Alex Jones trial - live: Jury begins deliberating in Infowars host’s second Sandy Hook hoax case
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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”.
ICYMI: Sandy Hook father says he felt like he ‘failed’ his slain daughter
Last week, Robbie Parker took to the witness stand to testify that he believed he was “failing” six-year-old Emilie’s memory as Alex Jones lies continued to spread lies about her.
Read more about Mr Parker’s heartbreaking testimony in Rachel Sharp’s report.
Sandy Hook father says Alex Jones lies made him feel like he ‘failed’ his daughter
Robbie Parker testified that seeing the far-right extremist continue to spread lies about the families of Parkland was a ‘big catalyst’ to him to ‘fight’
The jury is back in court for the afternoon session
The afternoon session has begun with victims’ attorney Josh Koskoff providing a rebuttal to Alex Jones’ attorney Norm Pattis.
“There was some darkness that came over the courtroom,” Mr Koskoff says of Mr Pattis’ closing argument.
He adds it’s “unfathomable” that a grown man would act like Jones had.
‘He’s not a conspiracy theorist: he’s a liar'
Josh Koskoff tells the jury it is incorrect to describe Alex Jones as a conspiracy theorist.
“He’s not a conspiracy theorist, he’s a liar,” Mr Koskoff says.
“When it comes to the truth, Alex Jones is an arsonist. He sets fire to the truth.
“All of that hate, all of that fire, spreading in an instant.”
Victims’ attorney says Jones preyed on national unity after 9/11 and Sandy Hook
Josh Koskoff tells the jury that Mr Jones thrives on keeping people divided.
He says that there were two days when Americans were united: the September 11 terror attacks and the Sandy Hook mass shooting.
“And you know what? For Alex Jones, those were the best two days of this life.”
Mr Koskoff’s voice broke at times as he described the impact that the Infowars host had made on the Connecticut community after Sandy Hook.
He asked the jury to “punish” Mr Jones by compensating the families.
He has now concluded his rebuttal.
Discussions continue on jury instructions
After sending the jury on a break, Judge Barbara Bellis continues to discuss with attorneys the instructions she will provide to jurors before they begin deliberations.
The New York Times’ Elizabeth Williamson explains why this aspect of the trial is so crucial.
Watch: Judge tells off Alex Jones’s lawyer for ‘personal attacks’
Alex Jones’s lawyer was told off by the judge in his defamation trial for insinuating the Sandy Hook victims’ are in it for the money.
“It doesn’t mean a thing here for the plaintiff’s lawyers if it doesn’t go ka-ching,” Norm Pattis said during his bizarre closing statement on Thursday.
Watch the video below.
Judge tells off Alex Jones’s lawyer for ‘personal attacks’ in closing statements
Alex Jones’s lawyer was told off by the judge in his defamation trial for insinuating the Sandy Hook victims’ are in it for the money. “It doesn’t mean a thing here for the plaintiff’s lawyers if it doesn’t go ka-ching,” Norm Pattis said during his bizarre closing statement on Thursday, 6 October. Judge Bellis put a pause to the court proceedings to tell Mr Pattis to “refrain” from any further “personal attacks” against the other attorneys. “It’s highly improper. Let’s move on. You can talk about the plaintiffs and the plaintiff’s case. I don’t want to hear it again.” Sign up for our newsletters.
Judge Bellis begins delivering jury instructions
Judge Barbara Bellis and jury have returned to court, and the judge has begun final instructions.
She tells the jury they need only focus on a damages award, as the defamation case has already been proven by default.
Judge Bellis tells them they must decide solely on the evidence presented in court, and not allow sympathy or bias to enter into their thinking.
WATCH: Sandy Hook and 9/11 were ‘best two days’ of Alex Jones’s life, victims’ lawyer says
Sandy Hook and 9/11 were “the best two days” of Alex Jones’s life, a lawyer for the victims of the school massacre has claimed.
In closing arguments on day 14 of Jones’s defamation trial, attorney Josh Koskoff told the jury that the Infowars host chased profits while encouraging his followers to harass grieving families.
Watch below.
Sandy Hook and 9/11 were ‘best two days’ of Alex Jones’s life, victims’ lawyer claims
Sandy Hook and 9/11 were “the best two days” of Alex Jones’s life, a lawyer for the victims of the school massacre has claimed. In closing arguments on day 14 of Jones’s defamation trial, attorney Josh Koskoff told the jury that the Infowars host chased profits while encouraging his followers to harass grieving families. He added that Jones “thrives on keeping people divided” and referenced two days when Americans were united: the September 11 terror attacks and the Sandy Hook mass shooting. “For Alex Jones, those were the best two days of this life,” Koskoff said. Sign up to our newsletters.
Jurors should weigh ‘harassment and fear’ in determining damages award
The judge is explaining to the jury that they should consider the mental and emotional suffering the Sandy Hook victims suffered from the spread of lies about the mass shooting.
She tells them to consider the harassment and fear they experienced, the invasion of privacy and loss of ability to enjoy life’s pleasures, as the NYT’s Elizabeth Williamson explains.
Jury begins deliberations
After lengthy instructions from Judge Barbara Bellis, the jury have begun their deliberations.
Judge Bellis thanked the three alternate jurors - substitutes in case of illness or absence - and allowed them to go home.
They were instructed not to read anything about the trial or discuss it with anyone in case they are required to come back.
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