Paul Backman News Today

One expert says the long appeals process can’t be cut because the state often “gets it wrong.”

The sudden end of the defense case in the Parkland mass shooting trial this week drew criticism of and from the presiding judge, temporarily overshadowing the biggest question at issue — was enough evidence presented to convince a jury to spare the defendant’s life? At least one expert, and some trial observers, say they would not be surprised if the jury in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas mass shooting case were to show mercy toward confessed gunman Nikolas Cruz.

Gerhard Hojan was sentenced in the 2002 murders of two Waffle House employees Published October 16, 2018 • Updated on October 16, 2018 at 10:08 pm Back in 2002, Barbara Nunn survived a gunshot to the head while two of her Waffle House coworkers were murdered, execution-style, by a man who robbed the Davie restaurant alongside an accomplice. The killer, Gerhard Hojan, was convicted of first-degree murder, armed kidnapping and robbery and was already sentenced to death by a 9-3 ruling....