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Austin, Texas
The judge read the verdict before the Texas grand jury:
Maya Guerra Gamble, Judge
»Question number one: 4 million, 200 thousand dollars.
Question number two: 20 million, 500 thousand dollars.
Question #3: $20 million, $500 thousand."
That makes a total of $45 million, two hundred thousand dollars in damages for US conspiracy theorist Alex Jones.
Unfortunately, his reaction in the courtroom cannot be seen, because the radio host and Infowars founder did not appear for the hearing of the verdict.
The Texas trial is about the 2012 Sandy Hook school shooting, in which 20 elementary school students and six adults were shot dead.
Alex Jones repeatedly claimed that the attack did not take place and that it was all a staging to enforce stricter gun laws.
He has been sued by a number of the victims' parents for his allegations.
During the trial, Jones, who was influential in right-wing extremist circles, tried to make the courtroom his stage – but the judge put him in his place.
Eventually, Alex Jones retracted his false claims in court, albeit coupled with an attack on the media he frowned upon:
FEDERICO REYNAL , attorney for Alex Jones
Do you understand now that it was totally irresponsible of you to make these allegations?
ALEX JONES, Infowars Founder
»Yes, especially since I met the parents.
It's 100 percent real, like I said on the radio yesterday and like I said here yesterday.
It's 100 percent true but the media is still spreading lies that I said on the radio yesterday that it wasn't true, that's unbelievable.
You don't want me to take it back.
They want to keep labeling me the Sandy Hook man.”
Jones could still face more payments: He faces two more trials this year for his false claims that the rampage was staged by actors.
