The prosecution and defense attorneys for Parkland School Shooting suspect clashed Wednesday over colored pencils and a coloring book he was given to stop crying in court.
23-year-old Nikolas Cruz was appeared in Fort Lauderdale court over the assault of a correctional officer but started sobbing shortly after spotting jurors weeping at his sight, reporters said
His defense attorneys gave him a Pokemon coloring book and pencils to calm him during the proceeding, which anguished the prosecutors.
“We’re objecting to that, your honor. We believe that that is something that they’re doing so that the jury perceives that you know, he’s a child, that he has some kind of his mentality is somehow challenged, we think that’s inappropriate and we object.”
Judge Elizabeth Scherer then asked: “Why does he need coloring pencils and drawing paper?” to which his attorney replied: “He’s upset. He’s clearly upset. I am trying to keep him calm during this trial.”
But the judge ordered the items be taken away from the suspect, making him burst into tears.
