Tuesday 2 August 2022 09:57 PM Devastated father of girl, 14, shot dead by Nikolas Cruz in Parkland massacre ... trends now
The devastated father of a teenage girl who was shot dead by twisted Nikolas Cruz during the Parkland school massacre erupted as he read his emotional statement in court.
Grieving Dr. Ilan Alhadeff told the court and the killer that he is 'living in anger' after his beloved daughter Alyssa, 14, was killed at Parkland's Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School by the 23-year-old shooter.
Cruz went on a killing spree on February 14, 2018 and killed 14 students and three teachers in what is considered to be the worst US mass shooting to reach trial.
The jury deciding whether sick Cruz will get the death sentence have been shown graphic images of his blood-soaked victims - as well as hearing impact statements from the victims' families.
Seething with emotion, Alyssa's father Alhadeff yelled in court: 'My first-born daughter, daddy's girl was taken from me!
Grieving Ilan Alhadeff speaks with fury as he gives his impact statement. His beloved daughter Alyssa, 14, was killed at Parkland's Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School by the 23-year-old shooter
Lori Alhadeff (right) looks towards the defendant as Ilan Alhadeff (left) speaks angrily while giving his victim impact statement during the penalty phase of the trial of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooter Nikolas Cruz
Ilan Alhadeff sits with his head between his arms and is comforted as he returns to his seat after giving his victim impact statement
Theresa Robinovitz, Alyssa's grandmother, said that anger 'has replaced the pure joy of living each day'
Alyssa Alhadeff, 14, was killed by Cruz in the Parkland's Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in February 2018.
'I get to watch my friends, my neighbors, colleagues spend time enjoying their daughters, enjoying all the normal milestones, taking in the normal joys and I only get to watch videos or go to the cemetery to see my daughter.'
He said that one of Alyssa's younger brothers, who was too young to comprehend her death at the time, asks to visit his sister's grave 'from time to time.'
Exploding angrily from the witness box, he said 'this is not normal!' as he admitted his heart was 'ripped out of my damn chest.'
He added: 'Inside I burn like a damn inferno. It took me so long to feel empathy again.'
Alyssa's mother, Lori Alhadeff, also added: 'I'm left with a feeling of emptiness. I look around our home and see photo albums that will never be filled.'
She choked up when telling the court that her daughter was her 'best friend and love of my life.'
Her devastated parents spoke about how the 14-year-old was an aspiring attorney and was a proud soccer team captain.
Alyssa's grandmother, Theresa Robinovitz, began her tearful statement by saying 'living after the death of a child is beyond tears.'
Breaking down in tears, she said she's been seeing a psychologist for depression and anxiety since her grandchild was killed.
She added that anger 'has replaced the pure joy of living each day.'
Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooter Nikolas Cruz (pictured left, when he was arrested in 2017, and right, on August 2, 2022 in court)
Nikolas Cruz (left) speaks with sentence mitigation specialist Kate O'Shea, a member of the defense team, on August 2
Lori Alhadeff (right)reaches over to comfort her mother, Theresa Robinovitz, as she breaks down after reading her victim impact statement
Alyssa's Ilan and Lori Alhadeff embrace after giving their victim impact statements during the trial
Alyssa's mother, Lori Alhadeff, said: 'I'm left with a feeling of emptiness. I look around our home and see photo albums that will never be filled'
After the father finished his tearful statement, he hugged his wife and left the witness stand.
Nikolas Cruz, who pleaded guilty to 17 counts of first-degree murder in October, has sat emotionless while families gave their statements in court over the last two days.
Several of his attorneys wiped away tears and Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer's voice broke when she gave directions during the trial.
The shooter, however, mostly stared straight ahead, occasionally looking down at the table where he sits.
The trial and aftermath for victims' families has been unlike any other mass school shooting.
In most states, photos and video evidence is only displayed at trial, and most killers either
