Alex Jones verdict - live: Sandy Hook families say ‘good prevails’ as Infowars conspiracist to pay $1billion
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A jury has awarded the relatives of Sandy Hook victims a combined $965m in damages after reaching their verdict in Alex Jones’ defamation trial on Wednesday afternoon.
The six-person panel spent more than three days deliberating how much the Infowars host must pay in damages to the plaintiffs - including 15 family members who lost loved ones in the 2012 shooting and a former FBI agent who responded to the scene.
Family members openly wept in court as the individual damages amounts were read out for each plaintiff.
“Good does prevail,” Nicole Hockley, who lost her son Dylan in the massacre, said outside court.
The highest individual damages award was $120m, which went to Robbie Parker, who lost his 6-year-old daughter Emilie in the shooting.
The sum of $965m in damages comes after a Texas jury awarded nearly $50m in damages against Mr Jones in a separate defamation trial.
As the damages verdict was read out in court, Mr Jones told viewers on his Infowars site: “I want to be the billion dollar man.”
Alex Jones’ $1bn verdict
Alex Jones ordered to pay $965m to Sandy Hook families
‘I want to be the billion dollar man!'
What next for Alex Jones?
Key moments from the trial
Families react to $1bn verdict
‘We are going to enforce this verdict’
00:30 , Bevan Hurley
Chris Mattei, an attorney for the families, said outside the courthouse that the $1bn verdict shows “the harm and wreckage that lies like the ones he pushed can have”.
“We believe (the verdict) is historic, and we are going to enforce this verdict. We are going to go through whatever forum we have to… as long as it takes, because that’s what justice requires.”
00:01 , Bevan Hurley
As the $965m damages verdict was read out in court, Alex Jones was asking for donations to meet his legal fees on his Infowars site.
“I want to be the billion dollar man,” he told his audience.
Full story below.
Alex Jones cheers as he watches verdict live on Infowars show
‘Alex Jones is finished'
23:30 , Bevan Hurley
“It took a jury in Connecticut to finally fell this beast,” writes Hannah Selinger for Independent Voices.
“No amount of fundraising can save Alex Jones now. One billion dollars is an insurmountable debt — as insurmountable, some might argue, as having to relive the death of your child over and over again in the public eye for almost an entire decade, without apology.”
As Alex Jones faces a $1bn comeuppance it looks like the good guys have won
WATCH: Sandy Hook families react as jury award them $965m in defamation case
23:03 , Bevan Hurley
The relatives of Sandy Hook victims openly wept in court as the jury awarded them $965m in the Alex Jones defamation case.
A panel of six people spent more than three days deliberating how much the Infowars host had to pay to the loved ones of victims killed in the 2012 school shooting, after Jones claimed they were actors.
Sandy Hook families react as jury award them $965m in defamation case
Jones' ‘realm of lies and deceit’
22:32 , Bevan Hurley
Sandy Hook families spoke emotionally outside of court after the jury awarded them nearly $1bn in damages on Wednesday.
“Everyone on the stand told the truth except for one,” said Robbie Parker, who the jury awarded $120m.
Bill Sherlach, whose wife Mary was killed at Sandy Hook Elementary, warned “Alex Jones’s wannabes” that there was now a cost of entering the “realm of lies and deceit.”
Sandy Hook families react emotionally to $965m Alex Jones ruling
What next for Alex Jones?
22:10 , Bevan Hurley
After damages awards of more than $1bn in two defamation damages trials, what comes next for Alex Jones?
A bankruptcy hearing for his company Free Speech Systems underway in Texas will go some way to determining how much the families can prise from the Infowars host.
An attorney for the Sandy Hook relatives says they will do whatever it takes to enforce the verdict.
Full story below.
What next for Alex Jones after Connecticut jury awards $965m to Sandy Hook families?
$965m verdict sends a message to ‘Alex Jones wannabes'
21:59 , Bevan Hurley
Bill Sherlach, whose wife was shot dead Mary after confronting the shooter, spoke a short time ago outside court.
“I’ve come to know these people over almost 10 years, these beautiful people, they’re good friends, under the worst, most horrendous situation you can imagine.
“And to belittle that horrific event was criminal in and of itself.
“We came in here with a default verdict, so we knew there would be some sort of statement coming out of this trial,” he said.
The jury responded “as we hoped they would for our entire community”, he said.
