A prospective juror in the Parkland shooting sentencing trial asked to be dismissed due to her 'sugar daddy' commitments.
Nikolas Cruz murdered 14 students and three staff members at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, in 2018. He pleaded guilty to 17 counts of first-degree murder and 17 counts of attempted murder in connection with the massacre.
The jury selection process began earlier this week, with those chosen to decide whether he'll be sentenced to death or life without the possibility of parole.
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During the proceedings, Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer asked if anyone had any concerns or questions regarding being selected as a juror.
One woman, identified only as 'Miss Bristol', set out why she couldn't attend the trial.
She said: "This is a whole entire month. First of all let me clarify myself, July 7th is my birthday, July 4th is my son, and the 18th is my other son."
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The judge then asked: "Don't talk too fast, we have to be able to understand... so you said that the July, there's dates in July that you're not available? What are those dates?"
Miss Bristol replied: "July 7th, July 4th, and July 18th... and again, I need to figure out something. I have my sugar daddy that I see every day."
The judge responded: "I'm sorry?" Miss Bristol explained: "I'm married, and I have my sugar daddy. I see him every day."
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The judge then told her she'd come back to her later in the day, and she was eventually excused from the trial.
The courtroom footage has since been shared across social media. Former state prosecutor Mark Hartig joked: "Florida court clerks are going to have to add the sugar daddy exception to jury service."
Another user wrote: "One of the Parkland shooting jurors citing her sugar daddy as a reason she can’t serve gives me such 2022 vibes and I love it."
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Other jurors echoed family commitments and other plans as reasons for them to be excused. More than 120 of the first 160 to appear before Scherer were dismissed, including Miss Bristol, reports Fox News.
A total of 12 jurors and eight alternatives will eventually be selected.
Cruz's trial is expected to last from June until September. It was earlier delayed so prosecutors could interview mental health experts, who are expected to testify on the shooter's behalf later this year.
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Topics: US News
Cameron Frew