Tense day in courtroom as week three of Darrell Brooks trial wraps up

NOW: Tense day in courtroom as week three of Darrell Brooks trial wraps up
NEXT:

WAUKESHA, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Another tense day in the courtroom as week three of the Darrell Brooks trial comes to a close.

Brooks is facing 76 charges, including six counts of first-degree intentional homicide after allegedly driving through the Waukesha Christmas Parade on Nov. 21, 2021.

"Your life is not on the line. Mine is, and you think that I think this is funny," Brooks said in the courtroom on Friday.

Day 15 of the trial was filled with disruptions and disorder. 

The past three weeks were filled with interruptions from the defendant, but his erratic behavior seems to have reached a new level, forcing the judge to call for multiple breaks on Friday.

"This man right now is having a stare down with me. It's very disrespectful. He pounded his fist. Frankly, it makes me scared," Judge Jennifer Dorow said.

Brooks called eight witnesses to the stand, including two who previously testified as the state's witnesses. 

The prosecution chose not to cross examine most of the defense's witnesses, which Brooks took an issue with. 

"I'm going to start asking every witness up here that they seem to just mysteriously now not have any cross for have they been coached to answer the way they answer," Brooks said.

Dorow referred to the defendant's repeated interruptions as attempts to delay the proceedings.

"In my almost 11 years on the bench, I've presided over dozens and dozens of cases that have gone to trial. To say that this has been the most challenging of my career would be an understatement," Dorow said.

Brooks indicated he'd like to call his mother, Dawn Woods, to testify. 

Dorow said Woods needs to be in the courthouse by 9 a.m. on Monday in order to testify.

It remains to be seen if Brooks will take the stand.

Trial continues on Monday at 8:30 a.m.

Watch below:

Share this article: