Parkland victim family members confront Nikolas Cruz in emotional sentencing hearing: 'Burn in hell'
The sentencing hearing for Parkland, Florida school shooter Nikolas Cruz began Tuesday with emotional victim impact statements, where Cruz was confronted directly by those affected by the mass killing.
Family members of the 14 students and three staff members killed by Parkland shooter Nikolas Cruz tore into him Tuesday in the opening day of his sentencing hearing, telling the Florida 24-year-old that he will "burn in hell" and "die as nothing."
The fiery and emotional comments made by those most directly affected by the 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School attack come after a jury in Broward County recommended in mid-October that Cruz should get life in prison, but not the death penalty.
"I'm too told to see you live out your life sentence, but I hope your ever-breathing moment here on earth is miserable and you repent for your sins Nikolas and burn in hell," Theresa Robinovitz, the grandmother of victim Alyssa Alhadeff.
David Robinovitz, the slain 14-year-old's grandfather, refused to address Cruz by his name during his statement, only calling him "Parkland murderer."
JURY RECOMMENDS PARKLAND SCHOOL SHOOTER NIKOLAS CRUZ GETS LIFE IN PRISON, NOT DEATH PENALTY
Theresa Robinovitz, the grandmother of victim Alyssa Alhadeff, makes her statement Tuesday during the sentencing trial for Nikolas Cruz. (WSVN)
"Parkland murderer, there’s going to come a day – it could be a week from now, it could be a month from now, it could be 40 years from now – you are going to die. When you die, it is my fondest hope that they take you and burn you and take your ashes and throw them in the garbage dump," Robinovitz told Cruz, who was wearing red prison garb.
"You know why? Because garbage to garbage," Robinovitz continued. "And at that time Parkland murderer it is my hope that you go somewhere to meet your maker of whatever it is and Parkland murderer I hope your maker sends you directly to hell to burn for the rest of your eternity."
Cruz – who appeared to mostly stare forward when shown on camera during the victim’s statements – was observed looking around the room after David Robinovitz walked away from the podium.
Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooter Nikolas Cruz is escorted into the courtroom for a hearing regarding possible jury misconduct during deliberations in the penalty phase of his trial on Friday, Oct. 14, 2022, at the Broward County Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (Amy Beth Bennett/South Florida Sun Sentinel via AP, Pool, File)
Earlier in the hearing, Deborah Hixon, the widow of athletic director Chris Hixon – told Cruz "He was stolen from us by an unimaginable act that you planned and executed.
"After today, I don’t care what happens to you. You’ll be sent to jail, you will be getting your punishment. You'll be a number and for me, you will cease to exist," she said. "You wanted to see the families suffer – well, no more. We will not just survive, we will thrive and we will honor Chris and the other 16 beautiful people that you took from us with positive action and wonderful memories."
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Chief Assistant Public Defender David Wheeler puts his arm around Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooter Nikolas Cruz as they await a verdict in his trial at the Broward County Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022. (Amy Beth Bennett/South Florida Sun Sentinel via AP, Pool)
Natalie Hixon, Chris’ sister, told Cruz "After tomorrow nobody cares about you or what is going to happen to you."
"You will die as nothing because you are nothing," she said.
