Alex Jones trial - live: Jury begins deliberating in Infowars host’s second Sandy Hook hoax case

Tuesday’s proceedings were unexpectedly interrupted after lunch when a fire alarm began blaring through the courtroom.

The cause of the alarm - which forced a brief evacuation - has not been disclosed.

Watch the startling moment:

Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones on Tuesday said he may invoke the 5th Amendment if called back to the stand at his Sandy Hook defamation trial to avoid going to jail.

The Infowars founder ranted to reporters outside the court in Connecticut that he was “strongly considering” pleading the fifth as he baselessly claimed that the judge wants to throw him in jail for telling the truth.

“Not because I’m guilty, but because she [the judge] says if I tell the truth, she’ll put me in the Waterbury jail for six months. That’s what she can do,” he blustered.

“I tell the judge and all the rest of the New World Order: I am innocent, and you are guilty of tyranny.”

The Independent’s Bevan Hurley has more:

The parents of seven-year-old Sandy Hook victim Daniel Barden both testified on Tuesday about how their lives were - and continue to be - upended by Jones’ lies.

Jackie Barden began to choke up as she described Daniel - who would’ve turned 17 last month - as a very compassionate person who was always putting others ahead of himself.

After his death, she told of receiving letters from hoaxers saying they urinated on Daniel’s grave and threatening to dig it up to prove the shooting was a hoax.

Mark Barden said listening to his wife’s testimony earlier in the day was “excruciating” and pointed out that Jones was not in the courtroom to hear it - instead staying outside to hold a press conference.

Mr Barden said many of the other parents who have already testified captured his feelings well.

“I can so relate to Robbie Parker saying my compass is spinning. Or David Wheeler saying it felt like he was underwater, disoriented. I get it, we were all there,” he said.

Mr Barden concluded his testimony by telling how hoaxers “tarnished” the memory of his son.

“Our little home movies, our thoughts and our memories, have all been compromised and taken away from us. Tarnished with toxic hate and lies and danger.”

He fought tears as he described how the harassment changed him, making him constantly paranoid no matter where he goes.

“I’m not the same person,” he said.

Testifying on Tuesday, mother Francine Wheeler told the court how she felt her identity was stripped away by trolls pushing Jones’ lies about Sandy Hook.

Ms Wheeler, whose six-year-old son Ben was killed in the shooting, described how her name became synonymous with the lies - overshadowing both her foundation in his honour, Ben’s Lighthouse, and her performance career.

“It’s ironic because I spent my adult career performing. I loved my life in New York and even in Newtown,” she said.

“They took that from me and doctored and edited 20 years of my work. They took that from me.

“They took my identity, they took my husband’s identity, they took my surviving son’s identity.”

The defamation trial currently in its fourth week in Connecticut was brought by nine plaintiffs - eight relatives of Sandy Hook victims and one former FBI agent who responded to the shooting.

Here’s a recap of what’s at stake for the Infowars host:

Alex Jones’ attorney on Tuesday revealed he is not likely to testify again in his Sandy Hook defamation trial - shortly after the conspiracy theorist said he may invoke the 5th Amendment to avoid going to jail.

The Infowars founder ranted to reporters outside the court in Connecticut that he was “strongly considering” pleading the fifth as he baselessly claimed that the judge wants to throw him in jail for telling the truth.

“Not because I’m guilty, but because she [the judge] says if I tell the truth, she’ll put me in the Waterbury jail for six months. That’s what she can do,” he blustered.

“I tell the judge and all the rest of the New World Order: I am innocent, and you are guilty of tyranny.”

After the jury was sent home, Jones’ attorney Norm Pattis informed Judge Barbara Bellis not to expect his testimony on Wednesday.

The Independent’s Bevan Hurley has more:

The Independent’s Graig Graziosi has a full recap on why the Infowars founder is facing a second defamation trial.

As we await confirmation of whether Alex Jones will take the witness stand for a second time in his defamation trial this morning, here’s a recap of his chaotic earlier appearance in the trial.

The conspiracy theorist shouted he was “done apologising” to parents of the Sandy Hook victims for spreading baseless claims that the mass shooting was a false flag operation.

Rachel Sharp has the full story.

Alex Jones has left Connecticut, according to New York Times journalist Elizabeth Williamson.

The Infowars founder had been due to testify for a second time on Wednesday, but that looks unlikely now after he “fled on a private jet”.