Kyle Rittenhouse in Kenosha County Courthouse on Tuesday. Rittenhouse faces five counts for fatally shooting three people in Kenosha, Wis., on the night of August 25, 2020.
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Kyle Rittenhouse in Kenosha County Courthouse on Tuesday. Rittenhouse faces five counts for fatally shooting three people in Kenosha, Wis., on the night of August 25, 2020.
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Twelve juries have begun deliberations in the criminal trial of Kyle Rittenhouse, the 18-year-old who shot dead two protesters and injured a third during last year’s unrest in Kenosha, Wis.
During the nearly five hours of arguments that ended on Monday, prosecutors and defense attorneys gave their final greetings to the jury, alternately describing Rittenhouse as a reckless “chaotic tourist”. was looking for trouble, compared to a responsible young man who was violently attacked by lawless rioters.
Rittenhouse was 17 years old when he arrived in Kenosha on the evening of August 25, 2020. He armed himself with an AR-15-style rifle for the purpose of protecting personal property and acting as a medic.
That night, in about three minutes, Rittenhouse shot and killed 36-year-old Joseph Rosenbaum, then fled toward a line of police. While running, he was chased by several other men, including 26-year-old Anthony Huber, who hit him with a skateboard. Rittenhouse fatally shot Huber, then wounded 26-year-old Gaige Grosskreutz, who was holding a pistol.
In his final argument, Mark Richards, the defense attorney representing Rittenhouse, said Kenosha was “hell” on the night of the shooting. He described the people Rittenhouse shot as dangerous and lawless “rioters” – who – if Rittenhouse hadn’t shot them – would have killed him.
“Kyle shot Joseph Rosenbaum to stop a threat to his people. And I’m glad he shot him,” Richards said. “Because if Joseph Rosenbaum got hold of that gun, I don’t believe for a minute that he wouldn’t use it against someone else.”
Richards also used strong language to criticize the opposition, accusing chief prosecutor Thomas Binger of lying to the jury. He said the charges – filed two days after the shooting in August 2020 – represent a politically motivated “rush to judgment”.
For his part, prosecutors said Rittenhouse made a series of reckless decisions that night – going to Kenosha, carrying an AR-15, choosing to stay after curfew – and described him as a danger watcher who has chosen law enforcement. own hand.
“If people did bad things that night, they could be prosecuted. Mr. Rittenhouse wouldn’t be the judge, the jury and ultimately the executioner,” Assistant Attorney James Kraus said.
While there, prosecutors said, Rittenhouse incited the encounters – first by pointing a rifle at protesters, starting a chase with Rosenbaum.
At the time, prosecutors said, Rittenhouse was an “active gunman,” and his pursuers – including Huber and Grosskreutz – were simply trying to stop him from shooting others.
“These are people who were provoked because they witnessed an attack or heard gunfire or heard him attack, and they took action,” Kraus said.
Although he himself would not choose to pursue Rittenhouse, he added, “that they did it was brave, and they did not deserve to be killed.”
Rittenhouse faces five counts, all felonies: first-degree reckless murder for the murder of Rosenbaum; two counts of recklessly causing danger when shooting near another person; first-degree murder for killing Huber and first-degree murder for shooting Grosskreutz.
The jury may also consider less severe versions of the crimes involving Huber and Grosskreutz.
Rittenhouse has pleaded not guilty to all. If convicted of the most serious offences, Rittenhouse will face life in prison.
