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Brooks used SUV as ‘battering ram,’ prosecutors say in opening statements

Brooks used SUV as 'battering ram,' prosecutors say in opening statements

WAUKESHA – Following hours of issues, including extraordinary extensive jury instructions, opening statements and testimony finally began late Thursday afternoon in the Waukesha Christmas Parade attack trial.

Darrell Brooks Jr. is accused of 76 criminal counts, including six first-degree intentional homicide charges, in a case involving potentially dozens of witnesses. Two testified on Thursday.

In the prosecutor’s opening statement, Assistant Waukesha County District Attorney Zach Wittchow literally set the scene of the prosecution’s case, focusing on the deaths and injuries that occurred on Main Street in the late afternoon hours of Nov. 21, 2021.

He said Brooks “left that crime scene because he was fleeing from another one,” angrily driving into the parade route less than a mile from the other incident at Frame Park. “He hit the gas on his red Ford Escape and used it as a battering ram over and over again, striking men, women and kids.”

It began following a violent argument between Brooks and his former girlfriend, who is also his child’s mother, who was staying at a women’s shelter in Waukesha on Nov. 21, Wittchow said.

Despite the many dozens of witnesses, the prosecution pledged not to overwhelm jurors with testimony and evidence.

“We intend to present the evidence to you in an efficient and streamlined way … to avoid hardships on the victims who have endured so much,” he said.

Wittchow said the prosecution is prepared to argue that Brooks intentionally caused the deaths of individuals and put dozens more at risk, countering any anticipated claims by Brooks that he had no such intent.

Part of the focus will be the “deadliest” point in the parade, when Brooks’ SUV ran into the Dancing Grannies and killed four.

For his part, Brooks deferred his opening statements to later in the proceedings, possibly before presenting his case after the prosecution has rested.

Somewhat unexpectedly, testimony began after 4:15 p.m.

Police officer testifies about SUV’s approach

Waukesha Police Sgt. David Wanner, who works in patrol and was on duty during the parade, explained the strategic placement of security details surrounding the parade route.

At one point after the parade was underway, he saw a red SUV “traveling at a high rate of speed” and into the parade route. In response to Waukesha County District Attorney Sue Opper’s query, he estimated the vehicle was traveling 40 mph in a 25-mph zone on White Rock Avenue and into the parade route on Main…

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