Anthony Montalto, whose 14-year-old sister Gina was killed, remembered his parents coming home with tears in their eyes on the night of February 14, 2018, telling them that his only brother had died.
He said he wanted to say goodbye to her that morning.
“I can never watch TV with her or talk about books with her. I remember not being there,” Montalto said.
He called Nicholas Cruz a “murderer” and said Cruz should have been sentenced to death.
“He shouldn’t live while my sister is rotting in the grave,” said Montalto.
Montalto hopes that jurors who voted for life imprisonment will regret their decision after hearing his testimony.
Gina Montalto’s father, Tony Montalto, added in court: Sadly, the jury ignored the facts and let emotions take over. Worried about how they would feel… [if Cruz] was sentenced to death. “
“Did they consider what message their verdict sent to our students and teachers?” he continued. “As my wife and I struggled, have they considered how to explain their verdict to the victim’s brother?”
“I don’t think the case was fair to the victim. The court allowed the defense to show every aspect of Cruz’s life before the massacre,” he said, but the victim’s family did not release photos of their loved ones. Couldn’t bring it into court or wear it…a pin to honor them.
“The court did everything it could to dehumanize our beautiful Gina, her classmates, and her teachers,” he said. People had to sit like church rats in court for fear of influencing the jury.”
“This injustice must be rectified. Victims’ rights must be recognized,” he stressed.
