Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones has been ordered to answer questions during a five-hour deposition in a defamation case brought against him by families of Sandy Hook school shooting victims.

The Infowars founder has repeatedly held discussions on his web shows in which the massacre has been described as a hoax. Grieving relatives of those killed have been called actors.

Now, Mr Jones is being sued by the families of eight victims and an FBI agent who was one of the first on the scene.

They say they have been subject to harassment and death threats from the 45-year-old’s followers as a result of the theories promoted on his shows.

And they claim that Jones peddles the bogus stories as an essential part of his business model – which sees Infowars advertise products including survivalist gear, gun paraphernalia and dietary supplements to its listeners.

Sandy Hook elementary school shooting 2012 Show all 5 1 /5 Sandy Hook elementary school shooting 2012 Sandy Hook elementary school shooting 2012 con0.ap.jpg Scenes of shock and devastation at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut AP Sandy Hook elementary school shooting 2012 v2Connecticut.jpg Picture from local newspaper the Newtown Bee shows Connecticut State Police lead children from the Sandy Hook Elementary School AP Sandy Hook elementary school shooting 2012 con1.reut.jpg The scene outside the primary school following the incident REUTERS Sandy Hook elementary school shooting 2012 con2.reut.jpg Concerned parents picking up their children following the shooting REUTERS Sandy Hook elementary school shooting 2012 obama.reut.jpg Obama wipes away a tear during the press conference REUTERS

A Connecticut judge ruled on Wednesday that he must give evidence in the case.

Josh Koskoff, an attorney representing the families, said: “From the beginning, we have said that Jones knowingly peddled false and malicious narratives in order to make money at the expense of the Sandy Hook families’ grief, safety and security. Today’s ruling moves us one step closer to proving this.”

Mark Barden, whose son Daniel was killed during the atrocity, added: “It is far beyond time that he be held accountable for the pain his false narratives have caused so many.”

Twenty children, aged just six and seven, and six members of staff were shot dead at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut in 2012 by a killer who then shot himself.

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