Alex Jones trial - live: Jury begins deliberating in Infowars host’s second Sandy Hook hoax case
Follow live for the latest updates
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The jury has finished its first full day of deliberation in Alex Jones’ second defamation damages trial over his lies about the Sandy Hook massacre.
Jurors convened to weigh the case on Friday after closing arguments the day before, where attorneys for the families of the Sandy Hook victims urged them to consider the enormous profits Jones had made from spreading conspiracy theories about the mass shooting when determining how much he should pay in damages.
“Every single one of these families were drowning in grief, and Alex Jones put his foot right on top of them,” attorney Christopher Mattei said.
Visitor numbers to Jones’ Infowars website spiked by more than 40 per cent after the December 2012 tragedy, Mr Mattei said.
He suggested a damages award of at least $550m, as Jones and Infowars had received an estimated 550 million views from their Sandy Hook hoax content on social media accounts from 2012 to 2018.
Meanwhile, Jones’ attorney Norm Pattis asked jurors to return a more measured verdict to help restore his client’s faith in “the system”.
Why Alex Jones is facing trial again over his Sandy Hook ‘hoax’ lies – and what it could cost him 
Alex Jones’ lawyer says he is a ‘mad prophet’ like The Handmaid’s Tale author Margaret Atwood or George OrwellSandy Hook and 9/11 were ‘best two days’ of Alex Jones’s life, victims’ lawyer claims
Father at centre of Alex Jones’ Sandy Hook hoax lies tells trial he felt like he ‘failed’ his slain daughter
Sandy Hook father fights tears as he recalls press briefing that made him top target in Alex Jones’s hoax lies
WATCH: Fire alarm interrupts court
Tuesday’s proceedings were unexpectedly interrupted after lunch when a fire alarm began blaring through the courtroom.
The cause of the alarm - which forced a brief evacuation - has not been disclosed.
Watch the startling moment:
ICYMI: Jones says he may plead the fifth
Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones on Tuesday said he may invoke the 5th Amendment if called back to the stand at his Sandy Hook defamation trial to avoid going to jail.
The Infowars founder ranted to reporters outside the court in Connecticut that he was “strongly considering” pleading the fifth as he baselessly claimed that the judge wants to throw him in jail for telling the truth.
“Not because I’m guilty, but because she [the judge] says if I tell the truth, she’ll put me in the Waterbury jail for six months. That’s what she can do,” he blustered.
“I tell the judge and all the rest of the New World Order: I am innocent, and you are guilty of tyranny.”
The Independent’s Bevan Hurley has more:
Alex Jones’ attorney says he will not testify again in Sandy Hook trial
The Infowars conspiracy theorist decided against taking the stand in his second defamation trial, this time in Connecticut, for spreading hoax lies about the 2012 Sandy Hook shooting
Parents of seven-year-old victim Daniel Barden tell of life-altering harassment
The parents of seven-year-old Sandy Hook victim Daniel Barden both testified on Tuesday about how their lives were - and continue to be - upended by Jones’ lies.
Jackie Barden began to choke up as she described Daniel - who would’ve turned 17 last month - as a very compassionate person who was always putting others ahead of himself.
After his death, she told of receiving letters from hoaxers saying they urinated on Daniel’s grave and threatening to dig it up to prove the shooting was a hoax.
Mark Barden said listening to his wife’s testimony earlier in the day was “excruciating” and pointed out that Jones was not in the courtroom to hear it - instead staying outside to hold a press conference.
Mr Barden said many of the other parents who have already testified captured his feelings well.
“I can so relate to Robbie Parker saying my compass is spinning. Or David Wheeler saying it felt like he was underwater, disoriented. I get it, we were all there,” he said.
Mr Barden concluded his testimony by telling how hoaxers “tarnished” the memory of his son.
“Our little home movies, our thoughts and our memories, have all been compromised and taken away from us. Tarnished with toxic hate and lies and danger.”
He fought tears as he described how the harassment changed him, making him constantly paranoid no matter where he goes.
“I’m not the same person,” he said.
Sandy Hook mother says hoaxers ‘took my identity’
Testifying on Tuesday, mother Francine Wheeler told the court how she felt her identity was stripped away by trolls pushing Jones’ lies about Sandy Hook.
Ms Wheeler, whose six-year-old son Ben was killed in the shooting, described how her name became synonymous with the lies - overshadowing both her foundation in his honour, Ben’s Lighthouse, and her performance career.
“It’s ironic because I spent my adult career performing. I loved my life in New York and even in Newtown,” she said.
“They took that from me and doctored and edited 20 years of my work. They took that from me.
“They took my identity, they took my husband’s identity, they took my surviving son’s identity.”
What’s at stake for Jones?
The defamation trial currently in its fourth week in Connecticut was brought by nine plaintiffs - eight relatives of Sandy Hook victims and one former FBI agent who responded to the shooting.
Here’s a recap of what’s at stake for the Infowars host:
Why Alex Jones is facing trial again over his Sandy Hook ‘hoax’ lies
Jones is currently in the middle of his second defamation trial - this time in Connecticut
WATCH: Alex Jones launches fresh rant outside the courthouse
Will Jones testify today?
Alex Jones’ attorney on Tuesday revealed he is not likely to testify again in his Sandy Hook defamation trial - shortly after the conspiracy theorist said he may invoke the 5th Amendment to avoid going to jail.
The Infowars founder ranted to reporters outside the court in Connecticut that he was “strongly considering” pleading the fifth as he baselessly claimed that the judge wants to throw him in jail for telling the truth.
“Not because I’m guilty, but because she [the judge] says if I tell the truth, she’ll put me in the Waterbury jail for six months. That’s what she can do,” he blustered.
“I tell the judge and all the rest of the New World Order: I am innocent, and you are guilty of tyranny.”
After the jury was sent home, Jones’ attorney Norm Pattis informed Judge Barbara Bellis not to expect his testimony on Wednesday.
The Independent’s Bevan Hurley has more:
Alex Jones’ attorney says he will not testify again in Sandy Hook trial
The Infowars conspiracy theorist decided against taking the stand in his second defamation trial, this time in Connecticut, for spreading hoax lies about the 2012 Sandy Hook shooting
Why Alex Jones is facing trial again over his Sandy Hook ‘hoax’ lies – and what it could cost him
The Independent’s Graig Graziosi has a full recap on why the Infowars founder is facing a second defamation trial.
Why Alex Jones is facing trial again over his Sandy Hook ‘hoax’ lies
Jones is currently in the middle of his second defamation trial - this time in Connecticut
‘I’m done apologising’
As we await confirmation of whether Alex Jones will take the witness stand for a second time in his defamation trial this morning, here’s a recap of his chaotic earlier appearance in the trial.
The conspiracy theorist shouted he was “done apologising” to parents of the Sandy Hook victims for spreading baseless claims that the mass shooting was a false flag operation.
Rachel Sharp has the full story.
Alex Jones shouts ‘I’m done apologising’ at Sandy Hook parents crying in court
Far-right conspiracy theorist – who has spent much of the trial mocking the proceedings on his Infowars show – moaned that ‘people think that I killed the kids’
Alex Jones ‘packed up his entourage’ and fled Connecticut on private jet
Alex Jones has left Connecticut, according to New York Times journalist Elizabeth Williamson.
The Infowars founder had been due to testify for a second time on Wednesday, but that looks unlikely now after he “fled on a private jet”.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments