• Far-right conspiracy theorist Alex Jones appeared in a Texas court on Tuesday for the start of his Sandy Hook defamation trial.
  • His attorney said a day earlier that his client may miss parts of the trial due to "medical issues."
  • A jury will determine how much money Jones must pay Sandy Hook parents for falsely calling 2012 Connecticut school massacre a "hoax."

Far-right conspiracy theorist and InfoWars founder Alex Jones appeared in a Texas court on Tuesday for the start of his defamation trial over his false comments that the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre was a "hoax."

Jones was in Travis County District Court in Texas a day after his attorney told the court during jury selection that his client may miss parts of the trial.

Jones' attorney, F. Andino Reynal, told the court on Monday that Jones has "no obligation" to show up at his trial to face the families of the victims of the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre who have sued him, The News-Times reported. 

Reynal said that his client "may not be here through parts of the trial" and that Jones "has medical issues" that make it difficult for him to be present during the scheduled two-week civil trial according to the news outlet.

Reynal did not elaborate on what those medical issues were and could not immediately be reached for comment by Insider on Tuesday. 

The jury in the defamation trial brought by the parents of a Sandy Hook victim will determine how much money Jones must pay them for falsely calling the deadliest school shooting in the US a "hoax."

Twenty first-graders and six educators were slain in the Newtown, Connecticut shooting. 

Jones, who lives in Texas, has already been found liable by courts in Texas and Connecticut for damages in the defamation suits after Jones didn't follow court orders in the cases. 

Opening statements in the trial are set to begin Tuesday. 

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