Expert questions whether school shooter’s mom drank heavily

By TERRY SPENCER
Associated Press

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — A prosecution expert testifying in the penalty trial of Florida school shooter Nikolas Cruz is disputing defense testimony that his birth mother drank heavily during pregnancy. Forensic psychiatrist Dr. Charles Scott told Cruz’s jury Tuesday that there is scant evident supporting the defense’s contention that his biological mother drank fortified wine and malt liquor during her pregnancy. Cruz’s attorneys have argued he has fetal alcohol disorder syndrome, which led to his murder of 17 people at Parkland’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in 2018. He has pleaded guilty. The trial will determine if he is sentenced to death or life in prison.