Alex Jones slams critics at trial over Sandy Hook hoax allegations – Reuters

September 22 (Reuters) – Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones sparked a courtroom shouting match on Thursday, swearing at critics as he testified at a trial to determine how much he owed the families of victims who died in the of the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School mass shooting, which he falsely claimed was a hoax.

Tensions boiled over after about four hours of testimony in the courtroom in Waterbury, Connecticut, not far from Newtown, the town where the massacre took place. Jones railed against “liberals” and refused to apologize to a crowded gallery of victims’ families.

“These are real people, do you know Mr. Jones?” asked an attorney for the families, Chris Mattei.

“Like all the Iraqis you liberals have killed and love,” retorted Jones, a Texas-based webcast host who is being sued for saying no one was killed at Sandy Hook and the families were just actors. Many of his followers then tormented and threatened the families.

The libel lawsuit only concerns the amount Jones and the parent company of his site Infowars must pay in damages for spreading lies that the US government staged the murder of 20 children and six staff members as a pretext to seize firearms.

The testimony sparked a three-way brawl between Jones, Mattei and Jones’ attorney Norman Pattis, who repeatedly objected to Mattei’s questioning.

After the jurors left for the day, Judge Barbara Bellis told lawyers she would enforce a ‘zero tolerance’ policy for disruptions and hold contempt hearings for anyone who ‘steps out of line’, including Jones.

Jones also tested the judge’s patience after Mattei released a video clip in which he praised his supporters for placing Infowars stickers around the Connecticut courthouse.

“Conservatives put up stickers and we’re bad, I know, we all need to go to jail,” Jones said mockingly in the witness box, prompting the judge to briefly clear the courtroom and walk away. hold a discussion with the lawyers. Jones faces no criminal charges.

The clip aired as Mattei presented evidence Jones supporters harassed Sandy Hook families online and in person, including at memorials for the victims.

Jones also admitted to calling Bellis a “bully” after Mattei posted an image posted on Infowars of Bellis with red lasers shooting from his eyes. He said he was not in charge of the post.

Bellis largely banned any discussion of politics and conspiracy theories during the trial.

Jones is also not allowed to challenge his liability for damages, after Bellis entered default judgment last year because he repeatedly failed to comply with court orders.

Jurors must decide only what Free Speech Systems, the parent company of Jones and Infowars, should pay the plaintiffs, who also include an FBI agent, for the pain and suffering they say they caused.

A month ago, the conspiracy theorist was hit with a $49.3 million verdict in a similar case in Texas, where Free Speech Systems is based.

Jones’ attorneys hope to reverse most of the payment, calling it excessive under Texas law.

Reporting by Jack Queen in New York; Editing by Amy Stevens, Mark Porter and Richard Chang

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