A judge on Friday ordered the liquidation of conspiracy theorist Alex Jones’ personal assets and was still deciding on his company’s separate bankruptcy case.

The decision could determine the future of his Infowars media platform, as Jones owes 1.5 billion dollars (£1.18 billion) for his false claims that the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting was a hoax.

Twenty children aged six and seven were among 26 people killed in the school shooting in Connecticut in 2012.

Judge Christopher Lopez approved converting Jones’ proposed personal bankruptcy reorganisation to a liquidation. He was still set to rule on whether Mr Jones’ company, Texas-based Free Speech Systems, also should be liquidated.

Free Speech Systems is Infowars’ parent company.

Many of Jones’ personal assets will be sold off, but he is expected to keep his primary home in the Austin, Texas area and some other belongings that are exempt from bankruptcy liquidation.

He already has moved to sell his Texas ranch worth about 2.8 million dollars (£2.2 million), a gun collection and other assets to help pay debts.

Lawyers for the Sandy Hook families have been seeking liquidation.