Darrell Brooks is expected to receive his prison sentence Wednesday afternoon. Last month, a jury found the Milwaukee man guilty of 76 crimes for driving his SUV through last November's Christmas parade in Waukesha.
Six died and dozens more were injured. Tuesday at the Waukesha County Courthouse, about forty people gave victim impact statements, with many saying Brooks should get the maximum sentences for all 76 counts, including life behind bars for six charges of first-degree intentional homicide.
David Sorenson was married to Virginia Sorenson, who was fatally struck while marching with a dancing grandmothers group.
David was one of a few people who told the court that they wished Wisconsin allowed capital punishment.
"I, too, regret Wisconsin does not have the death penalty, because if someone ever deserved it, the convicted most certainly does. Life in prison is too kind," Mr. Sorenson said.
Wisconsin abolished the death penalty in 1853.
In her statement, Taylor Kulich said her life was forever changed on November 21, 2021, when her mother Jane Kulich was hit.
"The day my mom was murdered. It's still hard to believe that my mom was killed while marching in a Christmas parade," Kulich said.
Some of the others who spoke were injured in the parade incident. Jessalyn Torres was one of the kids severely hurt while performing with a youth dance group. (We're identifying the girl because she gave her name in court, and her return to dancing this year was reported in the media.)
But Torres says she lost a lot too.
"I missed over half the school year. When I got back to school, I felt uncomfortable being in a wheelchair. I felt like people were just looking and wondering. I missed out on my last days of elementary school. Time and memories, I'll never get back," Torres said.
After the victim impact statements, Waukesha County District Attorney Sue Opper joined the call for maximum penalties for Brooks. He objected to her remarks leading to this exchange.
Opper: "Mr. Brooks, I'm talking."
Brooks: "I don't care about you talking."
Opper: "I don't care what you care about."
Brooks: "I know you don't."
Opper: "Sit down and be quiet. Everybody has told you that."
Brooks "Nah, nah, nah. See, you got it all wrong, Ms. Opper."
Opper then asked Judge Jennifer Dorow to order Brooks to stop.
Brooks later apologized to Dorow for his comments. The judge replied that he needs to apologize to the parade case victims.
Brooks and members of his family are expected to offer remarks around noon Wednesday. Dorow said she will then leave the bench to consider Brooks' sentence. After a break, Dorow will come back in to deliver her decision.