Kyle Rittenhouse was 17 years old when he shot three people with a semi-automatic rifle in connection with a BLM demonstration in August last year. Two of them died.
For several days, the prosecution has tried to prove that he is guilty of premeditated murder. They press that Rittenhouse intended to kill Joseph Rosenbaum (36) and Anthony Huber (26). Gaige GrossKreutz (27) was also shot, but survived.
Broke down
Prosecutor Thomas Binger, has driven hard on the now 18-year-old Rittenhouse, but he gets no admission that he intended to kill.
Rittenhouse stubbornly claims that he felt threatened and shot in self-defense. Although he stood pointing the weapon at Rosenbaum and Huber with both hands before pulling off, he denies that he intended to kill.
The accused broke down in tears when he had to explain the course of events. Defendant later requested that the trial be dismissed because of the prosecution’s hard line. Judge Bruce Schroeder has not yet ruled on the claim, according to the news agency AP.
– Could have run away
He says that Rosenbaum ran after him, and had previously threatened to kill him.
– If I had lowered the weapon, Rosenbaum would have taken it from me and shot me and probably others, he says.
– Kyle Rittenhouse’s mother, Wendy, cries a lot during the trial. Photo: POOL
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Binger tries to show the jury that it was Rittenhouse who created the dangerous situation this evening, and that pointing an AR-15 at someone will make them feel threatened with life.
– He could have run away instead of trying to take the weapon from me, but he just kept running after me. He did not stop, the 18-year-old says in his explanation.
Rebellion and chaos
The fatal incident began with Rittenhouse driving from his home in Illinois to Kenosha, where there were demonstrations and riots after a black man, Jakob Blake, had been shot seven times by police.
This was also a few weeks after the police murder of George Floyd in Minnesota.
Rittenhouse claims he traveled to Kenosha to protect property after two nights of arson and looting.
Polarizing
Black Lives Matter supporters have described Rittenhouse as a supporter of white supremacy, while conservatives have described him as a patriot who exercised his right to bear arms during riots.
The case has aroused strong feelings and polarized perceptions of what really happened. Former president Donald Trump har refused to condemn the action of Rittenhouse.
Rittenhouse risks life in prison if convicted of the most serious charges against him. According to the plan, the final submissions will be brought to court at the beginning of next week.
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