FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — As his death penalty trial draws closer, a hearing was held Wednesday afternoon for Parkland school shooting suspect Nikolas Cruz in the 2018 massacre that killed 17 people.
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The hearing concerned the setting of timelines leading up to the planned January trial of the 21-year-old Cruz, who was not present in court on Wednesday.
Although Cruz has pleaded not guilty, his lawyers say he would admit to the crimes in exchange for a life prison sentence. Prosecutors say they are pursuing the death penalty.
Cruz is accused of the Feb. 14, 2018, shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. He faces 17 first-degree murder charges and 17 attempted murder charges.
Jury selection in his trial is set to begin Jan. 27.
WPTV and the Associated Press contributed to this report.