Kyle Rittenhouse - Not Guilty Verdict

Kyle Rittenhouse Found Not Guilty

On Friday, Nov. 19, 2021 Kyle Rittenhouse was found not guilty on all five counts by juror’s decision in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

First-Degree Intentional Homicide – Not Guilty

First-Degree Reckless Homicide – Not Guilty

Attempted First-Degree Intentional Homicide – Not Guilty

First-Degree Recklessly Endangering Safety – Not Guilty

During a Black Lives Matter demonstration in Kenosha, Wisconsin on August 25th, 2020 Kyle Rittenhouse brought his AR-style semi-automatic rifle and a medkit to “protect private property and provide medical treatment” amongst the volatile protests.

Kyle Rittenhouse, a 17-year-old from Antioch Illinois, fatally shot two men and injured another during three separate confrontations that night. The video evidence and witness testimony, according to the jurors, was enough to show that Kyle acted in self-defense during each of the confrontations and was not there to cause harm to those around him.

The controversial decision was not easy and took some time. The Judge and jurors heard testimony from dozens of witnesses and experts over two weeks’ time. The jurors deliberated for about 3 1/2 days before making a final verdict.

Wisconsin Law Requirement to Use Deadly Force and Second Amendment Right to Bear Arms

Under Wisconsin law, in order to use deadly force, you must prove that someone acted reasonably to prevent “imminent death or great bodily harm.”

This case was seen as either being for or against the right to bear arms and whether Kyle Rittenhouse acted within those rights to defend himself from imminent death or great bodily harm.

There were two completely different narratives from each side. The defense argued that Kyle was a civic-minded teenager who was in Kenosha to protect private property with his Assault rifle if needed and to provide medical treatment with his med-kit if needed. They argued that he had been repeatedly attacked and had shot the men as a last resort in self-defense and in fear for his life.

The prosecution argued that Kyle was a reckless vigilante who provoked violence and showed no remorse for the men he shot. That he brought the AR to look for a fight.

Though the trial was very dramatic the not guilty verdict was not entirely surprising. According to the evidence presented, it would be very difficult to clear the threshold of disproving self-defense beyond a reasonable doubt.

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