Darrell Brooks Jr. Apologizes to Court: Waukesha Christmas Parade Trial Continues with Haunting Witness Testimonies

WAUKESHA – Waukesha Christmas parade defendant Darrell Brooks Jr. began began Monday’s legal proceedings by apologizing to everyone in the courtroom for his behavior in the first week of the trial.

Darrell Brooks faces 76 charges, including six counts of first-degree intentional homicide, after allegedly driving his SUV through the Waukesha Christmas Parade in November 2021. Judge Jennifer Dorow ruled Brooks can represent himself in court.

Brooks’ disruptions and outbursts resulted in his repeated removal from the courtroom in the first week of the trial, which led to discussion over his mental capacity to defend himself. The defendant reassured the court that his behavior will change.

Darrell Brooks Apologizes

Before rising to address the courtroom on Oct. 10, Brooks reached out to adjust a copy of the Holy Bible on his desk.

“I just want to state this for the record that I would like to issue the court an apology from me in regards to my actions last week during the trial,” said Brooks. “It’s very, very emotional but not to excuse my actions, and I should carry myself with better respect.”

Brooks went on to reference his upbringing and religious values during his apology. “I come from a Christian background,” Brooks continued. “My mother did not raise me that way. She did not raise me to act out of frustration and irritation and anger, and I just wanted everyone to know that I apologize for my actions and I’m going to try my best to, whatever happens, to conduct myself with respect and with respect to the court.”

Witnesses Take the Stand

The jury filed in soon after Brook’s addressment. Detective Thomas Casey was the first to be cross-examined on the stand. Casey testified that he tried to stop the SUV from initially entering the parade. Brooks focused his questioning on details of the scene initially recalled by Casey, including the driver’s appearance and estimated speed.

“I want to direct you to the evening of Nov. 21, 2021,” said Brooks. “Do you recall any disturbances that afternoon?”

“Do you mean when you drove through the parade routes?” replied Casey.

Brooks questioned the witness about his recollection of hearing honking, citing that beeping a car horn can be used to avoid danger. This may be a part of the defendant’s argument, although we won’t know for sure until next week’s trial proceedings. He would continue to reference this point in his cross-examinations of Waukesha Police Officers Bryce Butryn and Sonia Schneider.

Sovereign Citizenship Angle

Throughout the trial, Brooks continued his narrative surrounding sovereign citizenship, the idea that he is not under the jurisdiction of the federal government and exempt from U.S. law. He questioned witnesses if the plaintiff, the State of Wisconsin, was a human being and if the witnesses had filed a claim in the case themselves. However, the D.A. objected to this line of questioning and sustained by the judge repeatedly.

“Do you see the plaintiff in the courtroom?” Brooks said.

“The plaintiff is an entity,” Casey responded. “They are represented by the District Attorney’s office.”

“To the best of your knowledge, is the entity a human being?” said Brooks.

“An entity is an entity; it is not a human being,” said Casey.

Pure Chaos

Waukesha Police Officer Bryce Butryn then testified that he tried to stop the SUV by grabbing at the handle while on duty at the intersection of Buckley Street and Main Street, but the car was going too fast. While yelling for the car to stop, Butryn said the driver remained emotionless, staring straight ahead and increasing speed. When asked about what he saw as he ran down the street, Butryn took a deep breath as he prepared to recall the harrowing details.

“The only way to describe it is just pure chaos,” Butryn said. “There were people pulling at me in multiple directions, trying to help people.”

In response to Brooks’ questioning, Butryn said that he did not hear a horn as the SUV passed.

Waukesha Police Officer Sonia Schneider then took the stand to testify that she had also not heard a car horn while on duty at the parade. Schneider identified Brooks as the driver of the vehicle. When Brooks asked if the few seconds that the car passed by was enough time to identify a driver, she said yes.

Did He Have Hair?

After Schneider pointed her hand to identify Brooks as the driver of the SUV, Brooks looked down at his desk and shook his head. He then questioned Schneider’s claim that the driver had hair.

“Would it be fair to say that the alleged defendant that you just identified does not have hair?” Brooks said.

“You have shaved your head, yes,” Schneider responded.

 “Would it be fair to say that you have not seen the alleged defendant shave his head?” said Brooks.

“II have not,” Schneider responded. 

 “Would it be fair to say that you do not know if the alleged defendant shaved his head?” asked Brooks.

“I am looking at the individual that was driving the SUV, who now has a shaved head,” Schneider said.

Following the cross-examinations, Brooks, the man accused of driving the SUV, questioned four victims on the stand.