Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones has testified that the 2012 Sandy Hook school shooting was “100% real” and that it was wrong to call it a hoax. The parents of a child killed in the shooting are seeking at least $150m (£123m) in a defamation trial brought against the prominent radio host. They say they have endured harassment and emotional distress because of Mr Jones’s comments about the attack. The trial will determine how much money he owes for defaming the couple.

Mr Jones is the only person testifying in his defence during the proceedings in Texas. He has portrayed the case as an attack on his free speech rights under the First Amendment. On Wednesday, the Infowars host said he now understood that it was irresponsible of him to claim the shooting was false and that no children were killed. “Especially since I’ve met the parents. It’s 100% real,” he said. “They [the media] won’t let me take it back.”(BBC)…[+]