An expert in fetal alcohol syndrome disorders (FASD) has testified that he has “never seen” a woman abuse alcohol while pregnant as much as Nikolas Cruz’s biological mother.
Dr Kenneth Jones took the witness stand on Tuesday as the defence continues to build its case that the mass murderer suffered brain damage and struggled with severe behavioural problems because of his exposure to alcohol in the womb.
Dr Jones, one of the nation’s leading FASD researchers who has a dedicated clinic for children prenatally exposed to alcohol, testified that Cruz’s biological mother drank more during her pregnancy than any woman he has ever come across in his 50-year career.
“I don’t think I have ever seen — I know I have never seen — so much alcohol consumed by a pregnant woman,” he said.
Dr Jones, who told jurors he was not being paid for his testimony, also said that he had never had so much documentation to prove a patient’s prenatal alcohol exposure.
“I have never, ever in my life seen an individual who has been affected by prenatal exposure to alcohol in which there is documentation – and I think pretty darn good documentation — of alcohol exposure,” he said.
Official records and previous witness testimony have revealed that Cruz’s biological mother Brenda Woodard abused alcohol and drugs while she was pregnant with the future mass shooter.
The argument that Cruz has FASD is a key part of the defence’s strategy to try to convince jurors to spare his life.
Cruz, now 23, pleaded guilty to 17 counts of murder and 17 counts of attempted murder back in October.
Jurors will now decide whether he should receive the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole.