WAUKESHA, Wis. — The trial continues for Darrell Brooks, the man accused of killing six people and injuring dozens more after driving an SUV through the Waukesha Christmas Parade in 2021.
Watch our livestream from court below.
On Monday, Brooks returned to court in a suit after wearing his jail-issued orange clothing last Thursday and Friday.
Judge Jennifer Dorow began court by striking a piece of the state's evidence — squad car video — because it references a previous incident that took place between Brooks and the mother of his child before Nov. 21. In the video, Brooks' former partner can be heard saying, "We had an incident and he ran me over with a car."
Brooks then apologized at length to the court for his behavior up to this point. Last week, Brooks even took his shirt off after what the judge called a "scuffle" with bailiffs.
"I'm going to stand up as a man, and tell the whole court, and you, your honor, that I apologize to the bailiffs. That I apologize for my actions. Like I said, that's not how I was raised," said Brooks.
After Brooks' apology, the state's final witness from Friday returned to the stand for cross-examination. Detective Tom Casey said he had to shuffle his feet to get out of the way of the red SUV as it drove through police barriers.
"As I was pounding on the driver's side window, he [driver] turned and looked directly at my face," said Casey.
On cross-examination, Brooks questioned how much witnesses, such as Casey, actually saw on the evening of Nov. 21, 2021.
"Would it be fair to say, that because of the tint to the rear windows, that you could not visibly see the seating of the vehicle you attempted to stop?" said Brooks.
The state followed up by calling another police officer, a woman struck by the SUV, the director of the Waukesha South Marching Band, and a father who had taken his children to the parade.
Waukesha South Director of Bands Sarah Wehmeier Aparicio was walking with the band when the SUV suddenly approached.
"Then I just started seeing things flying through the air," said Wehmeier Aparicio. "I realized this was a vehicle running over people."
Brooks challenged her recollection.
"Would it be fair to say not everyone in your immediate area was not struck," said Brooks.
Brooks is representing himself in his own trial after firing his state-provided attorneys before the trial began last Monday. On Monday, Brooks will have to provide the court with his own list of witnesses.
Prosecutors allege Brooks, 40, killed six people and injured scores of others on Nov. 21 in the Milwaukee suburb of Waukesha. Police said he turned into the parade after fleeing a domestic disturbance, though officers were not pursuing him at the time. The 76 charges he faces include six counts of first-degree intentional homicide. Each of those counts carries a mandatory life sentence.
Brooks has been acting as his own attorney since last week when he demanded Judge Dorow dismiss his public defenders. His trial began Monday with jury selection. Brooks repeatedly interrupted Dorow before prospective jurors were brought in, leading the judge to move him to another courtroom where he could watch via video and speak when she activated his microphone.
To get the latest information on the trial of Darrell Brooks, view our reporting in this article and the live tweeting from our reporters in court.
Follow our live coverage from court below:
2:50 p.m. update:
The state wrapped up questioning for Waukesha South's band director. The jury watched a video that showed the moment band members were hit. Some jurors looked down while others held their mouths.
Court is now in a short recess. Brooks will question the band director next.
1:22 p.m. update:
Brooks, after lunch, dives back into requests for court to prove jurisdiction. "The law requires proof. We have yet to prove jurisdiction. I've been challenging jurisdiction since the beginning of trial. Probably as far back as when I became a pro per defendant," he said.
This was all out of earshot of jurors. They're now back in the courtroom. State calls Jim Haakenson, Waukesha Battalion Chief. Back into another afternoon of testimony.
10:45 a.m. update:
Brooks has now asked both witnesses today if they know plaintiff, the state of Wisconsin, an entity, and if that entity is a human. He's also asked: do either of them have a claim against him? It appears to be more #SovereignCitizen defense tactics. Refuses to recognize name too.
9:50 a.m. update:
Detective Tom Casey testified that the red SUV drove right by him. It was so close, he said, it came in contact with him and he had to shuffle his feet to get out of the way.
Casy said as it passed him, he was "pounding on the driver's side window" and that the driver turned and looked "directly at my face."
Casey told Brooks, at his defense table, that it was "you" who drove into the parade.
The state moved on to examine Waukesha Police Officer Bryce Butryn. The red SUV also passed Butryn, he testified.
"I would say yes, I got a relatively good look at the driver's face," said Butryn.
Both Casey and Butryn said they attempted to stop the car, but it was going too fast. Both also said they sprinted after the vehicle, but it never slowed down.
"There were multiple casualties on both sides of the road, varying degrees of injuries to people," testified Officer Bryce Butryn. "The only way to describe it was pure chaos. There were people pulling at me in multiple directions to help people."
9:30 a.m. update:
WATCH: Darrell Brooks apologizes for actions in court, 'It's been emotional'
9 a.m. update:
The judge has just stricken a piece of evidence -- squad car video -- because it refers to a previous incident outside of the Christmas parade attack, a prohibition of the court. In it, Brooks' former partner says "we had an incident, and he ran me over with a car."
Brooks is at his defense table. He's ditched his jailhouse orange, and he's back in a suit. This should please Judge Dorow -- she's been asking for it. Court will resume w/ Brooks cross-exam of Det. Tom Casey.
Previous coverage:
- Darrell Brooks trial: Mother of his child takes the stand
- Judge rules Brooks is unable to use 'sovereign citizen' defense at trial
- 'I don't want to watch anymore': Waukesha residents weigh in on how the trial of Darrell Brooks is going
- Darrell Brooks trial: State calls first witnesses following opening statements
- Judge denies Brooks' motion to adjourn trial over Covid-19 claims