Quote:A courtroom confrontation prompted a judge to break early from a Friday hearing for the man accused of intentional homicide.
Waukesha County Circuit Judge Jennifer Dorow first called for an unscheduled 20-minute break after defendant Darrell Brooks was noticed sleeping in court. The prisoner’s nap occurred during a defense motion to dismiss the case against him. Brooks is accused of killing six people and injuring dozens more at Waukesha’s Christmas Parade last November, according to a WUWM report.
The motion to dismiss was the defense response to a search of the prisoner’s cell by law enforcement after Brooks changed his plea from not guilty to not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect.
When all parties were present but before court officially resumed, Brooks began to speak loudly while seated at the defense table. Dorow informed Brooks that the livestream of the court hearing had been activated.
“I don’t care about no livestream, just like y’all don’t care,” responded Brooks. “All this is political. It’s the show. Y’all are being told what to do.”
The judge tried to get the proceeding back on track.
“Mr. Brooks, look at me for a minute,” said Dorow.
The defendant seemed to ignore the judge’s instruction as he continued speaking.
“Y’all sit up there and act like you know me,” exclaimed the prisoner. “People like you know nothing about where I come from.”
Bailiff postitioned themselves behind Brooks’ chair, according to the WUWM report. The man who allegedly mowed down Christmas parade participants then complained the officers were brushing up against him.
“Don’t push back, then,” one of the law enforcement members reportedly responded.
Brooks told him, “Don’t put your hand on me, dude.”
The judge’s chair is described as being only a few feet away from the prisoner’s seat in the report.
“Nobody put their hands on you,” Dorow declared from personal observation.
“They better not put their hand on me,” the contentious con countered.
Another break of about 105 minutes was declared by Dorow who warned Brooks he would forfeit his right to present in court if he continued to interrupt proceedings.
The prisoner was led away in restraints by bailiffs as he reportedly continued to admonish them to take their hands off him.
Calm was restored when court resumed after lunch and the judge asked the prisoner about his health and ability to participate in his defense. The defendant’s lawyer, Jeremy Perri, told Dorow he had no concerns about that.
Later, Brooks asked Dorow, through his attorney, if he could go back to his cell. He said he did not want to be present during jury questioning.
“I don’t want to be here,” declared Brooks.
The judge allowed Brooks to return to his cell, explaining he could return at any time if he informed jailors he changed his mind about attending.
He faces a mandatory life sentence if convicted of even one death. Wisconsin does not sentence people to death for crimes.
(08-27-2022 11:31 PM)TigerBlue4Ever Wrote: [ -> ]Too bad they don't have the death penalty. This animal will have 3 hots and a cot for life on the taxpayers dime.
Dahmer survived 18 months after he was transferred to general population. That’s certainly a form of “death penalty”, even if Wisconsin doesn’t acknowledge it in court.
Of course, Darrell Brooks will be surrounded by many people who approve of what he did in Waukesha. So not only will Brooks *not* be in any danger (as Dahmer was), he will actually be in a position of relative power and luxury compared to other prisoners, and probably even compared to his own life on the outside.
By the way, I saw where Fetterman (Senate candidate in Pennsylvania) is not only against the death penalty, he’s also even against life-sentences for people convicted of murder. I’ll be interested to see if the Keystone voters are down with that.
(08-28-2022 08:31 AM)Native Georgian Wrote: [ -> ]
(08-27-2022 11:31 PM)TigerBlue4Ever Wrote: [ -> ]Too bad they don't have the death penalty. This animal will have 3 hots and a cot for life on the taxpayers dime.
Dahmer survived 18 months after he was transferred to general population. That’s certainly a form of “death penalty”, even if Wisconsin doesn’t acknowledge it in court.
Of course, Darrell Brooks will be surrounded by many people who approve of what he did in Waukesha. So not only will Brooks *not* be in any danger (as Dahmer was), he will actually be in a position of relative power and luxury compared to other prisoners, and probably even compared to his own life on the outside.
By the way, I saw where Fetterman (Senate candidate in Pennsylvania) is not only against the death penalty, he’s also even against life-sentences for people convicted of murder. I’ll be interested to see if the Keystone voters are down with that.
Screw it, let's just stop punishing criminals at all. They are simply misunderstood and need compassion. What a screwed up country the left has created for us.
Quote:A wild sequence of events surrounding the case of Darrell Brooks, accused of first-degree vehicular homicide, ended with a judge walking out of the courtroom saying, “We’re done here.”
On Nov. 21, 2021, Darrell Brooks drove his vehicle into a Christmas parade in Waukesha, Wisconsin, killing six (ages 8-81) and injuring approximately forty others.
