Jones wants Sandy Hook 'hoax' case jury to hear his defenses

WATERBURY, Conn. -- Infowars host Alex Jones' lawyers are trying to get his free speech defense and other claims before a jury to argue that he is not liable for damages for calling the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting a hoax years ago.

The effort comes despite a Connecticut judge ruling this month that Jones was liable by default in a defamation lawsuit brought by relatives of some of the victims, saying he repeatedly failed to turn over some documents, including financial records. A hearing on how much the damages should be is planned next August before a jury.

Defendants who are found liable by default in lawsuits are not allowed to present their arguments against liability at hearings on damages unless they filed a "notice of defense," which Jones and his lawyers did last Wednesday.

Lawyers for the Sandy Hook families, however, plan to argue the jury should not hear Jones' defenses because the default ruling was disciplinary, Christopher Mattei, an attorney for the relatives, said Monday in an interview after a court hearing in the case. He said he believes Jones lost the right to present his arguments when he was defaulted.

Read more: https://www.texarkanagazette.com/news/2021/nov/29/jones-wants-sandy-hook-hoax-case-jury-to-hear-his/