Kyle Rittenhouse, teen accused of killing 2 protesters in Kenosha, will stand trial
Updated: 2:40 p.m. on Dec. 3, 2020
KENOSHA, Wis. (CBS 58) -- A judge ruled Kyle Rittenhouse, the teen accused of killing two people during Kenosha protests, will stand trial.
At a preliminary hearing Thursday, Dec. 3, the court commissioner denied the defense’s motion to dismiss two of the chargesand after testimony, ordered Rittenhouse to stand trial on all six charges.
Even though Thursday’s preliminary hearing was virtual, a small crowd still gathered outside the Kenosha County courthouse.
Handful of people supporting Kyle Rittenhouse outside Kenosha courthouse ahead of this morning’s preliminary hearing. Rittenhouse is not physically at the courthouse. It’s a virtual appearance. pic.twitter.com/Uz3VPXhjUL
— Kristen Barbaresi (@KristenBarbar) December 3, 2020
Rittenhouse, who posted bond and is out of custody, appeared over Zoom.
The prosecution and the defense agree Rittenhouse fired the shots that killed two people and injured a third. Rittenhouse’s attorneys argued it was self defense.
While Rittenhouse’s attorney was eager to lay out their case, the court commissioner made clear it’s an argument for trial.
PHOTO GALLERY
Breaking: Court Commissioner orders Kyle Rittenhouse to stand trial on charges of killing two protesters & injuring a third. Decision came after preliminary hearing where on detective testified. #kylerittenhouse#kenosha
— Kristen Barbaresi (@KristenBarbar) December 3, 2020
Kyle Rittenhouse did NOT waive his preliminary hearing. Kenosha Police Dept. Det. Benjamin Antaramian testifying now. #kylerittenhouse#kenoshapic.twitter.com/8xG4Cye3jE
— Kristen Barbaresi (@KristenBarbar) December 3, 2020
Watch the hearing below:
"Mr. Richards, you have an opportunity at trial, but we’re at a preliminary hearing. I understand perhaps you’re frustrated," said Loren Keating, court commissioner.
Ultimately the court commissioner ruled there is probable cause to go to trial and it will be up to a jury to decide if Rittenhouse acted in self defense.
Rittenhouse will be arraigned on these charges Jan. 5.
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Published: 6:06 a.m. on Dec. 3, 2020
KENOSHA, Wis. (AP) — 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse who is accused of killing two men during an August protest in Kenosha is due in court Thursday for a preliminary hearing in the case.
Rittenhouse told police he was attacked while guarding a business and that he fired in self-defense. He was freed from jail last month after posting $2 million bond, with most of the money raised through a legal defense fund set up by conservatives portraying him as a patriot protecting other people’s property.
Supporters of the Black Lives Matter movement have painted Rittenhouse as a trigger-happy white supremacist.
Rittenhouse is charged with homicide and attempted homicide for fatally shooting Joseph Rosenbaum and Anthony Huber, and wounding a third man, Gaige Grosskreutz.
A preliminary hearing is the stage at which a court decides whether enough evidence exists to proceed to trial. The Kenosha County district attorney’s office didn’t respond to interview requests, and Rittenhouse attorney Mark Richards declined an interview ahead of Thursday’s hearing.
In a filing this week, Richards asked the court to dismiss two of the six counts against Rittenhouse. He argued that a misdemeanor count of possession of a dangerous weapon by a person under 18 isn’t supported by the law — an argument that the court already rejected once.
Richards also sought the dismissal of a felony count against Rittenhouse for recklessly endangering the public’s safety by using a dangerous weapon. Richards said the state offered no proof to substantiate that charge, which was based on witness Richard McGinnis’ account of Rittenhouse firing his gun with McGinnis in the line of fire.
The shootings happened two days after a white police officer trying to arrest Blake shot the 29-year-old seven times in the back, paralyzing him from the waist down. Video of the shooting sparked several nights of protests in Kenosha.