The prosecution in the Kyle Rittenhouse trial lost several key pre-trial motions in a Kenosha County courthouse this week.
The Illinois teenager is on trial for killing two armed men in self defense during protests following the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin last year.
Then-17-year-old Rittenhouse, who was armed with a powerful AR-15 style rifle, shot several Black Lives Matter and Antifa rioters who charged at him with weapons in their hands. Two of the men died from their injuries.
One photo taken that night shows Rittenhouse hold his fire when a Black male kicked him in the head. The teenager didn’t shoot the male because he wasn’t armed.
Prosecutors tried to sway the judge by referring to the rioters as “victims”.
However, Kenosha County Circuit Judge Bruce Schroeder reiterated his longstanding decision not to allow the word “victim” to be used in his criminal trials until there is a conviction.
The judge said the word “victim” is “loaded” with prejudgment.
The prosecutor argued that the judge is allowing the defense to use words such as “rioters,” “looters” and “arsonists” during the trial.
However, the judge stood firm, saying those words are not more loaded than the word “victim.”
Rittenhouse was freed on $2 million bond while awaiting trial.
Is the judge in the case of Killer Kyle Rittenhouse, on the white supremacist code or what? https://t.co/Ra2d02SFXi
— Tariq Nasheed ?? (@tariqnasheed) October 26, 2021
