The murder trial of Kyle Rittenhouse began Monday with the start of jury selection, however the process of selecting 12 impartial jurors could be difficult due to the high-profile nature of the case.
Rittenhouse shot two men dead and injured a third, during anti-racism protests in Kenosha, Wis., last year, Demonstrators were protesting the police shooting of Jacob Blake in August 2020 when the then-17-year-old Rittenhouse shot and killed Anthony Huber, 26, and Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, and injured Gaige Grosskreutz, now 27. He faces charges of criminal homicide for the deaths. Defense attorneys argue that he fired his assault-style rifle in self-defense. Now 18 years old, Rittenhouse has been free since he posted $2 million in bail a year ago. He has pleaded not guilty to felony homicide and misdemeanor charges.
Rittenhouse was arrested a day after the shootings and was indicted as an adult on charges of being a fugitive from justice. Since then, he’s been charged with five felonies, including first-degree intentional homicide, first degree reckless homicide, attempted first-degree intentional homicide and two counts of first-degree recklessly endangering safety. Other charges include misdemeanor possession of a dangerous weapon under the age of 18 and non-criminal violation of failure to comply with an emergency order. In his defense, Rittenhouse’s attorney has argued that he left his home across the border in Illinois and traveled to Kenosha to protect businesses during the protests. fearing for his life.
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