'Two sides to every story': Darrell Brooks presents opening statement after prosecution rests case

WAUKESHA, Wis. (CBS 58) -- The defendant in the Waukesha Christmas Parade trial begins his own defense after the state rested its case on Thursday.

Darrell 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.

"There's always two sides to every story," Brooks said. "For so long now, roughly a year, there's only truly been one side told of the story."

Brooks said he spoke from the heart in an unrehearsed opening statement.

"What I'm confident the evidence will show is that this incident was not planned, this incident was not intentional, and this incident was not even thought about," Brooks said.

Brooks was emotional as he stood up and took off his mask for the more than ten-minute statement.

"It's important that you see me for who I am," Brooks said.

The defendant didn't outline what he plans to present in his defense, but he said he's not going to argue the facts of the case.

"Facts are that there's still a lot of people healing, a lot of families healing on both sides," Brooks said.

The one thing Brooks did tell the jury is what he hopes they consider when it comes time to deliberate a verdict.

"When it's time for you to make your decision, all of you, I believe that and I pray that it's the right decision," Brooks said.

Brooks initially tried to call the plaintiff, the State of Wisconsin, to the stand.

Judge Jennifer Dorow said an entity cannot testify, which Brooks was already told multiple times.

Brooks called two witnesses on Thursday.

The state, represented by the Waukesha County District Attorney's Office, called its last witness Thursday morning.

Waukesha Detective Tom Casey returned to the stand. He originally testified on days five and six of the trial.

Casey is the lead detective in the investigation.

Casey said victims in this investigation were limited to people injured in the street and treated in hospitals because of the magnitude of the injuries.

The prosecution called 57 witnesses in the past 11 days.

It introduced a vast amount of electronic evidence, including videos and pictures taken before, during and after the Waukesha Christmas Parade attack.

Casey said between 300 to 400 videos and photos were collected in his investigation.

The state also introduced two new exhibits. Casey identified them as bail bonds for Brooks through the Milwaukee County Circuit Court.

The defendant is facing two counts of felony bail jumping.

Brooks continued making accusations of the court being biased and unfair.

"The evidence is stacking up and stacking up," Waukesha County District Attorney Sue Opper said. "Whenever it does, his response is to accuse you, the court or the prosecutors of being unethical and hiding things."

The defendant's remaining witnesses are scheduled to be called on Friday.

Trial proceedings continue on Friday at 8:30 a.m.

Watch below: