Alex Jones trial - live: Jury begins deliberating in Infowars host’s second Sandy Hook hoax case
Follow live for the latest updates
The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday
Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US
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”.
Jones praises Infowars followers who came to Connecticut court
The jury is shown clips of an Infowars cameraman Dan Bidondi harassing Sandy Hook families.
Jones laughs and says when he sends Bidondi out he calls it “release the Kraken”.
Chris Mattei asks how did Alex Jones penetrate society in a way that the Sandy Hooks victims couldn’t excape from?
By encouraging his audience to investigate his falsehoods for themselves.
He plays another clip where Jones praises his followers for putting up stickers at the courthouse in Connecticut just a few weeks ago.
‘Fair just and reasonable damages'
Chris Mattei has begun discussing damages that the jury should award.
He says Jones pushed the Sandy Hook hoax 550 million times on social media alone.
He instructs the jury to weigh up monetary damages by considering the number of family members (15) and the scale of the defamation.
“You reap what you sew.”
Alex Jones’ attorney begins closing arguments
After a 15 minute break, Norm Pattis has begun his closing arguments for the defense.
He is currently playing a 19 minute clip of the Infowars host.
Alex Jones’ lawyer odd closing arguments
Norm Pattis just did a rather bizarre impersonation of his client Alex Jones while addressing the jury.
Adopting Jones’ husky voice, he said: “I care about smashing the globalists.”
His strange closing arguments do not appear to be convincing the jury.
Equal justice 'for a despised human being’
Norm Pattis tells the jury that there is nowhere he would rather be than fighting for “equal justice under the law for a despised human being”.
He described Jones’ histrionics on the witness stand as an “ugly display”.
Here is Rachel Sharp’s report from Jones’ testimony.
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’
‘Veil of tears'
Norm Pattis says the plaintiff’s case featured a “veil of tears” that was designed to make the jury dislike Alex Jones.
“But bias, sympathy and emotion don’t play a role in hearing damages.”
Judge admonishes Alex Jones’ lawyer
Norm Pattis is told off by the judge after insinuating the Sandy Hook victims’ are in it for the money.
“It doesn’t mean a thing here for the plaintiffs if it doesn’t go ka-ching,” Mr Pattis says.
Judge Bellis pauses proceedings and tells the attorney to “refrain” from further personal attacks.
Alex Jones a ‘mad prophet’
Norm Pattis calls Jones a “mad prophet” who will never be silenced.
He’s now invoking George Orwell, Margaret Atwood and Aldous Huxley while claiming Jones is just trying to warn of a dystopian future.
“There have always been and creative geniuses in the world. And they speak loudly.”
Alex Jones attorney ends his closing argument
As he ends his closing argument, Norm Pattis says a prayer and then acknowledges his client is not the nicest guy in the world.
“In the dark night of the soul when they come for you, you want a lawyer at your side. I’m proud to be at Alex’s side.”
Judge tells off Norm Pattis
Judge Bellis has sent the jury out for an an hour lunch break.
Before excusing the attorneys, the exasperated judge tells Norm Pattis: “I’ve never heard the comments about the personal attacks along those lines.”
Court will resume at 2pm with plaintiffs’ rebuttal.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies