
Nikolas Cruz, the teenage gunman who slaughtered 17 people in a high school massacre last Wednesday, appeared in court on Monday.

The 19-year-old did not look up once as he sat at the defense table in a red prison jumpsuit.

It was a procedural hearing in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Cruz was joined by his sympathetic public defender Melissa McNeill who last week put her arm around his shoulder as he faced a judge. She described him as a 'broken person'.

The hearing was at the request of his defense and was to do with documents which the defense want to keep sealed.

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Gunman Nikolas Cruz appeared in court in Fort Lauderdale on Monday for a brief appearance during which a judge allowed his team to keep files sealed

Cruz did not look up at all and spoke only to his attorney, public defender Melissa McNeill, and another representative from the public defender's office

McNeill put her arm on Cruz's shoulder again on Monday, as he did last week at his first appearance before a judge

Judge Elizabeth Scherer granted their request and said the document was 'solely' to do with them having access to Cruz. She did not say what the files contained.

Cruz is being held in a maximum security prison on 17 counts of murder.

On Monday, he shuffled out of court with shackles around his waist and feet.

It was also revealed by CBS on Monday that the teenager has purchased seven rifles in the past year alone.

He used a legally purchased AR-15 to carry out the attack on Valentine's Day.

Cruz passed background checks in place in Florida despite the fact that police had been called to his home more than three dozen times.

While McNeill spoke to the judge, Cruz was comforted by British barrister Jodie Woodward who is volunteering at the Broward County Public Defender's Office on capital cases

A third, unidentified female member of Cruz's legal team spoke to him during the hearing but he kept his head down while she spoke to him

After the short hearing on Monday, Cruz shuffled out in his red prison jumpsuit. He was handcuffed and shackled

Judge Elizabeth Scherer granted their defense's request and said the document was 'solely' to do with them having access to Cruz

Cruz, who has been in custody since Wednesday, had small growth on his chin. It was revealed on Monday that he has bought seven rifles in the last year alone

The funeral of Alaina Petty, 14, was held on Monday at the same time as Cruz's hearing

One one of those visits, in September 2016 while his adoptive mother Lynda was still alive, officers discovered he had ADHD, was depressed and had cut his arms in a Snapchat video.

Despite his condition, he said he wanted to 'go out and buy a gun', according to officials familiar with the visit.

The Department of Family Services had been called to the house amid concern he was being neglected.

They closed their investigation six weeks after the visit, saying there was no cause for further concern and that he was receiving mental health help.

When his mother died in November this year, he went to live with one set of family friends with his younger brother.

Cruz moved out not long after and settled with the Snead family. They have since told of their shock and heartache and say that he showed no signs he was planning such a massacre.

As Cruz appeared in court in Fort Lauderdale, funerals for his victims continued near the school.

On Monday, 14-year-old Alaina Paige was laid to rest at a funeral at her Mormon church.

Grieving students brought pink flowers to the service and around 1,500 people were in attendance.

Among the mourners were children who brought stuffed animals for comfort.

The body of Alaina Petty is escorted out of the Church of the Jesus Christ Latter-day Saints on Monday in a coffin draped in an American flag. She was one of the 17 victims

As the gunman appeared in court, mourners continued to grieve in Coral Springs. Above, male youngsters attend the funeral of 14-year-old Alaina Petty on Monday. They carried pink and white flowers to the service

A student is comforted by an adult as she leaves the funeral for Alaina Petty in Coral Springs, Florida on Monday

The young mourner wore white for the occasion. She cried as she left the church after the emotional service

Hers was the most recent of 17 funerals which will take place as a result of Cruz's rampage.

In a statement released earlier in the week, Alaina's family said she 'served her community'.

She, like fellow victim Peter Wang, was a member of the JTROC cadets.

'Alaina loved to serve.

'She served her community through her participation in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas JROTC program and her countless hours of service as a volunteer for the ‘Helping Hands’ program of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.'

The kind-hearted teenager also went to Florida last year to help with the clean-up after Hurricane Irma, her family said.

'Her selfless service brought peace and joy to those that had lost everything during the storm.

A young JROTC student is consoled outside the church. Alaina was in the training program and 'loved to serve', according to her family

Another young JROTC student is comforted outside the church (left) and two teenage girls console one another (right)

One mourner wore a white t-shirt which had the names of all 17 victims written in black marker on the back

Female students attend the funeral of Alaina Petty in Coral Springs, Florida, on Monday

A young boy is escorted in to the church ahead of the funeral on Monday

An American flag was carried into Alaina's funeral on Monday. The service was held at the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints. Petty was a JROTC

Mourners at the funeral of Alaina Petty in Coral Springs, Florida, on Monday

Mourners wore black and white for Alaina's funeral on Monday. Her family said she was a sweet girl who 'loved to serve'

An emotional woman arrives for the funeral of 14-year-old Alaina Petty on Monday, February 19

There was a large turnout of children, teenagers and adults for Alaina's funeral on Monday morning

'While we will not have the opportunity to watch her grow up and become the amazing woman we know she would become, we are keeping an eternal perspective.

'We are grateful for the knowledge that Alaina is a part of our eternal family and that we will reunite with her.

Luke Hoyer, 15, was also buried on Monday

'This knowledge and unabiding faith in our Heavenly Father's plan gives us comfort during this difficult time.'

Luke Hoyer's funeral was also taking place.

The 15-year-old's family eulogized him earlier in the week, telling The Sun Sentinel in an obituary that he was a boy of 'simple tastes'.

'He loved his family, his dogs and his friends.

'Luke didn't need to say much; just having him around made the room feel warm and welcoming.

'His smile and good nature will be greatly missed by those that knew and loved him. We will continue to feel his presence in our hearts and souls.

'He will always be our Lukey-Bear,' they said.

The funerals of Meadow Pollack and Alyssa Alhadeff were both buried on Friday.

Three adults were also killed.

They were Aaron Feis, 37, Scott Beigel, 35, and Chris Hixon, 49.

All three men died trying to protect students from Cruz's bullets. On Sunday, Beigel was buried by his fiancee.

Separate services were also held for Jaime Guttenberg, 14, and Alex Schachter, 14.

Mourners comforted one another outside the Church by the Glades in Coral Springs, Florida. His family asked for donations in his name to The Children of Broward County which raises money for neglected and abused children

The large congregation outside the Church by the Glades after Luke Hoyer's funeral on Monday

In Washington on Monday, protesters staged a lie in in front of the White House to call on stricter gun laws