Law&Crime Sidebar - Top 5 Wildest Outbursts in Darrell Brooks' Trial

Episode Date: October 26, 2022

The Law&Crime Network's Jesse Weber recaps the top five wildest outbursts from the Darrell Brooks trial.LAW&CRIME SIDEBAR PRODUCTION:YouTube Management - Bobby SzokePodcasting - Sam GoldbergVideo Editing - Logan HarrisGuest Booking - Alyssa FisherSocial Media Management - Kiera BronsonSUBSCRIBE TO OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Court JunkieObjectionsThey Walk Among AmericaCoptales and CocktailsThe Disturbing TruthSpeaking FreelyLAW&CRIME NETWORK SOCIAL MEDIA:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawandcrime/Twitter: https://twitter.com/LawCrimeNetworkFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/lawandcrimeTwitch: https://www.twitch.tv/lawandcrimenetworkTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lawandcrimeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Don't let your fears take hold of you as you dive into this addictive series. Love thrillers with a paranormal twist? The entire Oracle trilogy is available on Audible. Listen now on Audible. Once again, you're doing this tactic. Because it's not a tactic. It's facts. It's facts. To some other reason. It's facts. Because I find it hard to believe that All of a sudden, nobody hears what I say. I'm going to let the state make a record of why they believe it's objectionable because I haven't let them do that. We go over the top five outbursts of defendant Dorell Brooks in the Waukeshaar Parade tragedy trial. Welcome to Sidebar, presented by Law and Crime.

I'm Jesse Weber. The trial of Dorel Brooks Jr. out of Waukesha, Wisconsin, has really been something else. On one hand, we can't forget what this trial is about. You have a defendant who's been charged with over six. 70 crimes for allegedly driving his SUV into a group of holiday parade goers back on November 21st, 2021, ultimately resulting in the death of six people and injuries to dozens of others. And this is a very serious case and a very tragic case. But at the same time, we can't forget that this trial is incredibly unique and strange because the defendant

has chosen at the very beginning of trial to represent himself. And it has been a roller coaster a ride of fights between him and the judge, him getting kicked out of court. He took his shirt off at one point. And he brings up these legal theories that seemingly have no basis in fact or law that delay the whole proceedings. And this is partially due to the fact that we believe Brooks identifies as a sovereign citizen. This is someone who believes that they're not under the jurisdiction or authority of the government. So we thought, why not revisit the top five outbursts of Dorell Brooks during this trial. And I like to start with a particularly bad one. You see, at one point, Brooks called as a witness his ex-girlfriend Erica Patterson as he was presenting his case. Now, she had

previously testified for the state, and it's alleged that he, Dorel Brooks got into a fight with Erica Patterson and attacked her right before he drove his car into the parade. So when she was on the stand, he wanted to show that she wasn't a good mother and that she's not a credible witness and that she wasn't telling the truth, particularly about the last time that she had had contact with him. And that's when, while she's on the stand, he pulls out these photographs and the state objective because they hadn't been shown these before. And outside the presence of the jury, prosecutor Zach Wichow talked about what would happen if these photos were allowed in? And he revealed something very bad about Brooks past. And as you'll see, Brooks was not too happy about it.

Three, I believe that these photographs are designed to make a suggestion to the jury that Erica Patterson is a bad mom. I think that that's what the defendant is trying to do. And if we're going to go down that road, then we would be forced to counter that claim. First of all, it doesn't make her an incredible witness, if it's even true. And second of all, if we go down that road, we would be forced to counter that claim by pointing out that not only does the defendant not live with the child in question, he doesn't live with any of the other children that he has,

he impregnated Erica Patterson when she was a minor in Nevada. And for doing so, he was convicted of statutory sexual seduction, pled guilty in March of 2007 to that felony offense and is a sex offender on the registry as a result. So if there's any causation that would lead to Erica Patterson being a bad mom, Mr. Brooks has a direct role in that causation. And that's not a joke to that. I'm not sure, because that's a lie.

Let him finish. Let him finish. We're going to open the door on that. No, since he want to make a record and not be accurate, so let's be accurate on the record since you think you know so much. Once again, Mr. Brooks is being loud, disrespectful, interrupting. We can ask that question to me.

He is over the top animated right now. Mr. Brooks, I'm ordering you to sit down and to let the state finish. I'm not going to sit here unless somebody be in accurate on the record and lie on the record. Under Illinois versus Allen, I've warned him repeatedly. He's being removed from the courtroom. And you know what? Let me dial that back. We're just going to take an early lunch.

One hour, we'll be back, and unless he brings that letter, and he can show it is inadmissible, she will not be questioned. And under 906.11, I will declare the cross-examination. Close. Thank you. We're in recess, one hour. Get your facts straight. So let's open the door on all of it again so we can get all of it on the record.

Since you think you know so much. Did you know she said she was 18 when I met her? Did you know that? Now, luckily, as I said, this was outside the presence of the jury. And that is a very good thing for Brooks that they didn't see that. Clearly, he's trying to relitigate his past relationship that he had with Patterson and whether or not he should have been convicted of that sex crime. And of course, this is just another example of him being removed from the courtroom.

You know, look, Brooks has repeatedly made statements that this process is totally unfair, that he's not being heard. And he adamantly denies that he's trying to deliberately, obstruct the proceedings. He feels that he's just trying to get his word out and his rights protected. In fact, in another major outburst and show of disrespect to the court and the procedure, he yells at the judge about what this trial is about. I don't care what you believe fully. All right. It's not a game. We, I don't take this as a game. That's what, that's what nobody, that's what nobody. You don't got to explain nothing to me. Do you want, that's what you don't understand.

