Jury Hears Closing Arguments In Waukesha Christmas Parade Trial

WAUKESHA, WI — The man accused of driving through the 2021 Waukesha Christmas parade gave a tearful closing argument to the jury on Tuesday where he spoke of Jesus Christ and made unbacked claims about a malfunctioning throttle as a trial marked by disruptions comes to a close.

Darrell Brooks decided to represent himself at the trial before it began. Prosecutors accused him of ramming his SUV through the 2021 Christmas parade crowd on purpose, leaving six dead and dozens injured. The youngest to die after the parade was 8-years-old.

In a rebuttal to Brooks' closing statement, Waukesha County District Attorney Susan Opper said in part "your actions are that of a murderer."

The jury was sent to deliberations around 6:30 p.m. They are sequestered until they make a decision. Jurors came out of deliberations just after 8 p.m. and are set to re-convene Wednesday morning to continue.

Immediately before closings began, Brooks claimed his First Amendment and Sixth Amendment rights were being "trampled on" and Judge Dorow explained that constitutional rights are not absolute in such a way. Eventually, Dorow called the jury in to begin closings, but as disruptions from Brooks continued, Dorow kicked him out to the courtroom next door. Much of the trial has been marked by Brooks arguing with the judge and claiming the court has no jurisdiction.

The State Delivers Its Closing

In the state's closing, Waukesha County District Attorney Susan Opper asserted that Brooks drove through the parade on purpose, saying he should have seen the police presence around the parade.

"Just stop driving, that's it," Opper said, "it's really that simple, not one person had to be hurt that day if he just stopped driving."

"He plowed through 68 different people," Opper said, "how can you hit one and keep going, how can you hit two and keep going?"

"Didn't phase him a bit," Opper said, "he kept going until the end and there were no more bodies to hit"

The prosecution and defense each had one hour for closings.

Brooks Gets His Chance To Make A Closing Argument

Eventually, Brooks returned to the main courtroom and he was given time to present his closing argument. As the jury was called in, Brooks told Dorow that he was not ready for his closing and then spoke about jury nullification, causing Dorow to quickly excuse the jury and tell Brooks he cannot instruct the jury toward nullification.

Jury nullification is when a jury rejects evidence or refuses to apply the law as instructed, according to the Cornell Law School Legal Information Institute. With nullification, the jury might return a "not guilty" verdict even if they believe that the defendant broke the law, according to the Cornell database.

After a back-and-forth between Dorow and Brooks about the nullification issue, the jury was brought back in for Brooks to deliver a closing.

"You and you alone have the power," Brooks told the jury in his closing. "You should be informed that you have the power to nullify."

Dorow quickly struck the statement from the record and Brooks continued, telling the jury that he did not have a prepared speech and that he is choosing to "speak from the heart" and that he would not argue facts.

"I find it hard to believe that anyone who's had conversations with me, spent time around me, would think for one second that this is an intentional act," Brooks said.

SEE ALSO: Waukesha Christmas Parade: SUV Driver Faced Previous Charges: DA

Brooks told the jury that there was information they should have been "privy to" but weren't, going on to claim without evidence that the vehicle had a malfunctioning throttle.

"Trust me when I say no one, outside of the families that had to go through this, no one's heart is more in pieces than mine," Brooks told the jury.

SEE ALSO: 10 Kids In Intensive Care After Being Injured At Christmas Parade

Brooks also told the jury that he believes in Jesus Christ, that he reads the bible often, and that his faith was not something that just started after the parade. He said his "conscience is clear because I believe I trust him with my life."

After Brooks' closing, Opper gave a rebuttal for the state.

"I don't know why he did this, but actions define a person, it's that simple," Opper said. "You can stand in a bible with your hands all day long and profess to be the finest man under God that you can be, but when you drive through a parade route and roll over children... ...to the extent that your vehicle heaves up and down, your intent is known Mr. Brooks, it doesn't have to be guessed."

You can watch the trial live-streamed on Youtube from CourtTV.

Right before Dorow planned to read the more-than 100 pages of jury instructions on Tuesday morning, she removed Brooks from the courtroom for disruptions. Brooks has been in and out of the courtroom consistently throughout the trial after several occasions where the judge determined him disruptive.

Brooks is facing six charges of first-degree intentional homicide, 68 charges of recklessly endangering safety, six fatal hit-and-run charges and bail jumping charges, according to online court records.

Brooks had to wrap up his evidence part of the trial on Monday after he yelled and had a "staredown" with Judge Dorow, according to WISN12.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.