“It shows that the internet is not the wild, wild west, and that your actions have consequences.
“And for someone to stand in front of a camera probably right now as we’re speaking, to spew the lies to enrich himself, well now there’s a cost-benefit analysis that will have to be done. Because we’ve sent a response, we put a does of civility into the society that we really need at this point in time.
“Going forward, people like Alex Jones will have to rethink what they say, how they say it, how long they say it, and for those who want to be Alex Jones wannabes, this trial, this verdict set a pretty high hurdle in terms of what the cost will be to them, to enter into that realm of lies and deceit.”
‘Good does prevail'
21:49 , Bevan Hurley
Nicole Hockley, who lost her son Dylan in the 2012 shooting, told reporters that she had taken comfort from being with the other Sandy Hook families in court.
“I have always believed in the goodness of other people. And when I first started engaging with followers of Alex Jones back in January of 2013, I was looking for the good. And I didn’t find it. And I gave up. Until I decided to fight.
“Today, with this jury, who I have so much gratitude for listening so attentively... for hearing us, I’m so grateful to them.
“This is sending the right message that people are good, and that good does prevail. And thank you restoring my faith.”
‘We are going to enforce this verdict'
21:41 , Bevan Hurley
Chris Mattei, an attorney for the families, says outside the courthouse that the verdict shows “the harm and wreckage that lies like the ones he pushed can have”.
“We believe (the verdict) is historic, and we are going to enforce this verdict. We are going to go through whatever forum we have to… as long as it takes, because that’s what justice requires.”
Robbie Parker says: ‘Everyone on the stand told the truth except for one'
21:36 , Bevan Hurley
In emotional scenes outside the courthouse in Connecticut, Robbie Parker said the experience should not have been so terrifying.
“Everyone on the stand told the truth except for one,” Mr Parker said.
“What has this man ever given me, and what has he taken from me?”
Read the full story of Mr Parker’s appearance in the witness stand below.
Sandy Hook father recalls press briefing that made him top target of Alex Jones’ lies
The Sandy Hook families are expected to speak soon outside court
21:30 , Bevan Hurley
We’re awaiting reaction from the Sandy Hook families after high drama in the Waterbury courthouse.
Alex Jones still has to face a third damages trial
21:26 , Bevan Hurley
Alex Jones will face a third damages trial in Texas after losing a defamation suit to Lenny Pozner and Veronique De La Rosa, parents of Noah Pozner, the youngest victim of the Sandy Hook shooting.
That is likely to take place towards the end of the year.
‘I want to be the billion dollar man!'
21:05 , Bevan Hurley
As the $965m damages verdict was read out in court, Alex Jones was broadcasting on his Infowars site.
“I want to be the billion dollar man,” he told his audience.
Full story below.
Alex Jones cheers as he watches verdict live on Infowars show
Far-right extremist Alex Jones ordered to pay $965m
21:00 , Bevan Hurley
Read our full write up after a jury awards $965m to the Sandy Hook families.
Far-right extremist Alex Jones ordered to pay $965m to Sandy Hook victims’ families
Judge thanks jury and discharges them
20:58 , Bevan Hurley
Judge Barbara Bellis thanked the jury for their service and has discharged them.
The attorneys were asked if they had any comments to the jury, and both declined.
A total of $965m awarded to 15 Sandy Hook relatives
20:57 , Bevan Hurley
The jury has awarded a total of $965m to 15 family members who lost relatives in the Sandy Hook school shooting.
Robbie Parker reacts after being awarded $120,
20:48 , Bevan Hurley
Robbie Parker listens as a jury awards him $120m.
$120m to first plaintiff Robbie Parker
20:40 , Bevan Hurley
Robbie Parker, the first plaintiff, is to receive $120m, the jury decides for defamation and emotional distress.
That’s for just one of 15 plaintiffs.
‘We are ready with our unanimous verdict'
20:35 , Bevan Hurley
A note from the jury foreperson has been passed to the judge, and the jury are returning to the courtroom in Waterbury, Connecticut.
Judge Bellis is sending the jury back to complete paperwork
20:28 , Bevan Hurley
There will be a slight delay before we know the damages amount awarded against Alex Jones.
“I am going to send you back with very minor instruction,” she tells the jurors.
“I had asked you to have the foreperson initial each page as well as sign.”
The families’ nervous wait will continue for a few more minutes.
Judge Bellis is now reading the completed verdict forms
20:25 , Bevan Hurley
“Just bear with me,” she tells the courtroom.
Judge Barbara Bellis returns to courtroom
20:22 , Bevan Hurley
Judge Bellis says the jury have reached a unanimous verdict.
Judge is due to come out at 3.20pm
20:19 , Bevan Hurley
We’re just a few minutes away from the judge returning to the courtroom, according to New York Times reporter Elizabeth Williamson.
Understandably, she says there is a “lot of nervousness in the courtroom among the families”.
Jury reaches verdict
20:16 , Bevan Hurley
After more than three days of deliberations, the jury has reached a verdict.
We are awaiting the judge and jury to return to the courtroom to hear what the final damages amount will be.
Jury dismissed until 9.45am on Wednesday
Tuesday 11 October 2022 21:38 , Bevan Hurley
Judge Baraba Bellis has dismissed the jury for the day - so no verdict today.
They’ll resume deliberations at 9.45am, when they will watch the hour-long testimony from William Sherlach.
Jury ask to rewatch testimony of witness William Sherlach
Tuesday 11 October 2022 21:37 , Bevan Hurley
The jury have request to see the testimony of William Sherlach, whose wife Mary was killed in the Sandy Hook shooting.
Judge Barbara Bellis says the 68 minute video will be queued up for them in the morning.
Jury have sent another note to the judge
Tuesday 11 October 2022 21:32 , Bevan Hurley
The jury have sent a new note to the judge as they continue to deliberate damages for the families of the Sandy Hook victims in Connecticut.
ICYMI: Sandy Hook father says he felt like he ‘failed’ his slain daughter
Tuesday 11 October 2022 21:30 , Bevan Hurley
Choking back tears, Robbie Parker testified in late September that he believed he was “failing” six-year-old Emilie’s memory as Alex Jones lies continued to spread lies about her.
Emilie was one of the 26 students and staff members murdered in the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School on 14 December 2012.
One day after the massacre, the devastated father gave a brief speech to the media where he paid tribute to his little girl who “made the world a better place” for being in it.
Unbeknownst to Mr Parker at the time, it was the first time any of the victims’ family members had spoken out publicly following their deaths.
He told the jury that he became a target for Mr Jones and his Infowars followers’ campaign of harassment and intimidation.
Rachel Sharp has the story.
Sandy Hook father says Alex Jones lies made him feel like he ‘failed’ his daughter
WATCH: Judge tells off Alex Jones’s lawyer for ‘personal attacks’ in closing statements
Tuesday 11 October 2022 21:10 , Bevan Hurley
In a testy exchange during closing arguments, Alex Jones’ attorney Norm Pattis insinuated that lawyers representing the Sandy Hook families were motivated by money.
“It doesn’t mean a thing here for the plaintiff’s lawyers if it doesn’t go ka-ching,” Mr Pattis said.
The accusation drew a stern response from Judge Barbara Bellis, who told Mr Pattis to “refrain” from any further “personal attacks”.
Watch the clip here.
Judge tells off Alex Jones’s lawyer for ‘personal attacks’ in closing statements
Jury deliberations continue
Tuesday 11 October 2022 20:46 , Bevan Hurley
A six-person jury weighing how much Alex Jones must pay 15 family members of Sandy Hook victims have now been deliberating for around 13 hours.
There’s been no movement from the jury since the lunch break.
Around an hour into their second full day of discussions on Tuesday, jurors asked for help interpreting a sentence in their instructions on how they should determine damages.
In response, Judge Barbara Bellis advised them to consider the lengthy instructions as a whole.
Alex Jones rants that liberals hate Putin because he’s Christian
Tuesday 11 October 2022 20:35 , Bevan Hurley
While a jury deliberate how much Alex Jones has to pay 15 family members of Sandy Hook victims for defaming them, he has continued to spread wild conspiracy theories.
In an appearance on Steve Bannon’s podcast on Monday night, he said liberals have a “fetish for hating Russians and Putin because they’ve become more Christian”.
