Close arguments were delivered Monday in the trial of Kyle Rittenhouse, the juvenile accused of shooting and killing Jacob Blake amid protests following the officer’s deadly shooting.
On Aug. 25, 2020, prosecutors stated that Rittenhouse had a role in creating a volatile and dangerous scenario in Kenosha and that he had numerous options to either flee or employ non-lethal measures of protection.
When it was revealed that the victims of Rittenhouse’s shooting had been assaulted by the man who shot them, Rittenhouse’s defense team contended that the man’s actions were justified.
On Monday night, Judge Bruce Schroeder informed the court that the jury would begin deliberations on Tuesday. Tuesday morning, a raffle tumbler will choose the 12 jurors who will decide the case from a panel of 18 (eight men and ten women).
COUNT 1: FIRST-DEGREE RECKLESS HOMICIDE, USE OF A DANGEROUS WEAPON
The death of Joseph Rosenbaum, the first man Rittenhouse shot, is tied to this felony allegation. Rosenbaum is seen following Rittenhouse through a parking lot and tossing a plastic bag at him on video captured by a bystander. Rosenbaum pursues Rittenhouse, who runs behind a car. As Rosenbaum raced Rittenhouse around the courtroom, video showed him spinning around and firing. Rosenbaum grabbed for Rittenhouse’s gun, according to Richie McGinniss, a reporter who was following him.
Prosecutors aren’t arguing Rittenhouse planned to murder Rosenbaum, so reckless homicide is different from intentional homicide. Rather, they claim Rittenhouse was responsible for Rosenbaum’s death, which occurred in conditions that showed a complete contempt for human life.
COUNT 2: FIRST-DEGREE RECKLESSLY ENDANGERING SAFETY, USE OF A DANGEROUS WEAPON
The Rosenbaum shooting is linked to this felony charge. When Rittenhouse shot Rosenbaum, McGinniss said he was in the line of fire. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 12 1/2 years in jail. The weapons modifier adds five years to your life.
COUNT 3: FIRST-DEGREE RECKLESSLY ENDANGERING SAFETY, USE OF A DANGEROUS WEAPON
An unidentified man leaps at Rittenhouse and tries to kick him seconds before Anthony Huber approaches him on his skateboard. Rittenhouse appears to fire two shots at the man, but the man flees.
This is a crime that carries a jail sentence of 12 1/2 years. Another five years would be added by the weapons modifier.
COUNT 4: FIRST-DEGREE INTENTIONAL HOMICIDE, USE OF A DANGEROUS WEAPON
Intentional homicide refers to when someone kills another person with the intent of doing so. A mandatory life sentence is imposed for the charge. Five years would be added to the weapons modifier.
Second-degree deliberate homicide and first-degree reckless homicide were additional options for the jury in Huber’s death.
Intentional homicide in the second degree carries a maximum sentence of 60 years in prison.
The first-degree reckless homicide charge sought in Huber’s death is similar to an original charge in Rosenbaum’s death — jurors would have to determine that Rittenhouse killed Huber with a complete disregard for human life — and carries a maximum sentence of 60 years in prison.
COUNT 5: ATTEMPTED FIRST-DEGREE INTENTIONAL HOMICIDE, USE OF A DANGEROUS WEAPON
This is the charge for Rittenhouse shooting Gaige Grosskreutz in the arm seconds after shooting Huber and as Grosskreutz approached him with a gun in his hand. Grosskreutz was able to escape with his life. Rittenhouse is seen pointing his gun at Grosskreutz and firing a single fire in the video.
A maximum sentence of 60 years is possible for this offense. Five years would be added by the weapons modifier.
Second-degree attempted deliberate homicide and first-degree reckless endangerment charges are also on the table for the jury’s consideration.
For attempted second-degree deliberate homicide, a sentence of up to 30 years in prison may be imposed. The maximum sentence for attempted first-degree reckless homicide is 12 1/2 years in prison.
COUNT 6: POSSESSION OF A DANGEROUS WEAPON BY A PERSON UNDER 18
On Monday, the charge was dropped by the judge.
Rittenhouse was armed with a semiautomatic weapon in the form of an AR-15. On the night of the massacre, he was 17 years old. Minors are not allowed to own weapons in Wisconsin unless they are hunting or practicing target shooting or learning how to use a dangerous weapon under the supervision of an adult. Rittenhouse’s lawyers contended that a different provision of the law, dealing with short-barreled weapons, justified the prosecution being dismissed.
Prosecutors claimed that the defense was misinterpreting the statute, and Schroeder had previously refused to dismiss the indictment on two occasions. The judge, on the other hand, had previously stated that the statute was perplexing. Schroeder dismissed the indictment when prosecutors admitted the firearm was not short-barreled.
COUNT 7: FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH AN EMERGENCY ORDER FROM STATE OR LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Rittenhouse was charged with being out on the streets after the city’s 8 p.m. curfew, a minor offense punishable by up to $200 in fines. During the trial, the court rejected this charge because the prosecution failed to provide sufficient evidence to support it.
A lower charge in Count 2 that was to be offered to jurors has been removed from this version. The court would offer the jury the option of convicting Rittenhouse of second-degree recklessly endangering safety for shooting his firearm near Richie McGinniss, which was erroneous. Only a first-degree version of that charge will be considered by the jury.