“My life will never be the same again.” Court hears first victim statements in Parkland shooter’s death penalty trial

To recommend a death sentence, the jurors must be unanimous. If they do, the judge could choose to follow the recommendation or sentence Cruz to life instead.

To make their decision, jurors will hear prosecutors and defense attorneys argue aggravating factors and mitigating circumstances — the reasons why Cruz should or should not be executed. The victim impact statements add another layer, giving families and friends of the victims their own day in court, although the judge told the jury that the statements should not be considered aggravating factors.

“We were a family unit of five always trying to fit into a world of even numbers,” said Tom Hoyer, whose 15-year-old son Luke – the youngest of the three – was killed. “Two, four, or six-seat tables in a restaurant. Two-, four-, or six-ticket packages for events. Things like that.”

But the Hoyers are no longer a family of five, and “the world will never feel right again, now that we’re a family of four,” Hoyer said.

“When Luke died, something disappeared inside me,” he said. “And I will never get over this feeling.”

The testimony of the parents of the 14 slain students focused not just on who their children were, but who they will never become.

Nicholas Dworet, captain of the high school swim team, had just received a scholarship from Indianapolis University when he was killed, his mother, Annika Dworet, testified on Tuesday. He wanted to study finance and move to Boston with his girlfriend.

“Nick had big goals – bigger than most of us dare to dream,” she said. Next to his bed, he had taped a note that read, “I want to become a Swedish Olympian and go to Tokyo 2020 to represent my country. I will give everything I have in my body and my mind to achieve the goals I have set.”

“Now,” said Anika Dworet, “we will never know if he would have achieved his goal of going to the Olympics.”

“I’ll never get over it. I’ll never get over it,” she said Monday. “My life will never be the same again.”

“Our lives have been shattered”

Cruz had no visible reaction Monday to any of the victim impact statements, although one of his defense attorneys was seen wiping away a tear, as were at least two members of the jury.

“It’s been four years and four months since he was taken from us, his friends and his family,” Patricia Oliver said of her son, who was 17 when he was killed. “We miss him more than words can say and we love him very much,” she said, adding, “Our lives have been shattered and changed forever.”

Joaquin’s sister, Andrea Ghersi, said her 6ft 1in little brother was “energetic, dynamic, loud, confident, strong, empathetic, understanding, intelligent, passionate, outgoing, playful, loving, competitive, rebellious, funny , loyal and consistently spoke up when he felt something was not right.”

Victoria Gonzalez also spoke on Tuesday. On the day of filming, she became Joaquin’s girlfriend, Gonzalez told the court, but they already referred to each other as “always soul mates” and she described it as “magic personified, love personified.” Her name, she says, is “carved deep into my soul”.

Kelly Petty, mother of victim Alaina Petty, described the deceased 14-year-old as a “very loving person”.

“She loved her friends, she loved her family, and most importantly, she loved God,” Kelly Petty said of her daughter. “I’m heartbroken that I couldn’t see her grow into the amazing young woman she was becoming.”

Alain’s sister, Meghan, echoed that sentiment, telling the court: “I would have loved to see her grow up. She would have been a blessing to the world.”