Alex Jones tells Bannon liberals “have a fetish for hating Russians & Putin because they’ve become more christian .. The Left hates Russia because they’re becoming more like the American Midwest. That’s why Hollywood and Rob Reiner literally has a fetish for destroying Russia.” pic.twitter.com/GhynOox52m
— Ron Filipkowski 🇺🇦 (@RonFilipkowski) October 10, 2022
ICYMI: Alex Jones says he’s ‘done apologising’
Tuesday 11 October 2022 20:10 , Bevan Hurley
The courtroom in Connecticut descended into chaos on 23 September as the far-right conspiracy theorist took the stand in his defamation case and refused to acknowledge any responsibility for causing a decade of harassment to the victims’ families.
“I’ve already said I’m sorry hundreds of times. And I’m done saying sorry,” he shouted across the courtroom.
Mr Jones – who has spent much of the trial mocking the proceedings on his Infowars show – vowed that he “won’t apologise” for his actions as he complained that “people think that I killed the kids”.
Rachel Sharp has the details.
Alex Jones shouts ‘I’m done apologising’ at Sandy Hook parents crying in court
How Alex Jones’ influenced the January 6 riots
Tuesday 11 October 2022 19:35 , Bevan Hurley
Alex Jones has become an extremely influential figure on the far-right through his Infowars channel, forging alliances with violent militias like the Oath Keepers and the Proud Boys.
This feature from Richard Hall on Oath Keepers leader Stewart Rhodes, who is on trial for seditious conspiracy, explores how the conspiracy theories Mr Jones helped to spread about the 2020 election sparked the riots at the US Capitol on January 6.
How Oath Keepers leader Stewart Rhodes went from ballroom dancing to sedition charges
ICYMI: Jones’ attorney likens him to Atwood and Orwell
Tuesday 11 October 2022 18:59 , Bevan Hurley
In closing arguments, Norm Pattis claimed Alex Jones was a “mad prophet” while comparing him to literary greats Margaret Atwood and George Orwell.
Full story below.
Alex Jones’ lawyer compares him to The Handmaid’s Tale author Margaret Atwood
WATCH: Key moments from Alex Jones’ defamation trial
Tuesday 11 October 2022 18:38 , Bevan Hurley
A jury in Connecticut resumed its deliberations today to decide how much Alex Jones must pay in damages for defaming family members of Sandy Hook victims.
Here is a video recap of the key moments from the trial so far.
Key moments from Alex Jones defamation trial
Kanye West asks: ‘Have I reached Alex Jones territory yet’?
Tuesday 11 October 2022 17:51 , Bevan Hurley
During an interview on Tucker Carlson last week, Kanye West pushed conspiracy theories about the Uvalde mass shooting in Texas on 24 May.
He said that “the people at The Gap knew (about the school shooting) before it even happened, it was so in sync the information”.
He later clarified that the media settled on a “narrative” suspiciously quickly about what took place when a gunman killed 19 students and two children.
“Have I reached Alex Jones territory yet?” he asked Carlson.
Read more on Kanye West’s current troubles on our blog below.
Holocaust Museum invites Kanye West after anti-semitic tweets - follow live
Jury return to courtroom
Tuesday 11 October 2022 17:17 , Bevan Hurley
Judge Barbara Bellis has called the judge back to the courtroom to answer the jury’s question.
She says focussing on one or two sentences of the instructions is “not helpful”.
“Therefore you should not single out particular words or sentences and should consider (the instructions) as a whole.”
She thanks the jury and they are excused to return to deliberate.
The lunch break is scheduled for 1pm.
The NYT’s Elizabeth Williamson has a helpful summary of why the jury question is important.
Jury to take morning recess
Tuesday 11 October 2022 16:35 , Bevan Hurley
While the attorneys and the judge discuss the question, Judge Barbara Bellis has directed the jury to take a 15 minute morning recess.
The jury were asking about how they should be assessing damages, the New York Times’ Elizabeth Williamson explains.
Jury return to courtroom with a question
Tuesday 11 October 2022 16:32 , Bevan Hurley
The jury have reentered the courtroom with a question for the judge.
They’re asking the judge to clarify a part of the testimony. No verdict yet.
The trial is being shown live on Law & Crime’s YouTube channel.
WATCH: Sandy Hook and 9/11 were ‘best two days’ of Jones’s life
Tuesday 11 October 2022 16:01 , Bevan Hurley
Josh Koskoff, representing the Sandy Hook families, told the jury during closing arguments that Alex Jones thrived on stoking division and hatred.
