we the jury unanimously find that the aggravating factors that were proven beyond a reasonable doubt outweigh the mitigating circumstances established, no. signed and dated october 13th, 2022 by foreperson benjamin thomas. aggravating factors as to count -- excuse me, verdict form as to count nine, victim

christopher hixon. we the jury unanimously find that the state has established beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor, nikolas cruz was previously convicted of another capital felony or of a felony involving the use or threat of violence to another person, yes. the jury unanimously find that the state has established beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor, nikolas cruz created a great risk of death to many persons, yes. we the jury unanimously find that the state has established beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor that the first-degree murder of christopher hixon was committed while nikolas cruz was engaged in the commission of a

burglary, yes. we the jury unanimously find that the state has established beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor, the first-degree murder of christopher hixon was especially heinous, atrocious or cruel, yes. we the jury unanimously find that the state has established beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor, that the first-degree murder of christopher hixon was committed in a cold, calculated and premeditated manner without any pretense of moral or legal justification, yes. we the jury unanimously find that the state has established beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor the first-degree murder

of christopher hixon was committed to disrupt or hinder the lawful or exercise of any governmental function or the enforcement of the laws, yes. we the jury unanimously find that the state has established beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor christopher hixon was an appointed public official engaged in the performance of his official duties, if the motive for the first-degree murder -- in whole or part to christopher hixon's official capacity, yes. reviewing the aggravating factors that we unanimously found to be established beyond a reasonable doubt, we the jury unanimously find that the aggravating factors are sufficient to warrant a possible sentence of death, yes.

one or more individual jurors find that one or more mitigating circumstances was established by the greater weight of the evidence, yes. we the jury unanimously find that the aggravating factors that were proven beyond a reasonable doubt outweigh the mitigating circumstances, no. signed and dated october 13th, foreperson benjamin thomas. verdict as to count ten, carmen, we the jury unanimously find that the state has established beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor that nikolas cruz was previously convicted of another

felony with the use of violence to another person, yes. we the jury unanimously find that the state has established beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor nikolas cruz created a great risk of death to many persons, yes. we the jury unanimously find that the state has established beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor that the first-degree murder of carmen schentrup was committed while nikolas cruz was engaged in the commission of a burglary, yes. we the jury unanimously find that the state has established beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor, the first-degree murder

of carmen schentrup was especially heinous, atrocious or cruel, yes. we the jury unanimously find that the state has established beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor, the first-degree murder of carmen schentrup was committed in a cold, calculated and premeditated manner without any pretense of moral or legal justification, yes. reviewing the aggravating factors that we unanimously found to be established beyond a reasonable doubt, we the jury unanimously find that the aggravating factors are sufficient to warrant a possible sentence of death, yes. one or more individual jurors find that one or more mitigating circumstances was established by the greater weight of the

evidence, yes. eligibility for the death penalty as to victim carmen schentrup. we the jury unanimously find that the aggravating factors that were proven beyond a reasonable doubt outweigh the mitigating circumstances established, no. signed october 13th, foreperson benjamin thomas. count 11. aaron feis. we the jury unanimously find that the state has established beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor, nikolas cruz was previously convicted of another capital felony or of a felony involving the use or threat of violence to another person, yes. we the jury unanimously find

that the state has established beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor nikolas cruz created a great risk of death to many persons, yes. we the jury unanimously find that the state has established beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor that the first-degree murder of aaron feis was committed while nikolas cruz was engaged in the commission of a burglary, yes. we the jury unanimously find that the state has established beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor, the first-degree murder of aaron feis was especially heinous, atrocious or cruel, yes. we the jury unanimously find that the state has established

beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor that the first-degree murder of aaron feis was committed in a cold, calculated and premeditated manner without any presence of moral or legal justification, yes. we the jury unanimously find that the state established beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor, the first-degree murder of aaron feis was committed to disrupt or hinder the lawful exercise of any governmental function or the enforcement of laws, yes. we the jury unanimously find that the state has established beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor aaron feis was an appointed public official engaged in the performance of his official duties if the motive for first-degree murder was related in whole or in part

to aaron feis' official capacity, yes. reviewing the aggravating factors that we unanimously found to be established beyond a reasonable doubt, we the jury unanimously find that the aggravating factors are sufficient to warrant a possible sentence of death, yes. one or more individual jurors finds that one or more mitigating circumstances was established by the greater weight of the evidence, yes. eligibility for the death penalty as to count 11, aaron feis. we the jury unanimously find that the aggravating factors that were proven beyond a reasonable doubt outweigh the mitigating circumstances established, no. signed this 13th day of october, foreperson benjamin thomas.

