Darrell Brooks found guilty of killing six people with an SUV at a Wisconsin Christmas parade

WAUKESHA, Wis. – Darrell Brooks Jr. was found guilty of dozens of felony counts Wednesday after a jury found him guilty of driving through a 2021 Christmas parade that left six people dead and dozens more injured.

The jury deliberated for two hours on Tuesday and reconvened Wednesday morning. In total, the panel needed just over three hours to find Brooks guilty on all 76 counts, including six counts of first-degree premeditated murder, which carries a penalty of life in prison.

As the verdict was read, Brooks lowered his gaze, hid his face in his hands and leaned on his forehead.

Six people died and at least 61 others were injured when a red Ford Blazer SUV driven by Brooks sped down the street heading to the Christmas parade on November 21, 2021. Authorities and others attempted to help the victims over a four-block stretch while simultaneously beginning a search for the driver.

The four-week trial was marked by numerous disruptions and delays by Brooks, who decided to represent himself less than a week before the first day of the trial.

Brooks' trial was the end of a long legal process that included dramatic twists and turns. It began with the arraignment two days after the parade and continued with preliminary hearings a few days before the trial. The changes included two changes in Brooks' plea from not guilty to not guilty by reason or mental disease or defect (also known as the insanity defense) and then a withdrawal of that defense strategy.

Outside the courtroom, people in blue Waukesha Strong sweatshirts gathered before the verdict, heads bowed in silent prayer. Waukesha County District Judge Jennifer Dorow scheduled a hearing for Monday to discuss the sentencing date and said she would give victims a chance to explain their impact via Zoom.

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The trial, which began on October 3, never went smoothly and repeatedly ended in arguments between Brooks and the judge.

Much of the disagreement stemmed from Brooks' decision to waive his right to an attorney and represent himself. Dorow had warned before the trial that he was doing so “at his own risk” because he would have to comply with laws and legal procedures that were unfamiliar to him.

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But the disputes were also tied to Brooks' repeated attempts to portray himself as a “sovereign” citizen, which Dorow and prosecutors repeatedly called a “thoroughly disproven” theory in which defendants challenge the courts' jurisdiction. Even after Dorow issued a written ruling on the court's jurisdiction, Brooks continued to demand “proof” of jurisdiction.

Because of the sometimes heated arguments with Brooks, Dorow had him moved to an adjacent courtroom on several occasions, usually to give her a chance to finish her findings without interruption. Dorow said today's technology gives her the ability to have him participate remotely without violating his right to be present during the trial.

Contributors: The Associated Press

This article originally appeared in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Darrell Brooks verdict: Defendant found guilty at Waukesha parade