You think that this is a whole game to me. This is not a game to me, Your Honor. Nothing about this is a joke. That's what y'all don't understand. And it's unfair, it's unfair, and it's disrespectful to me that you think I will come in here purposely and treat this like a joke or a game. I never said it was a joke. What type, what type, what type of statement is that? Your life is not on the line. Mine is.

And you think that I think this is funny? I don't think it's funny whatsoever. So I think, Your Honor, would all do respect. I think you should show some respect. We're going to take a five minute break. And when we come back, the jury's coming out and you need to call your next witness. Thank you. We are in recess.

No, you're not rushing me to judgment. I don't care what you're talking about. Unbelievable that he's saying this to a judge. A judge, I sometimes have to remind myself to who he's speaking to. And, you know, there is so much discussion about Judge Darrow here showing this restraint. You know, why didn't she kick him out of the courtroom sooner? Why didn't she kick him out multiple times? And I think there's one theory that, at least I believe, is that she is giving him so much

leeway, so much opportunity to reel himself in. And she's deliberately making sure that she doesn't prematurely silence him or kick him out of the courtroom too quickly. Because the theory is, is that if he's convicted, an appellate court then can't say that she was unfair to him, right? The only person who buried his case was Dorel Brooks himself, that she wasn't being unfair or violating his rights, that she gave him every opportunity to correct his behavior. And some believe that this is a sign that he shouldn't be allowed to represent himself anymore, but that's his right. And while there could be opportunities for judges to step in and say that the defendant is not

competent and an attorney should be assigned at this point, this judge is not at that point. She believes that he is doing all of this deliberately to delay these proceedings, and he knew what he was getting himself into when he decided to represent himself. And I think at the very least, it seems that Mr. Brooks has issues with authority. Because if you listen to what he said to Judge Darrow multiple times, this one in particular was really egregious. I'm a grown man with grown kids. Don't nobody ain't nobody going to talk to me like that. Nobody.

I don't have a problem with doing what you asked me to do, not tell me. Just like when I ask you about subject matter jurisdiction that you have yet to prove on the record. But somehow I'm being intentionally disrupt. Come on, man, stop. Just stop it. Jury's coming out. All right for the jury. Not going to work.

And that is not the only time that he barked at the judge and told her what her job should be. If you don't make a record, then I can't make a ruling. It threw people off the loop. They weren't ready for it. They scared of it. That's what it is. Oh, man. Mr. Brooks.

Come, man. Stop. You are, you are even letting me ask the question. I respect your courtroom. I respect you. You're a public service. though. Your job is to be the referee. Is it or is it not? You state it so yourself on record

that your job is being the umpire. Your Honor, can I ask Ms. Patterson please be excused? Yes, you can be excused. My apologies. My apologies too, but it needs to be some truth. Especially when we're talking about stuff that didn't even happen, but they're allowed to get on the stand and say that it happened when they know it didn't happen. So let me make, I'm going to make a record about what he's referred to in count 77.

Truth be told, I could do a two-hour show on all of the disruptions and the hostile moments in court. But I have to tell you, after reviewing it, there is one moment in particular, one time when I was actually nervous for the safety of the people in the courtroom and including the judge. And this came about when the prosecution started presenting an issue and how the prosecutor, Sue Opper, said the word defendant. Take a look. There's an issue that we do need to take up potential as to a witness by the name of. of Abel Westconnell. He has prior criminal history. Thank you. So as long as the jury's out, we should probably discuss that. I would like to provide the defendant and the court with so that had to be said. That's not how it was said. That was not how it was said. You want to run

a record back? Mr. Brooks. I'm the only one I got one ear there working. I heard that. This is to benefit you so that you understand. Ain't none of it is to benefit me, so let's be clear about that. Your Honor, when I leave the table, I'm away from the courtroom, and I have to elevate my voice. This is the alleged record of Abel, Lescott. Stop talking. Come on, man. Like, I don't know who y'all be thinking, y'all fooling.

I'll set for value and return for value this document. One more interruption, and you're going to be removed to the next courtroom. That's what you want to do anyway. It's not what I want to do. Do not interrupt Attorney Opera. So can you tell you? I believe he has seven prior criminal convictions via OWI second from 1997 and OWI third from 1997 and OWI fourth from 2003. Criminal trespassed dwelling from 2006.

I need to take a break. This man right now is having a stare down with me. It's very disrespectful. He pounded his fist, frankly, it makes me scared. So, as we record this, we are coming to the end of the Derell Brooks trial. After the judge, Dean Brooks was non-responsive to her question. She ruled that Brooks forfeited his right to call more witnesses or even testify himself. He has been repeatedly kicked out of the courtroom.

In fact, he's spending the majority of his time outside of the courtroom in that adjacent courtroom. And after the judge reads the jury instructions, we go to the closing arguments and then this case is handed off to the jury. They're going to have 152 verdict forms. That is a lot of paperwork, a lot for them to decide. And I'll tell you one thing all said and done. This is certainly a case that we won't forget. And thanks, everybody, for joining us here on Sidebar. Please subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, wherever you get your podcasts.

I'm Jesse Weber. Speak to you next time. You can binge all episodes of this long crime series, ad free right now on Wondery Plus. Join Wondery Plus in the Wondery app, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.