Accused Kenosha, Wisconsin protester killer Kyle Rittenhouse drew six numbers from a pool of 18 possible jurors from a box following the conclusion of his trial on Tuesday, resulting in a remainder of seven women and five men who will deliberate and decide the 18-year-old defendant’s fate.
Eleven of the 12 individuals chosen at random are white.
Kenosha County Circuit Court Judge Bruce Schroeder instructed Assistant District Attorney Thomas Binger, who represents the state, and defense counselor Corey Chirafisi to remain within 10 minutes of the courthouse in case questions arise from the jury. Schroeder also stated that he will provide roughly an hour’s notice between the time a verdict is reached and is read by the court.
Rittenhouse is facing five felony indictments of first-degree reckless homicide/use of a dangerous weapon in the death of Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, first-degree recklessly endangering safety/use of a dangerous weapon, first-degree intentional homicide/use of a dangerous weapon in the death of Anthony Huber, 26, attempted first-degree intentional homicide/use of a dangerous weapon in the shooting of Gaige Grosskreutz, 27, and first-degree recklessly endangering society/use of a dangerous weapon. A sixth misdemeanor charge of possession of a dangerous weapon by a person under 18 was dismissed by Schroeder last weekend.
Rittenhouse and his defense counsel have maintained that he acted in self-defense when he fatally shot two demonstrators and injured a third during an anti-police brutality protest on August 28, 2020.
His weapon of choice was a Smith & Wesson M&P 15, a semi-automatic sport rifle.
“I defended myself,” Rittenhouse said when he testified in his own defense. He further insisted that he had “brought the gun for my protection.”
Last Wednesday, Chirafisi filed a motion for Schroeder to declare a mistrial over what he interpreted as “prosecutorial overreach” during Binger’s cross-examination of Rittenhouse while he was on the witness stand.
Due to the explosive nature of the case, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers (D) has stationed 500 National Guard Troops on standby patrol to respond to potential chaos whenever the final verdict is handed down.
