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Nikolas Cruz is reportedly withdrawing his not guilty plea and will enter no plea at all on 34 counts of murder charges.
In a recent report by the Sun-Sentinel, it has been revealed that Cruz’s legal team has already filed court documents on Thursday, saying he is opting to “stand mute” when he is formally arraigned on March 14.
According to Assistant Public Defender Melisa McNeill, the 19-year-old gunman “stands mute” before the court, adding that the not guilty plea was entered prematurely before he was indicted on 17 premeditated murder and 17 attempted murder charges.
The move appears to be the first step in a legal strategy that will keep him away from the death row even if he is guilty of the charges.
It can be recalled that Cruz’s legal team has already said that he would plead guilty to the crimes if the death penalty is taken off the table. If the prosecutors grant their request, Cruz might be facing a lifetime imprisonment instead.