He used his enormous platform on Infowars to spread lies for financial gain, Mr Koskoff said, and that the 2012 Sandy Hook mass shooting and 9/11 were “the best two days of his life”.
Watch the video below.
Sandy Hook and 9/11 were ‘best two days’ of Alex Jones’s life, victims’ lawyer claims
Alex Jones ‘unleashed hell’ on election officials
Tuesday 11 October 2022 15:37 , Bevan Hurley
In a new interview with Texas Monthly, Texas secretary of state John Scott spoke of the toll that Alex Jones’ lies about the 2020 election being stolen have taken on officials.
Conspiracy theories about voting machines, cybersecurity and ineligible voters had led to death threats against half of the state’s election workers, Mr Scott said.
“The Infowars guy has unleashed hell on our election people. This has been going on for many years,” Mr Scott told the publication.
“And I don’t want to give a free pass to people who are crazy enough to go out there and say they’re going to kill somebody because they’re doing their job. I don’t want to give them an excuse.”
Mr Jones used his Infowars platform to spread wild, baseless lies about the election, and riled up the crowd at the January 6 riot at the US Capitol.
Jury resume their deliberations
Tuesday 11 October 2022 14:57 , Bevan Hurley
The judge and jury entered the courtroom in Connecticut a short time ago.
After receiving a few instructions from Judge Barbara Bellis, the six-person panel have resumed their deliberations.
We’ll bring you any updates as soon as they happen.
ICYMI: Alex Jones says he’s ‘done apologising’
Tuesday 11 October 2022 14:55 , Bevan Hurley
The courtroom in Connecticut descended into chaos on 23 September as the far-right conspiracy theorist took the stand in his defamation case and refused to acknowledge any responsibility for causing a decade of harassment to the victims’ families.
“I’ve already said I’m sorry hundreds of times. And I’m done saying sorry,” he shouted across the courtroom.
Mr Jones – who has spent much of the trial mocking the proceedings on his Infowars show – vowed that he “won’t apologise” for his actions as he complained that “people think that I killed the kids”.
Rachel Sharp has the details.
Alex Jones shouts ‘I’m done apologising’ at Sandy Hook parents crying in court
ICYMI: Sandy Hook father says he felt like he ‘failed’ his slain daughter
Tuesday 11 October 2022 14:45 , Bevan Hurley
Choking back tears, Robbie Parker testified that he believed he was “failing” six-year-old Emilie’s memory as Alex Jones lies continued to spread lies about her.
Emilie was one of the 26 students and staff members murdered in the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School on 14 December 2012.
One day after the massacre, the devastated father gave a brief speech to the media where he paid tribute to his little girl who “made the world a better place” for being in it.
Unbeknownst to Mr Parker at the time, it was the first time any of the victims’ family members had spoken out publicly following their deaths.
He became a target forMr Jones and his Infowars followers’ campaign of harassment and intimidation.
Rachel Sharp has the story.
Sandy Hook father says Alex Jones lies made him feel like he ‘failed’ his daughter
ICYMI: Jones’ attorney likens him to Atwood and Orwell
Tuesday 11 October 2022 14:30 , Bevan Hurley
In closing arguments, Norm Pattis claimed Alex Jones was a “mad prophet” while comparing him to literary greats Margaret Atwood and George Orwell.
Full story below.
Alex Jones’ lawyer compares him to The Handmaid’s Tale author Margaret Atwood
WATCH: Key moments from Alex Jones’ defamation trial
Tuesday 11 October 2022 14:20 , Bevan Hurley
A jury in Connecticut will resume deliberations this morning to decide how much Alex Jones must pay in damages for defaming family members of Sandy Hook victims.
Here is a video recap of the key moments from the trial so far.
Key moments from Alex Jones defamation trial
Welcome back to The Independent’s live coverage as deliberation resumes
Tuesday 11 October 2022 13:56 , Megan Sheets
The jury is set to reconvene for its second full day of deliberation on Tuesday at 9.30am.
The process began briefly on Thursday afternoon following closing arguments, with jurors spending just under an hour in the deliberation room.
They then spent roughly six hours on Friday weighing how much Jones should pay in damages, but did not reach an agreement.
Jurors had asked the court for a whiteboard, markers, an eraser and a copy of the 30-page jury charge, which took several hours for the court to produce.
It is impossible to say how long the process could take from here.
