The defense team abruptly rested its case in the Parkland school shooter sentencing trial Wednesday, triggering an outburst from Broward Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer.
“We’re not playing chess,” she said. “I just want to say this is the most uncalled for, unprofessional way to try the case.”
As soon as the jury was about to enter the courtroom Wednesday morning, a member of the defense team, Melisa McNeill, stood up and said, “the defense rests.”
The judge stopped the 12 jurors and 10 alternates from entering and addressed the defense team.



