Jurors ordered conspiracy theorist Alex Jones to pay nearly $965 million for Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting lies.
The verdict came in a defamation lawsuit filed by the families of 26 people who were killed in 2012 shooting & an FBI agent.
The jury awarded various sums to the victims’ families, who testified that they were threatened & harassed for years by people who believed the lies told on Jones’ show.
Strangers showed up at the victim's families’ homes to record them. People hurled abusive comments on social media too.
Mark Barden testified that conspiracy theorists urinated on the grave of his 7-year-old son, Daniel. Barden & his wife awarded $86 million.
Retired FBI Agent William Aldenberg, awarded $90 million, described the horror he saw at the school.
Erica Lafferty, the daughter of slain Sandy Hook principal, testified that people mailed rape threats to her house.
During the trial, Jones testified that he had been wrong about Sandy Hook & the shooting was real. But in the courtroom & on his show, he was defiant.
However, Jones’ lawyer, Norm Pattis, portrayed the trial as unfair & pledged to appeal.
20 children & 6 adults died in the shooting on Dec. 14, 2012; relatives of 5 children & 6 educators sued in Connecticut.