verdict as to count 11, victim scott beigel. we the jury unanimously find that the state has proven beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor, nikolas cruz was previously convicted of another capital felony or of a felony involving the use or threat of violence to another person, yes. we the jury unanimously find that the state has established beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor nikolas cruz knowingly created a great risk of death to many persons, yes.

we the jury unanimously find the state has established beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor the first-degree murder of scott beigel was committed while nikolas cruz was engaged in the commission of a burglary, yes. we the jury unanimously find that the state has established beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor, the first-degree murder of scott beigel was especially heinous, atrocious or cruel, yes. we the jury unanimously find that the state has established beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor -- we the jury unanimously find that the state has established beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor, the

first-degree murder of scott beigel was committed in a cold, calculated and premeditated manner without any pretense of moral or legal justification, yes. we the jury unanimously find that the state has established beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor, the first-degree murder of scott beigel was committed to disrupt or hinder the lawful exercise of any government function or the enforcement of laws, yes. we the jury unanimously find that the state has established beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor, scott beigel was an appointed public official engaged in the performance of his official duties. if the first-degree murder was related in whole or in part to scott beigel's official capacity, yes. reviewing the aggravating factors that we unanimously

found to be established beyond a reasonable doubt, we the jury unanimously find that the aggravating factors or sufficient to warrant a possible sentence of death, yes. one or more individual jurors find that one or more mitigating circumstances was established by the greater weight of the evidence, yes. eligibility for the death penalty as to count 12, victim scott beigel. we the jury unanimously find that the aggravating factors that were proven beyond a reasonable doubt outweigh the mitigating circumstances established, no. signed october 13th foreperson benjamin thomas. verdict form as to count 13,

meadow pollack. we the jury unanimously find that the state has established beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor that nikolas cruz was previously convicted of another capital felony or a felony involving the use or threat of violence to another person, yes. we the jury unanimously find that the state has established beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor, nikolas cruz knowingly created a great risk of death to many persons, yes. we the jury unanimously find that the state has established beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor, the first-degree murder of meadow pollack was committed while nikolas cruz was engaged in the commission of a burglary,

yes. we the jury unanimously find that the state has established beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor that the first-degree murder of meadow pollack was especially heinous, atrocious or cruel, yes. we the jury unanimously find that the state has established beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor, the first-degree murder of meadow pollack was committed in a cold, calculated and premeditated manner without any pretense of moral or legal justification. yes. reviewing the aggravating factors that we unanimously found to be established beyond a reasonable doubt, we the jury unanimously find that the aggravating factors are sufficient to warrant a possible

sentence of death, yes. one or more individual jurors find that one or more mitigating circumstances was established by the greater weight of the evidence, yes. we the jury unanimously find that the aggravating factors that were proven beyond a reasonable doubt outweigh the mitigating circumstances established as to meadow pollack, no. signed october 13th, foreperson benjamin thomas. as to victim cara loughran. we the jury unanimously find

that the state has proven beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the factor, nikolas cruz was convicted of another capital felony or of a felony involving the use or threat of violence to another person, yes. we the jury unanimously find that the state has established beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor, nikolas cruz knowingly -- knowingly created a -- a great risk of death to many persons, yes. we the jury unanimously find that the state has established beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor that the first-degree murder of cara loughran was committed while nikolas cruz was engaged in the commission of a burglary, yes. we the jury unanimously find that the state has established beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor, the first-degree murder

of cara loughran was especially heinous, atrocious or cruel, yes. we the jury find that the state has established beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor, the first-degree murder of cara loughran was committed in a cold, calculated and premeditated manner without any pretense of moral or legal justification, yes. reviewing the aggravating factors that we unanimously found to be established beyond a reasonable doubt, we the jury familiesly find that the aggravating factors are sufficient to warrant a possible sentence of death, yes. one or more individual jurors finds that one or more mitigating circumstances was established by the greater weight of the evidence, yes.

