ORLANDO, Fla. - The widow of the Pulse Orlando nightclub shooter was found not guilty on all charges Friday. Noor Salman cried as she heard the "not guilty" verdict.
Defense attorney Linda Moreno reacted to the verdict by saying, "The jury didn't make Noor Salman the last victim of Omar Mateen."
"Noor is so grateful," Moreno said. "Her belief in the process was shown today."
Prosecutors made a brief statement without taking any questions.
"While we're disappointed in the jury's verdict, we respect the verdict and we appreciate all their hard work and thank them for their service in this case," prosecutor Sara Sweeney said.
Read: Central Florida reacts to not guilty verdict in Pulse shooting trial
Barbara Pom, the owner of the shuttered nightclub and the founder of the onePULSE Foundation said, “I respect the criminal justice process, and we all have to trust that the jury made its decision free of bias and emotion. Those of us directly affected by this tragedy must find peace in our hearts and remember that he was the one who pulled the trigger that night. He was the perpetrator, and he should not have one more minute of power over our lives.” Click here to read her full statement
Salman said she knew nothing of Mateen’s plan to attack Pulse, but prosecutors claimed she was aware and didn’t stop it.
Photos: Courtroom sketches of Noor Salman trial
After three days of deliberations, the jury cleared her of the obstruction of justice charge and the charge of providing material support to a terrorist organization.
Salman's uncle told reporters that she will be going home to her son in California and plans to color Easter eggs over the weekend.
"I said that day 1 that she is innocent and I would tell you after a jury had a verdict that I told you so, and here I am saying I told you so," Al Salman said.
Watch: Crowd gathers outside Pulse after not guilty verdict
Susan Clary, a Salman family spokeswoman said, reiterated Friday that Salman knew nothing of her husband's plans to carry out a massacre.
"She's told me personally she wants the people of Orlando to hear the truth about her and about the fact that she did not know what he was doing," Clary said. "And that if she had known that, she absolutely would have told somebody and that she wished she had, and that really, it took the FBI putting those things together for her to realize what he was doing. But otherwise, she didn't know," .
Photos: Remembering the victims
Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings released this statement regarding the verdict: “I am disappointed in the outcome of the trial and know that the victims and/or their families are more disappointed. This has been an emotional event for our community and many may feel that justice has not prevailed. However, the system of justice has spoken and we should look to the continued healing for the families and our entire community so that this event will not define us.“
We can never bring back the 49 innocent victims whose lives were taken on June 12, 2016, or erase the pain that the horrific act brought to so many, but we remain focused on helping the victims and family members continue the healing process.
— Mayor Buddy Dyer (@orlandomayor) March 30, 2018
Salman defense attorney: “The FBI must join rest of law enforcement and record all statements. It is ridiculous that they don’t. OPD would have videotaped. “
— Martie Salt (@MSaltWFTV) March 30, 2018
They hope to go back to a normal life after nearly 2 years. #NoorSalman #Pulse #trial
— Elyna WFTV (@encproducer) March 30, 2018
Noor Salman family "she's innocent." The family said they're sorry for family members and friends of Pulse attack. That's the most important thing. They are also happy with the verdict #NoorSalman #trial #pulse pic.twitter.com/NnZiqF2MJt
— Elyna WFTV (@encproducer) March 30, 2018
Pulse family: regardless of the verdict today, true justice lies in creating a world our 49 brothers & sisters would be proud of. One where we no longer have to fear bullets when we should be celebrating life. Love you all. ♥️
— Brandon Wolf (@bjoewolf) March 30, 2018
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Versión en español
Abogado defensor: "El jurado no convirtió a Noor Salman en la última víctima de Omar Mateen"
La viuda del autor de la masacre en la discoteca Pulse en Orlando fue declarada no culpable de todos los cargos el viernes. Noor Salman lloró cuando escuchó el veredicto de "no culpable". La abogada defensora Linda Moreno reaccionó al veredicto diciendo: "El jurado no convirtió a Noor Salman en la última víctima de Omar Mateen".
Víctimas del tiroteo en Pulse reciben títulos póstumos en Orlando
La fundadora de la Fundación PULSE, Barbara Poma, dijo: "Respeto el proceso de justicia penal, y todos debemos confiar en que el jurado tomó una decisión libre de prejuicios y emociones. Aquellos de nosotros directamente afectados por esta tragedia debemos encontrar paz en nuestros corazones y recordar que fue él quien apretó el gatillo esa noche. Él era el perpetrador, y no debería tener un minuto más de poder sobre nuestras vidas ". Haga clic para leer la declaración completa en inglés.
Obama y Biden llegan a Orlando a visitar víctimas y sobrevivientes del tiroteo
Salman dijo que no sabía nada del plan de Mateen para atacar Pulse, pero los fiscales afirmaron que ella estaba consciente de lo que su esposo planeaba hacer y no lo detuvo. Después de tres días de deliberaciones, el jurado la absolvió del cargo de obstrucción de la justicia y el cargo de proporcionar apoyo material a una organización terrorista.
La Primera Dama de Puerto Rico llega a Orlando para visitar a víctimas y ofrecer ayuda al pueblo
El tío de Salman le dijo a los periodistas que irá a casa con su hijo y planea pintar huevos de Pascua durante el fin de semana. "Ella me dijo personalmente que quiere que la gente de Orlando sepa la verdad sobre ella y sobre el hecho de que no sabía lo que él estaba haciendo. Y que, si lo hubiera sabido, se lo hubiera dicho a alguien y que ella deseó haberlo hecho, y que realmente le tomó al FBI unir esas cosas para que se diera cuenta de lo que estaba haciendo, pero de lo contrario, no lo sabía ", dijo la representante de la familia Salman, Susan Clary.
El Sheriff del Condado de Orange, Jerry Demings, dio a conocer esta declaración con respecto al veredicto: "Estoy decepcionado con el resultado del juicio y sé que las víctimas y / o sus familias están más decepcionadas. Este ha sido un evento emocional para nuestra comunidad y muchos pueden sentir que la justicia no ha prevalecido. Sin embargo, el sistema de justicia ha hablado y debemos buscar la sanación continua para las familias y toda nuestra comunidad para que este evento no nos defina ".
“Nunca podremos recuperar a las 49 víctimas inocentes cuyas vidas fueron tomadas el 12 de junio de 2016, o borrar el dolor que el acto horrible trajo a tantos, pero seguimos enfocados en ayudar a las víctimas y a los miembros de la familia a continuar el proceso de curación.”--declaró en un tuit el Alcalde Buddy Dyer (@orlandomayor) el 30 de marzo de 2018
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Previous Pulse Shooting trial stories:
- Jurors to continue deliberations in Noor Salman trial
- Psychologist says Noor Salman isn't 'the brightest' as defense rests case
- Salman showed no emotion upon learning of husband's death, agent says
- Attorneys press FBI agent who wrote down Salman's statements
- Jurors shown graphic video of victims’ final moments
© 2018 Cox Media Group.
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