Brooks trial begins Monday
Authorized knowledgeable Craig Mastantuono previews trial
>> TOMORROW IN JUST HOURS THE HIGH-PROFILE DARRELL BROOKS TRIAL BEGINS. BROOKS IS FACING 77 CRIMINAL COUNTS INCLUDING SIX OF FIRST-DEGREE INTENTIONAL HOMICIDE ACCUSED OF DRIVING HIS SUV THROUGH THE WAUKESHA CHRISTMAS PARADE THIS PAST NOVEMBER KILLING SIX PEOPLE AND INJURING MORE THAN 60. AND NOW BROOKS IN AN UNUSUAL MOVE WILL DEFEND HIMSELF AFTER SPARRING WITH THE JUDGE IN TWO HEARINGS THIS PAST WEEK. >> DID YOU HEAR ME TELL YOU ABOUT THE PENALTIES FOR HIT AND RUN RESULTING IN DEATH? >> I DON’T UNDERSTAND THE NATURE AND THE CAUSE OF THE CHARGES. >> BUT THAT’S NOT MY QUESTION, SIR. SO STOP PLAYING GAMES WITH ME RIGHT NOW, OK? >> CRAIG MASTANTUONO IS A CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY. WELCOME BACK. HOW UNUSUAL IS THIS? HOW UNUSUAL IS IT THAT HE WILL BE DEFENDING HIMSELF? >> IT’S NOT THE NORM. SOMEONE IN HIS POSITION USUALLY HAS AN ATTORNEY THAT THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH FOR MANY MONTHS. THE DECISION TO DISCHARGE THOSE LAWYERS IS UNCOMMON. IT IS NOT UNHEARD OF. WE HAVE SEVERAL EXAMPLES OF PEOPLE PROCEEDING THIS WAY. WE HAVE SEEN THIS BEFORE. IT DOES HAPPEN. >> HOW DOES THE SHAPE HOW THE TRIAL WILL LOOK IN THE COMING WEEKS? >> IT WILL LOOK COMPLETELY DIFFERENT THAN IF COUNSEL WERE PROCEEDING ON BEHALF OF MR. BROOKS. FIGHT FANS SAY THAT STYLES MAKE FIGHTS AND HEADING INTO THE TRIAL, A FAIR ASSESSMENT OF BOTH SIDES AND THE ATTORNEYS FOR THE SIDES WERE THAT THESE WERE NO-NONSENSE SOBER PROSECUTORS AND DEFENDERS, BUT THIS USE IS TAKEN A LEFT DEFENSE BEING TEAM HAS LEFT. MR. BROOKS WILL BE ALONE AT THE COUNSEL TABLE. IN AN UNPREDICTABLE SETTING. WILL HE UNDERSTAND WHAT’S GOING ON? WILL HE BE ABLE TO CONTROL HIMSELF? HOW WILL HE CONDUCT HIMSELF IN THE COURTROOM? STYLE THAT WE WERE ANTICIPATING ON ONE SIDE PROCEEDING AND GOING THROUGH THE EVIDENCE IS NOW COMPLETELY UNPREDICTABLE. >> WE SAW HIM WITH THE PROSPECT OF ARGUING HE IS A SOVEREIGN CITIZEN. >> THAT IS A LEFTOVER OR A HOLDOVER ASSERTION MAINLY FROM PEOPLE WHO DON’T WANT TO PAY TAXES. THEY CREATED THIS DEFENSE THAT HAS BEEN TESTED OVER THE YEARS, I’VE NEVER SEEN WITH MERIT OR SUCCESSFULLY THAT SOMEONE IS NOT SUBJECT TO THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES. WHEN SOMEONE IS IN CUSTODY FOR A LONG TIME, THAT CAN BE SOMETHING THAT AN ATTORNEY HAS TO DEAL WITH BECAUSE PEOPLE IN CUSTODY CAN HEAR THAT FROM OTHER PEOPLE IN CUSTODY THAT THAT IS A VIABLE DEFENSE. I DON’T THINK WE’RE GOING TO SEE ANY CREDENCE PATENT THAT BY THE JUDGE. WE WILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT AS SHE GOES. THAT DEFENSE ALSO INVOLVES THEREFORE I DON’T HAVE TO DO THIS OR THAT BECAUSE I AM NOT SUBJECT TO THESE PROCEEDINGS. >> THIS CASE HAS BECOME HIGHLY POLITICAL. ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU LOOK TO THE FACT THAT HE WAS OUT ON WHAT WAS CONSIDERED INCREDIBLY LOW BAIL FROM A PREVIOUS CRIME. HOW MUCH OF THAT WILL BE BROUGHT INTO THE TRIAL? >> I DOUBT ANY OF IT WILL BE BROUGHT INTO THE TRIAL PROCEEDINGS. I DON’T THINK IT WOULD BE RELEVANT. I DON’T EXPECT THAT THE PARTIES WOULD INTRODUCE IT. >> MONDAY MORNING JURY SELECTION BEGINS. UP NEXT: RNC PREPS. AND REINCE PREIBUS ON THE MIDTERMS.
Brooks trial begins Monday
Authorized knowledgeable Craig Mastantuono previews trial