WAUKESHA, Wis. — Darrell Brooks, the man charged with killing 8 people and injuring dozens more in last year’s Waukesha Christmas Parade attack, asked to leave his own pre-trial hearing Friday.
This happened just hours after Brooks fell asleep an hour and a half into the hearing and lashed out at Judge Jennifer Dorow and Waukesha County Sheriff’s deputies in the courtroom.
“I just want to alert the court that Mr. Brooks appears to be asleep,” said Waukesha County District Attorney Sue Opper, around 10:30 a.m. “I don’t know if he’s just being disrespectful, uninterested, or if he’s not feeling well.”
Watch: The Waukesha County District Attorney just called out Darrell Brooks for sleeping in court
Brooks’ attorney spoke with him, and a short break was taken.
Upon returning from that break, Brooks appeared agitated. He was talking and looking behind him. Security came and stood around him and held his chair. That’s when courtroom audio was turned back on.
Judge Dorow: Mr. Brooks, the livestream is on.
Brooks: I don’t care about no livestream, just like ya’ll don’t care. You sit up here and act like you know me. People like you. Ya’ll people know nothing about where I come from.
Judge Dorow: Mr. Brooks!
Brooks: Don’t put your hand on me dude.
Judge Dorow: Nobody put their hands on you.
Brooks: Yeah, they better not put their hands on me.
Judge Dorow: Okay, Mr. Brooks you need to look at me for a minute. This needs to stop.
Brooks: Why? To listen to all this political stuff, you all got going on. Don’t touch me.
Judge Dorow: He needs to be here. He’s not cooperating. I’m going to give you a warning.
Brooks continues with some unintelligible yelling before security escorts him out of the courtroom.
Brooks was allowed back in after lunch, but it wasn’t long before he wanted to leave.
“Mr. Brooks is asking to be excused from this hearing,” said Jeremy Perry, one of his defense attorneys.
"I don’t want to be here,” Brooks said. “I want to go back to my cell.”
After discussion with Brooks and among themselves, Judge Dorow, Opper, and attorneys on both sides agreed it’s within his rights to voluntarily leave his pretrial hearing.
Watch Brooks' outburst:
Brooks’ behavior proved to be the focus Friday, but some important decisions were made regarding his murder trial in October.
Judge Dorow ruled in favor of the prosecution, denying the defense team’s motions to suppress some evidence because of how it was gathered- including the first police interviews with Brooks, and a search of his jail cell last month. After reviewing recordings and documents, Judge Dorow said neither violated Brooks’ rights.
They also started discussing the jury selection process and eliminating some potential jurors from a comprehensive list of hundreds of people. They must agree on at least 300 potential jurors to call on when jury selection for the trial is slated to begin Oct. 3. They will ultimately pick 16, 12 of whom will decide Brooks’ fate.
Darrell Brooks just asked to leave his own pre-trial hearing. Was adamant about wanting to go back to his cell. After discussion, attorneys and judge allow him to leave. @tmj4 pic.twitter.com/qpMN6D2Qpw
— Katie Crowther (@KtCrowther) August 26, 2022