WAUKESHA, Wis. — The trial of Darrell Brooks, the man accused of killing six people and injuring dozens more during the Waukesha Christmas Parade, heads into its third week.
Monday's proceedings come after a dramatic end to the second week, including testimony from police and increasing frustration from Judge Jennifer Dorow due to Brooks' behavior in the courtroom.
On Monday, the state called witnesses who testified they encountered Brooks shortly after he allegedly drove an SUV into the Christmas parade. The witnesses said Brooks seemed disoriented and that he was shoeless and without a jacket.
One man, Daniel Rider, told the state he let Brooks into his home to warm up and use his phone to call an Uber.
"He was grateful. 'Thank you so much for showing me love, man.' And he was calling me 'bro.' I guess that didn't make me feel like I was in any danger at that moment," said Rider on the stand.
Ring doorbell video, which Rider provided to the investigators, shows him leading Brooks out of his home and onto his porch. Brooks returns a jacket he borrowed from Rider and Rider's phone. Not long after, police, who were looking for a man going door-to-door asking to make a call, sight Brooks.
"Hands up, put your hands up where I can see them," yells Big Bend Police Officer Rebecca Carpenter. The moment is captured on her body camera.
Brooks complies and, at Carpenter's urging, gets on the ground, where he identifies himself as Brooks, Darrell.
Waukesha Police Officer Garrett Luling testified that he was there for the arrest, and assisted in putting Brooks into a squad car.
Luling said that he was familiar with Brooks' name because, upon a previous search of the abandoned SUV, an officer had found documents with the defendant's name on them.
The state said on Monday that it expects to rest its case on Wednesday. It's unclear, the state said, whether or not Brooks will have time to begin presenting his witnesses on Wednesday afternoon. His defense may begin on Thursday.
The 76 charges Brooks faces include six counts of first-degree intentional homicide. Each of those counts carries a mandatory life sentence. Brooks has been acting as his own attorney since he motioned to dismiss his attorneys and act as his own defense.
To get the latest information on the trial of Darrell Brooks, view our reporting in this article and the live tweeting from our reporters in court.
LATEST UPDATES FROM COURT: LIVE BLOG, MONDAY, OCT. 17
11:20 a.m. update:
The state called their 5th witness, Daniel Rider. Rider testifies he let Brooks into his home to make a phone call the night of the parade. Rider says the man told him he was homeless and needed help. Rider says he was not aware who the man was at the time he helped him that evening.
"I was nervous for sure. But yeah, I can let you use my phone," Rider said. "Yeah, you can come and warm up while you wait for the Uber." Brooks sat on his couch, Rider says.
10:14 a.m. update:
State's next witness is Erin Cordes. She was at the parade with her family.
"Yes, we saw a car going pretty fast around the corner. And I remember my husband saying, that’s not part of the parade, grab the kids. And the car just did not stop. It kept going," recounted Cordes.
She tells the state she saw a Waukesha police officer fire three shots at the vehicle.
10 a.m. update:
The state’s second witness of the day is Domanic Caproon. He testifies Darrell Brooks walked up his driveway just before 5 p.m. on Nov. 21, 2021.
He said Brooks was without a jacket and shoeless. He let Brooks borrow his phone. Brooks told him, Caproon says, that he wanted to call an Uber.
9:18 a.m. update:
Darrell Brooks has objected to the court's jurisdiction so many times Judge Dorow finally decided she needed to put something in writing from where the court derives its jurisdiction. That was added to the court record last Friday:
#DarrellBrooks has objected to the court's jurisdiction so many times Judge Dorow finally decided she needed to put something in writing on from where the court derives its jurisdiction. That was added to the court record last Friday. Attached below. pic.twitter.com/fxqL6R4f4n
— Bruce Harrison (@HarrisonMKE) October 17, 2022
8:51 a.m. update:
The jury has entered and the state has called its first witness, Sean Backler. On the afternoon of Nov 21, 2021, Backler says he was outside working around the yard.
He testifies he heard some noise on the east side of his garage. "I found the defendant on the side of the garage. I asked him 'what in the f—-ing hell he was doing.' I think I dropped an f-bomb on him. He was trespassing," Backler tells the state.
"I described him about 5'8", about 150 lbs, either black, mixed or latino male. Wearing a red shirt, jeans, long hair, beard. And I think he was missing his shoes." Brooks objected to everything Backler and the state says. "I think it seemed off ... his eyes were HUGE."
"He kept asking if I could call him an Uber. And he said he needed to get home." Backler says he refused and told Brooks to leave. State asks, "do you see him in court today?" "He's sitting over there with the mask on and in the suit," Backler responded.
8:30 a.m. update:
A juror called in sick today, so the judge will be calling in an alternate.
RECAP ON TRIAL FROM FRIDAY, OCT. 14
On Friday, Judge Jennifer Dorow excused the jury just minutes into court to admonish Brooks.
"For being disruptive and for bringing up irrelevant matters in front of this jury, you will forfeit your right to be present for the direct examination of this witness," said Dorow. She threatened to but stopped short of sending him to a second courtroom.
The state next called its first witness of the day, Franklin Assistant Police Chief Craig Liermann, who was at the parade with family. He said he knew something wasn't right, and that he could see a vehicle traveling from east to west on Main Street. He said he eventually saw the driver.
"I would describe him as being in an excited state, not in a state of panic. More excited or almost happy about what was going on. Not panicked or scared," said Liermann.
Day 10 of the trial was full of powerful testimony from police officers, several of who identified Brooks in court as the man they saw driving the red SUV.
Combined, Brooks spent several hours cross-examining witnesses, questioning them on the use of his name — which he refuses to identify by in court — and whether or not they know who the plaintiff is in the case.
Brooks and Judge Dorow sparred more than once over his cross-examination methods and attempts to question the jurisdiction of the court.
"I'm like an umpire in a baseball game, sir. I call and see the legal objections as I see them. That is my role, and that is what I do," said Dorow.
"Are you kidding me?" said Brooks.
Earlier this week, the state indicated it had hoped to rest its case by Friday. That's no longer possible, with state witnesses expected to testify possibly as late as Tuesday.