eligibility for the death penalty as to victim cara loughran, we the jury unanimously find that the aggravating factors that were proven beyond a reasonable doubt outweigh the mitigating circumstances established as to cara loughran, no. signed benjamin thomas, october 13th, 2022. count 15, victim joaquin oliver. we the jury unanimously find that the state has established beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor nikolas cruz was previously convicted of another capital felony or of a felony involving the use of threat -- use or threat of violence to

another person, yes. we the jury unanimously find that the state has found beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor nikolas cruz knowingly created a great risk of death to many persons, yes. we the jury unanimously find that the state has established beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor that the first-degree murder of joaquin oliver was committed while nikolas cruz was committed in a burglary, yes. we the jury unanimously find that the state has established beyond a reasonable doubt the factor, the first-degree murder of joaquin oliver was especially

heinous, atrocious or cruel, yes. we the jury unanimously find that the state has established beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor the first-degree murder of joaquin oliver was committed in a cold, calculated and premeditated manner without any pretense of moral or legal justification, yes. reviewing the aggravating factors that we unanimously found to be established beyond a reasonable doubt, we the jury unanimously find that the aggravating factors are sufficient to warrant a possible death sentence, yes. one or more individual jurors find that one or more mitigating circumstances was established by the greater weight of the evidence, yes. eligibility for the death

penalty, as to victim joaquin oliver. we the jury unanimously find that the aggravating factors that were proven beyond a reasonable doubt outweigh the mitigating circumstances established, no. dated october 13th, foreperson benjamin thomas. verdict form as to count 16, victim jamie guttenberg. we the jury unanimously find that the state has established beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor nikolas cruz was previously convicted of another capital felony or of a felony involving the use or threat of violence to another person, yes. we the jury unanimously find

that the state has established beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor nikolas cruz knowingly created a great risk of death to many persons, yes. we the jury unanimously find that the state has established beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor, the first-degree murder of jamie guttenberg was committed while nikolas cruz was engaged in the commission of a burglary, yes. we the jury unanimously find that the state has established beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor that the first-degree murder of jamie guttenberg was especially heinous, atrocious or cruel, yes. we the jury unanimously find that the state has established beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor -- of the murder of jamie

guttenberg was committed in a cold, calculated and premeditated manner without any pretense of moral or legal justification, yes. reviewing the aggravating factors that we unanimously found to have been established beyond a reasonable doubt, we the jury unanimously find that the aggravating factors are sufficient to warrant a possible sentence of death, yes. one or more individual jurors find that one or more mitigating circumstances was established by the greater weight of the evidence, yes. eligibility for the death penalty as to jamie guttenberg, we the jury unanimously find that the aggravating factors that were proven beyond a

reasonable doubt outweigh the mitigating circumstances established as to jamie guttenberg, no. signed benjamin thomas, october 13th, 2022. count 17, peter wang. we the jury unanimously find that the state has established beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor, nikolas cruz was previously convicted of another capital felony or of a felony involving the use or threat of violence to another person, yes. we the jury unanimously find that the state has established beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor nikolas cruz knowingly

created a great risk of death to many persons, yes. we the jury unanimously find that the state has established beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of an aggravating factor, the first-degree murder of peter wang was committed while nikolas cruz was engaged in the commission of a burglary, yes. we the jury unanimously find that the state has established beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor, the first-degree murder of peter wang was especially heinous, atrocious or cruel, yes. we the jury unanimously find that the state has established beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of the aggravating factor, the first-degree murder

of peter wang was committed in a cold, calculated and premeditated manner without any pretense of moral or legal justification, yes. reviewing the aggravating factors that we unanimously found to be established beyond a reasonable doubt, we the jury unanimously find that the aggravating factors are sufficient to warrant a possible sentence of death, yes. one or more individual jurors find that one or more mitigating circumstances was established by the greater weight of the evidence, yes. eligibility for the death penalty as to peter wang. we the jury unanimously find that the aggravating factors that were proven beyond a reasonable doubt outweigh the mitigating circumstances

established as to count 17, peter wang. no. october 13th, 2022, signed by foreperson benjamin thomas. madam clark, would you please pull the jurors. >> mr. thomas, is this your verdict? >> yes. >> tony, is this your verdict? >> yes. >> steven, is this your verdict? >> yes. >> jimmy, is this your verdict? >> yes. >> andrew johnson, is this your verdict? >> yes. >> andrew? >> yes. >> is this your verdict? >> yes.

>> stacey, is this your verdict? >> yes. >> is this your verdict? >> yes. >> is this your verdict? >> yes. >> is this your verdict? >> yes. >> gabriel, is this your verdict? >> yes. >> and denise, is this your verdict? >> yes. >> thank you. >> members of the jury, i wish to thank you for your time and consideration in this case. i also wish to advise you of the following: no juror can ever be required to talk about the discussions that occurred in the jury room, except by court order. for many centuries, our society

has relied upon juries for consideration of difficult cases. your deliberations, discussions and votes should remain your private affair, if that's what you wish. therefore, the law gives you the privilege not to speak about the jury's work. although you are at liberty to speak with anyone about your deliberations, you're also at liberty to refuse to speak to anyone. a request to discuss either your verdict or your deliberations may come from those who are simply curious, from those who might seek to find fault with you, the media, the attorneys or elsewhere, it will be up to you whether too preserve your privacy as a juror. at this time, the sheriff's office is going to escort the jurors out of the courtroom.

okay, the defendant having previously been adjudicated of 17 counts of murder in the first degree, the jury having returned a verdict of life in prison without the possibility of parole -- >> under 921.143, the victims under counts 1 through 17 and also the surviving victims of the attempting homicides have a right to express themselves as to the -- everything that could not be expressed under victim impact, they can express themselves as to crime and what they think should have been the appropriate disposition and sentence. it is the anticipated that that could be a lengthy sentencing hearing because it applies to

all 34 counts of the indictment. >> okay, are you prepared to present that testimony now? >> no, we're not, your honor. and under the statute, it says that the victims have a right to present that testimony and under the florida constitution, the victims have a right to be heard and that the victims should present that testimony before you announce sentence. >> okay. can we do that on november 1st, which is a tuesday? >> yes, your honor. >> okay. i'll reset the sentencing for november 1st, tuesday, at 9:00 a.m. so the defendant will remain in the custody of the broward sheriff's office until as such time as she's sentenced. >> thank you, your honor. >> is there anything else for today? >> nothing from the defense, your honor. >> nothing. >> okay, thank you. we're in recess.

>> and we have been watching the breaking news unfold in the parkland mass shooting trial of nikolas cruz. jurors found that for every victim, 14 students and three staff members who were murdered, all of them were especially heinous, atrocious or cruel, but in each case, at least one juror found that the mitigating factors outweighed the aggravating factors when they were considering the death penalty for cruz who is now 24 years old. that fort lauderdale courtroom, you could see packed with family members, a few jurors were seen reaching for tissue and is wiping their eyes. i want to bring in kerry sanders who is outside the courtroom, chuck rosenberg, and david weinstein, a florida-based attorney. kerry, i was watching the reactions, the faces of those family members. it's impossible to even imagine what they have gone through, what they continue to go

through, but talk, if you can, about the families, about the mood and the tension around that courtroom today. >> many, in fact most anticipated that there would be a death sentence. the chief public defender here melissa mcneill had done an admiral job in terms of presenting the reasons to avoid the death penalty, but the family members who had listened to what she said felt that it would fall on deaf ears with this jury, a jury of seven men and five women. i'll give you a little sense of the makeup, who was on the jury who then chose in this particular case, i think surprisingly to many, to go with a life sentence death sentence. one is an i.t. analyst who had worked in construction, owns a semiautomatic weapon. there's a financial advisor there who is a former french

military officer, a probation officer, somebody who works for walmart, a computer technician in miami-dade, a woman working as -- with the broward county library here, a legal assistant, an immigration officer, a man who runs his own business of distribution and exporting, a woman who is a senior investigator for a medical device firm. those names of those jurors were not made public. they were not photographed during the trial. but during the trial, there were portions where the jurors themselves were sobbing and crying, listening to the details. they were all asked prior to being selected in a three-phase process to sit on the jury, they were asked, you can set aside your personal beliefs in this case, and if the law leads you to a death sentence, can you impose the death sentence?

they all agreed. it was a lot to listen to here as we heard -- we heard the judge reading this. let me go and read you what the key words here were in terms of life versus death. on that questionnaire, the one was, the eligibility for the death penalty, we the jury find the aggravating factors outweigh the mitigating circumstances, that was the question. the answer in each of the 17 cases was no. was it one juror who held out? was it many jurors? was it all of them? we don't know. unless the jurors decide to speak and share that, that will remain with them forever. we will never be informed. we will hear from the family members shortly. they are definitely trying to deal with the understanding of what they just heard, because they did not anticipate this based on my conversations with them. we have an opportunity to listen to just a portion of how they felt leads up to this, because they gave victim impact

statements. i believe we have that videotape so you can hear just a little bit about the pain and their expectations leading up to a sentence here. >> forever 14. my daughter was a special girl. >> i was so happy to be her father. >> she was beautiful. and a gift from god. >> my forever 14-year-old little boy. our family is broken. there is this constant emptiness. >> our life has been shattered and changed forever. >> joaquin, i love you. i miss you. i will never forget that smile of yours. >> on february 14th, 2018, my heart stopped beating. our fourth and youngest child

was taken back home to live with our heavenly father. >> i am trying to learn to live with this every day. i miss my son today. i will miss my son tomorrow. i will miss my son for the rest of my life. >> i now struggle every day with the reality that i didn't get to tell jamie one last time that i love her. >> to try to articulate how it has affected me would be for me to rip my heart out and present it to you shattered in a million pieces. >> reporter: incredible emotional testimony that you heard from the family members talking about the loved ones that they lost. to understand and really to put into perspective, this has been four months for these families at the courtroom every day. but four years of agony, of weeping and of loss. let's remind people what

happened and who died here on the campus. we look at their pictures here. alyssa was 14. scott, 35 years old. martin, 14 years old. nicholas, 17 years old. allen, 37, jamie, 14. chris hixon, his son has mental challenges left the courtroom. luke, 15 years old. cara, 14. gina, 14 years old. joaquin, 17 years old. alina, 14. meadow, 18. helena, 17, alex, 14, carmen 16,

peter 17. the families said they didn't want to focus on the gunman. they will not say his name. they wanted everybody to remember who it was that was killed that day. today, we wait to hear what the families have to say whether they think the jury heard what they hoped they would get and clearly did not. >> thank you so much, kerry sanders, for your coverage of this. david, you practice in florida. we know the judge was ready to pronounce sentences. then we heard the families want to have their say once again. does she have any real power here now that the sentence -- at least the recommendation for a sentence has come down? at least one juror in each count said that they thought that the mitigating circumstances were more than the aggravating circumstances, can she still impose the death penalty in. >> she's powerless to impose any

sentence other than life in prison because she's powerless to impose any sentence other than life because that's what the jury recommended. under the case law and the current statute, that's what she must do. however, as the prosecutor pointed out, under the victims' rights act that was enacted by the florida legislature as well as victims' rights under the florida constitution, the next of kin and all the surviving victims have a right to have the opportunity to stand before the court and tell the judge what they believe the appropriate sentence should have been. that's something they couldn't do during the victim impact statements that they gave during the penalty phase. for those victims who survived, and the next of kin, that will have a cathartic affect. cruz will be in the courtroom to hear them say what they have to say. the judge is required do that

under the constitution and the statute. so that's why she set the sentencing hearing for november 1st. in the end, she will have to impose a life sentence. >> chuck, it's an unimaginable burden we put on, i think, death penalty jurors. it's nothing compared to the family members, what they have gone through, what they will go through for the rest of their lives. what strikes you about this decision? >> it's interesting to me. i was involved in a case in photograph court that came out much the same way where we thought we were likely to get a death verdict and turned out one juror made a similar finding that the aggravating factors did not outweigh the mitigating factors. as david describe and you know, it takes one juror in a case such as this to impose not a death penalty, not a death sentence, but a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.

could be one juror. could be two. in our case, it was 11-1 for the death penalty. meaning, the death penalty was not the resulting sentence. these are really hard cases. one thing i know from having worked with lots of victims, having spoken with lots of victims over many years is nothing makes them whole. this is an unspeakable tragedy. it's an unimaginable tragedy. money doesn't make them whole. a sentence of death doesn't make them whole. i'm confident speaking at the sentencing hearing will not make them whole. the thing that would make them whole is getting their loved one back. that's not going to happen. >> it's at least small comfort they will have an opportunity to have their say one more time in the courtroom when nikolas cruz is sentenced. chuck, david, again the decision of that jury on all counts, that someone, at least one of those jurors decided that life in prison, not the death penalty, was the appropriate sentence. we will continue to cover this

throughout the day. we are going to have special coverage of the january 6 hearing. it starts next. so keep it right here on msnbc. but what about the new boss? it looks so good it makes me hangry! settle down there, big guy the new subway series. what's your pick? talk to anyone in san francisco and they'll tell you now is not the time to make our city even more expensive by raising taxes. san francisco has one of the largest city budgets in america. yet when it comes to homelessness and public safety, we're not getting results. what we really need are better policies, more accountability, and safer neighborhoods. vote no on propositions m and o. the last thing we need are higher taxes, especially right now. now is not the time to raise taxes in san francisco. vote no on m and o.