KENOSHA, WI (WTAQ) — Kyle Rittenhouse took the stand in his own defense Wednesday, telling his side of the story to a Kenosha courtroom about what happened on the night in Kenosha last year in which Rittenhouse shot three people, two fatally, during unrest following the police shooting of Jacob Blake.
Rittenhouse, 18, broke down emotionally in court when describing the moments that led to him shooting Jacob Rosenbaum, who he says lunged at him at attempted to take his gun. That led Judge Bruce Schroeder to call a ten minute recess.
Prosecution witnesses–along with video evidence presented in court–seemed to support Rittenhouse’s recollection that Rosebaum lunged at him.
Rittenhouse went on to describe fatally shooting Anthony Huber and wounding Gaige Grosskreutz. Huber was seen on video striking Rittenhouse in the head with a skateboard. Grosskreutz pointed a pistol at Rittenhouse.
During cross examination, Prosecutor Thomas Binger attempted to paint Rittenhouse as someone deliberately out to kill.
“With regard to Joseph Rosenbaum, you fired four shots at him, correct?” Binger asked.
“Yes.” Rittenhouse responded.
Binger continued, “You intended to kill him, correct?”
“I didn’t intend to kill him. I intended to stop the person who was attacking me and trying to steal my gun,” said Rittenhouse.
Binger was admonished several times by the judge for his questioning, which the judge says raised fifth amendment concerns when Binger attempted to bring up Rittenhouse not speaking about the incident before taking the stand. Binger also attempted to bring up an August 10th incident in which Rittenhouse made a remark implying he wanted to shoot shoplifters that had previously been ruled inadmissable.
“I said just hours ago that I had not heard anything that would change any of my rulings,” Judge Schroeder said.
“That was before the testimony, your honor,” Binger said, cutting off Schroeder.
“Don’t get brazen with me!” the Judge snapped.
At one point, the defense requested a mistrial with prejudice, citing Binger’s conduct.
Rittenhouse, then 17, says the shootings were in self-defense and that he had gone to the riots in Kenosha to defend a local business after the owner asked him to.
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