Page 4 - atd

A4 U.S. NEWS
Wednesday 3 august 2022
Sandy Hook parents: Alex Jones claims created ‘living hell’

By JIM VERTUNO Heslin dismissed as “cow-
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Fight- ardly” but arrived in the
ing back tears and finally courtroom for part of Scar-
given the chance to con- lett Lewis’ testimony. He
front conspiracy theorist was accompanied by sev-
Alex Jones, the parents of a eral private security guards.
6-year-old killed in the 2012 “Today is very important
Sandy Hook Elementary to me and it’s been a long
school shooting described time coming... to face Alex
being put through a “liv- Jones for what he said
ing hell” of death threats, and did to me. To restore
harassment and ongoing the honor and legacy of
trauma over the last de- my son,” Heslin said when
cade caused by Jones us- Jones wasn’t there.
ing his media platforms to Heslin told the jury about
push claims that it was all a holding his son with a bul-
hoax. let hole through his head,
Neil Heslin and Scarlett even describing the extent
Lewis, whose son Jesse was of the damage to his son’s
killed at Sandy Hook, took body. A key segment of
the witness stand Tuesday the case is a 2017 Infowars
on the final day of tes- Alex Jones arrives at the Travis County Courthouse in Austin, Tuesday Aug. 2, 2022. broadcast that said Heslin
timony in the two-week Associated Press didn’t hold his son.
defamation damages trial The jury was shown a school
against Jones and his me- actor?” lies who have filed several that seemed to have un- picture of a smiling Jesse
dia company Free Speech “No, I don’t think you’re an lawsuits alleging that Sandy covered deep details of taken two weeks before
Systems. They are seeking actor,” Jones responded Hook hoax claims pushed her personal life. he was killed. The parents
at least $150 million dam- before the judge admon- by Jones have led to years “It’s fear for your life,” Scar- didn’t receive the photo
ages. ished him to be quiet until of abuse by Jones and his lett Lewis said. “You don’t until after the shooting.
In a gripping exchange, called to testify. followers. know what they were go- They described how Jesse
Lewis spoke directly to Lewis continued trying to Heslin and Lewis both said ing to do.” was known for telling class-
Jones, who was sitting impress on Jones that the they fear for their lives and Heslin said he didn’t know if mates to “run!” which likely
about 10 feet away. Earlier Sandy Hook shooting and have been confronted by the Sandy Hook hoax con- saved lives.
that day, Jones was on his trauma inflicted in the de- strangers at home and on spiracy theory originated An apology from Jones
broadcast program telling cade since then was real. the street. Heslin said his with Jones, but it was Jones wouldn’t be good enough,
his audience that Heslin is “It seems so incredible to home and car have been who “lit the match and the parents said.

“slow” and being manipu- me that we have to do this shot at. The jury heard a started the fire” with an “Alex started this fight,”
lated by bad people. that we have to implore death threat sent via tele- online platform and broad- Heslin said, “and I’ll finish
“I am a mother first and you, to punish you to get phone message to another cast that reached millions this fight.”
foremost and I know you you to stop lying,” Lewis Sandy Hook family. worldwide. Heslin and Lewis suffer from
are a father. My son ex- said. “I am so glad this day “I can’t even describe the “What was said about me a form of post-traumatic
isted,” Lewis said to Jones. is here. I’m actually re- last nine and a half years, and Sandy Hook itself reso- stress disorder that comes
“I am not deep state... I lieved. And grateful... that the living hell that I and oth- nates around the world,” from constant trauma, simi-
know you know that... And I got to say all this to you.” ers have had to endure be- Heslin said. “As time went lar to that endured by sol-
yet you’re going to leave Jones visibly shook his head cause of the recklessness on, I truly realized how dan- diers in war zones or child
this courthouse and say it several times while Scarlett and negligence of Alex gerous it was.” abuse victims, a forensic
again on your show.” Lewis was addressing him. Jones,” Heslin said. Jones skipped Heslin’s psychologist who studied
At one point, Lewis asked Heslin and Lewis are among Scarlett Lewis also de- morning testimony while he their cases and met with
Jones: “Do you think I’m an several Sandy Hook fami- scribed threatening emails was on his show a move them testified Monday.q

Utah man accused of causing wildfire by burning a spider

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A marijuana in his belongings, why.”
Utah man has been ar- but he didn’t appear to Martin was arrested on sus-
rested on accusations he be high, said Utah County picion of reckless burn and
started a wildfire while try- Sheriff’s Sgt. Spencer Can- possession of marijuana
ing to burn a spider with his non. and drug paraphernalia,
lighter. There is no evidence to court documents show.
Cory Allan Martin, 26, told suggest he intentionally He was in the Utah Coun-
deputies that he spotted started the blaze, said Can- ty jail Tuesday on nearly
the spider Monday while non, but he called it a reck- $2,000 bail. It was unknown
he was in a hiking area in less and puzzling decision. if he had an attorney.
the foothills south of Salt This area and most of Utah The wildfire quickly spread
Lake City near the city of are bone dry amid extreme up the mountain and had
Springville, shows a prob- drought conditions. burned less than 1 square
able cause statement. He “What led him to stop and mile (1 square kilometer) as
acknowledged starting the notice a spider and de- of Tuesday, according to
fire, but didn’t explain why cide to try to burn it, we fire officials.
Firefighters battle a wildfire from the ground as a helicopter he was trying to burn the don’t know,” Cannon said. No homes had been
drops water above them in Springville on Monday, Aug. 1, 2022. spider. “There may not be a why. damaged.q
Associated Press
Deputies found a jar of He might not even know a