Darrell Brooks trial: Prosecutors rest case, defense to begin - FOX 6 Milwaukee

WAUKESHA, Wis. - Prosecutors connected Thursday, Oct. 20 rested their lawsuit successful the Darrell Brooks trial, charged successful the November 2021 Waukesha Christmas parade attack.

After the prosecution rested, the tribunal took its luncheon interruption for the day. Immediately pursuing the break, Brooks is expected to marque his deferred opening connection to the assemblage – and statesman presenting his defense.

Case called Thursday

Before the assemblage was brought successful Thursday, Brooks told the tribunal helium was determination arsenic third-party intervener. Judge Jennifer Dorow asked that helium not notation taxable substance jurisdiction – an contented Brooks has repeatedly raised passim the proceedings – due to the fact that it is not based connected instrumentality oregon fact. Brooks past responded, saying helium had "common sense" ot cognize that helium can't notation it. 

Additionally, the wording of Count 76 against Brooks was changed to bespeak that an alleged home artillery "near Frame Park" arsenic opposed to "at Frame Park."

"We're not asking to alteration immoderate of the facts, dates oregon charges," said Assistant District Attorney Zachary Wittchow. 

"It is close for this tribunal to perceive this motion. The assemblage volition yet beryllium instructed. The charges are based disconnected the information. There is nary prejudice to Mr. Brooks, and it doesn't alteration the complaint successful immoderate way," Dorow said, granting prosecutors' request.

District Attorney Sue Opper explained her intent to callback Waukesha Police Det. Thomas Casey. Opper said Casey's "focus" during his erstwhile grounds was connected the layout of the parade route; now, she sought to stitchery his grounds connected identifying victims and the operator of the reddish SUV.

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"It volition assistance the assemblage recognize immoderate of the things connected the backmost extremity that helium was progressive with during the parade," Opper said. 

"The prosecution feels they've been businesslike successful their presumption – it seems similar an effort to maine to get much questions successful that should person been asked successful the archetypal place," said Brooks.

Thomas Casey recalled

The assemblage was brought into the courtroom astir 9:10 a.m. Thursday – and Casey took the stand, recalled by the state. The detective went done the process of identifying persons who were injured successful the Waukesha Christmas Parade incident. 

Casey told the tribunal arsenic portion of the process to place victims, officials had to travel up with parameters that would positively place a existent victim. He said the victims had to beryllium successful the thoroughfare of the parade way and person infirmary care. The detective said radical who were injured aft the fact, from different instances, were not considered victims. 

Casey indicated determination were 3 different members of the Xtreme Dance Team who were injured successful the parade incident, but not listed connected the state's charges. He besides indicated a achromatic hood and navy chapeau that belonged to Dancing Grannie Virginia Sorenson was recovered connected the reddish SUV that was aboriginal located successful Waukesha. 

The detective testified investigators obtained "300 to 400 videos" of the parade incident. He stated helium watched each of them – and asserted Brooks was driving the reddish SUV done the parade successful each of them. Casey said helium ne'er observed anyone other successful the conveyance – and helium said the operator ne'er 1 stopped oregon slowed down.

Some of the videos captured the licence sheet of the reddish SUV progressive successful this case. 

Casey testified constabulary besides recovered a video connected societal media wherever Brooks was recorded adjacent to the SUV with matching plates. Brooks had his backmost to the camera successful that video.

Casey besides told jurors Brooks' fingerprints, the 3 women helium has children with, and Brooks' parent each identified the fishy successful the parade incidental arsenic Darrell Brooks.

"That's the sanction he's ever gone by," Casey said.

Brooks began his cross-examination of Casey astir 10 a.m. During this cross, Brooks argued nary 1 tin archer who has their backmost to the camera successful the photograph conscionable above. Casey said helium watched the full video – and helium testified it was so Brooks.

NOTE: FOX6 News volition update this station arsenic caller grounds is presented successful court.

Christmas parade attack

Prosecutors accidental Brooks drove a reddish SUV done the parade way connected Nov. 21, 2021, sidesplitting six and injuring much than 60 others. 

On Nov. 21, 2021, according to prosecutors, Brooks met up with his ex-girlfriend successful Frame Park, the aforesaid pistillate helium is accused of moving implicit with his reddish SUV earlier successful November 2021. She told constabulary they argued successful his SUV earlier helium started driving, and helium "was driving astir with 1 manus and striking her successful the look with his different hand." She yet got retired and called her friends for help.

Soon aft that, according to prosecutors, Brooks drove that reddish SUV done the parade route, sidesplitting Jackson Sparks, 8, Virginia Sorenson, 79, LeAnna Owen, 71, Tamara Durand, 52, Jane Kulich, 52 and Wilhelm Hospel, 81. More than 60 others were hurt.