NBC reported that Brooks had an extensive criminal record and was
released on a $1,000 cash bond about two weeks before the Nov. 21 incident.
Wednesday’s hearing was scheduled in response to a motion from Brooks to represent himself. However, Brook’s comments in court today were rude, rambling, and disjointed.
According to WITI TV, Brooks told the court he did not “‘ understand the nature and cause of the charges.”
When the prosecutor read the charges against him, Brooks laughed, saying he did not understand how the state could be the plaintiff, asking “How could the state be the injured party?”
Brooks then expressed a desire to dismiss his court-appointed defender and told Judge Dorow: “I simply want to represent myself to establish my sovereign citizen.”
Belligerent, Brooks rolled his eyes when the Judge spoke, tried to speak over her, and attempted to turn away when comments were directed toward him.
Video shows that toward the end of the hearing, a frustrated judge gave paperwork detailing the charges to her bailiff to hand to Brooks.
Judge Dorow felt compelled to ensure that Brooks had the papers to review before finalizing his decision to represent himself.
Brooks scoffed at the judge’s attempt to ensure he was fairly represented. He attempted to talk over her, but the Judge cut him off.
“Nope. I’m talking, sir,” the judge said.
“I cannot make a finding at the point that you have an understanding of what you’re charged with, the nature of these proceedings,” she added.
Judge Dorow continued: “I am not going to get into a debate about whether you’re a sovereign citizen or not, or even whether you have any understanding of how the state is a plaintiff in this case.”
Judge Dorow clarified: “My sole reason for being here today is your motion through your attorneys to consider your request to represent yourself. You have demonstrated through this hearing that you don’t have a basic understanding of some of the things that are going on.”
Brooks responded by rolling his eyes at the judge. This prompted Judge Dorow to call out “the word games that [Brooks was] employing.”
Judge Dorow then said: “You can roll your eyes all you want, sir; I’m done.”
The Western Journal reports that as Brooks “continued to speak, Dorow walked away from the bench saying, ‘this court’s in recess.'”
According to WISN-TV, Waukesha County District Attorney Sue Opper said she did not object to Brooks representing himself but did not want the trial delayed. Her filing noted:
“Any request to adjourn the trial at this late date is untimely and should be denied.”
Opper added: “The jury trial date was set on Mar. 11, 2022, over six months ago.”
The Journal noted that Brooks faces 77 charges, including six counts of first-degree intentional homicide.
Quote:Darrell Brooks, the man who allegedly killed six people and injured dozens more in the Waukesha Christmas parade attack, was placed in a separate room Monday as the court attempted to begin the jury selection process for his trial.
Brooks is accused of driving an SUV through a procession down Main Street in Waukesha last November. He asked to represent himself last week. During the proceedings, Brooks complained about paperwork, claimed he did not recognize his own name and claimed to be a “sovereign citizen” and subsequently not subject to the court’s jurisdiction, according to FOX 6 Milwaukee. These and other outbursts prompted Judge Jennifer R. Dorow to ask for him to be removed from the courtroom multiple times.
After another outburst, Dorow warned that she would hold Brooks in contempt of court, and eventually Waukesha District Attorney Sue Opper suggested a deputy place Brooks in a gag.
“Obviously, this guy clearly has issues, and now you’re throwing sovereign citizen issues on top of it. There’s really no way that we’re going to see a typical jury trial,” Neama Rahmani, a Los Angeles-based former federal prosecutor following the case told Fox News in an interview.
Rahmani added that Brooks’ actions could also provide him with ammunition for a future appeal. “It’s really going to be hard to try him in absentia because he’s representing himself,” he said. “It creates an appellate issue, an unnecessary appellate issue. He has a right to be present, but obviously he doesn’t have a right to act the way that he is.”
Dorow last week found that Brooks was fit to stand trial and allowed him to waive his right to have an attorney and represent himself, but after Monday, Brooks could, at least temporarily, be deemed incompetent. A similar instance occurred in the case against Idaho “cult mom” Lori Vallow whose trial was delayed by multiple months as she went through treatment for mental health.
“Ultimately, her competency was restored. That’s something that may be in issue here,” Rahmani said.
FOX 6 reported that, after a lunch break Monday, Brooks was removed from the courtroom two further times by Dorow, who was becoming increasingly frustrated with him.
“What a s— show – Judge Dorow may have to appoint him an attorney over his objection,” Rahmani said. “The only real issue Brooks raised is asking for more time to review the discovery he received on Friday. The court may have to grant that request.”
In addition, Brooks also outlined an 18-step “Demand for Verified Statement of Particulars,” a handwritten note asking prosecutors to provide a number of details including “the identity of the alleged defendant” and proof of his citizenship.
