Waukesha Christmas parade: Suspect Darrell Brooks pleads not guilty to 77 charges

WAUKESHA, Wis. — Darrell Brooks, the man accused of killing six people and wounding dozens more, pleaded not guilty Friday to 77 charges linked to a fatal hit-and-run during the Wisconsin city of Waukesha’s 2021 Christmas parade.

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Prosecutors are expected to rely heavily on bystander videos that they said shows Brooks, 39, intentionally plowed through the crowded Christmas parade on Nov. 21 without ever stopping to render aid, WISN reported.

Brooks’ attorneys have requested that his trial be held in another county or before a jury drawn from another county. They have also requested the jury be sequestered and prevailed in having the case reassigned from Judge Michael Bohren to Chief Judge Jennifer Dorow, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.

>> Related: Waukesha Christmas parade: What we know about the 6 victims

Defense attorney Jeremy Perri argued in his change of venue request, which was not addressed during Friday’s proceeding, that “an impartial trial cannot be held in Waukesha County” because he believes the Milwaukee suburb’s court of public opinion has already convicted his client, WISN reported.

According to the Journal Sentinel, Brooks’ attorneys cited widespread media coverage of the parade tragedy in submitting their request, as well as the “overwhelming community support of victims, expressed in millions of dollars of donations, dozens of vigils and even a visit to Waukesha to support victims by first lady Jill Biden.”

>>Related: Waukesha Christmas parade: Suspect Darrell Brooks Jr. says he feels ‘demonized’

In light of the defense’s request for a new judge being granted, however, no actions are expected to be taken on the team’s other motions before Dorow is slated to preside over her first hearing in the case, slated for 9 a.m. March 11, the newspaper reported.

Brooks was arrested the same night he is accused of plowing into the parade and charged two days later with five counts of first-degree intentional homicide. The charges were then amended after a sixth victim died and again on Jan. 14 when dozens more charges were added, according to the Journal Sentinel.

The amended charges include two domestic abuse battery charges and six counts of hit-and-run involving death, as well as first-degree recklessly endangering safety.

>> Related: Darrell Brooks Jr.: What we know about suspect in the Waukesha Christmas parade tragedy

Brooks remains in custody on $5 million bail, WISN reported.

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