Fort Lauderdale, Florida – Jury selection began Wednesday in the trial of a former Florida sheriff’s deputy charged with failing to confront the shooter who killed 14 students and three faculty members at Parkland High School five years ago.

First 40 potential jurors to be considered Broward County Lieutenant Scott Peterson child abandonment case was brought before Circuit Judge Martin Fein in the morning. Fain, prosecutors and Peterson’s lawyers spent several days sifting through hundreds of potential clients until they found 50 who could serve the two months they were expected to face trial. Become.

Lawyers will try next week to agree that a six-member panel and four attorneys from among the 50 will hear the case. Florida is one of six states that allows six jurors in non-death cases. The others are Arizona, Connecticut, Indiana, Massachusetts and Utah. All other states employ 12 jurors in felony trials.

Peterson, 60, remained outside a three-story classroom building at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School during the time. Nicholas Cruz’s A six-minute attack on February 14, 2018.

he is accused Seven felony child neglect charges Four students were killed and three injured on the third floor of the 1200 building. Mr. Peterson arrived at the building with his gun drawn 73 seconds before Mr. Cruz arrived on the floor, but when he heard gunshots, he did not go in and backed away.

He said he thought the shooting was from outside the building, possibly from a sniper. His lawyers also argue that under Florida law, Peterson had no legal obligation to enter the building and confront Cruz.

Peterson is also charged with three counts of misdemeanor and negligence liability for the adults who were shot dead on the third floor, including the deceased teacher and adult student. He has also been charged with perjury on suspicion of lying to investigators. If convicted of child neglect, he could face nearly 100 years in prison and lose his $104,000 annual pension.

Prosecutors did not indict Mr. Peterson in connection with the 11 deaths and 13 injuries on the first floor before Mr. Peterson arrived at the building. No one was shot on the second floor.

Peterson retired immediately after the shooting and was retroactively fired.

Cruz pleaded guilty to the killing in 2021. In last year’s punitive trial, the jury could not unanimously I agree on whether he deserves the death penalty. The 24-year-old former Stoneman Douglas student then sentenced to life imprisonment.