Brooks demanded a response within three days and claimed the overwhelming charges against him should be “dismissed with prejudice” if his terms were not met.
Jury selection began around 2 p.m. CT and could continue for most of the week. Twelve jurors and four alternates must be selected out of a pool of more than 300. By the end of the day Monday, seven of the first 41 potential jurors had been let go. Jury selection continues at 1 p.m. CT Tuesday.
Brooks faces six counts of first-degree intentional homicide and 71 other counts. Each of the six top charges against Brooks carries a sentence of life in prison, and he faces dozens of additional charges in connection with the attack.
(08-28-2022 09:22 AM)Bear Catlett Wrote: [ -> ]Thanks for posting.
I would have never known this as the MSM doesn't cover crimes committed by non-whites.
It's a massive story. He targeted whites and tried to kill as many as possible. In the Chavin trial IIRC race was never mentioned because race had nothing to do with what happened. This is a massive mass murder hate crime.
I'm not a law expert, but something I saw the other day said that him representing himself and these outbursts that cause him to be taken out will set up grounds for an appeal due to insanity.
I may be simplifying it too much maybe (help us for saying this outloud) one of our law experts can expound in this and maybe point out where I'm wrong or oversimplifying it.
(10-04-2022 11:24 AM)gdunn Wrote: [ -> ]I'm not a law expert, but something I saw the other day said that him representing himself and these outbursts that cause him to be taken out will set up grounds for an appeal due to insanity.
I may be simplifying it too much maybe (help us for saying this outloud) one of our law experts can expound in this and maybe point out where I'm wrong or oversimplifying it.
(10-04-2022 11:24 AM)gdunn Wrote: [ -> ]I'm not a law expert, but something I saw the other day said that him representing himself and these outbursts that cause him to be taken out will set up grounds for an appeal due to insanity.
I may be simplifying it too much maybe (help us for saying this outloud) one of our law experts can expound in this and maybe point out where I'm wrong or oversimplifying it.
He's going to spend his time doing all of the idiot make believe sovereign citizen crap that gets passed around among felons in the joint. As an attorney I actually got seated on a jury in one of these. Most of the trial is the judge hammering down silliness by a guy who is simply wasting everybody's time.
The appeal is going to be based on the record at trial. He's going to be toast.
Quote:In what many are describing as a mockery of justice, Darrell Brooks, who is charged with driving an SUV into a crowd gathered for a Christmas Parade on Nov. 21, 2021, killing six and injuring 60 people, has been allowed to represent himself and cross-examine victims of that tragic event.
Brooks initially pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, but after medical assessments, his public defender withdrew the plea last month. Per Brook’s request, Waukesha County Judge Jennifer Dorow allowed the defendant to represent himself at his trial which began last week.
Brooks was dismissed from the court last week after repeated disruptions and outbursts—which included failing to respond to his name, speaking over prosecutors, and questioning the judge’s jurisdiction over him as he is a “sovereign citizen.”
This week, Brooks appears to be attempting to cast doubt on what happened at the Parade event or on who was driving the vehicle that ran over dozens in the crowd. However, numerous video accounts leave no question on those issues.
Brooks’ objection to the prosecution team showing video of the incident in court was overruled by Judge Darow.
Some suggest the strange court proceedings subject those traumatized by the event to undue stress and mental anguish.
Victim Alyssa Gajewski testified that she “blacked out” when members of her dance team were struck by the SUV. Gajewski testified that before she “blacked out” she saw bodies flying through the air, and when she came to a few moments later, she saw seeing the children laying in the street.
One of the children she saw was Vivian Yourell, 7, who was laying on the road in the fetal position. Both Gajewski and Yourell were taken to the hospital in the same vehicle.
Gajewski added that she saw other members of her dance team at the hospital, and held the hand of a young girl that kept going in and out of consciousness.
Amid the emotional testimony, Brooks questioned:
“In regards to your dance team, did you observe anyone that was struck,” Brooks asked on cross-examination.
Gajewski repeated that she did not because it happened very quickly and she momentarily “blacked out.”
Hoping to exploit the fact that Gajewski did not see the driver of the car or the first person impacted, Brooks continued:
“So at that point, it would be fair to say that you didn’t know if the people on the ground or in the air or whatnot were in fact struck by a vehicle?” Brooks asked.
A distressed Gajewski replied: “Well I did know it was the vehicle because I turned around and I saw the vehicle coming towards them and then I think I blacked out until they were in the air or on the ground.”
Gajewski added that though she did not see the moment of impact, she could did hear what was happening.
The prosecution is expected to conclude presenting their case by the end of this week.