Kyle Rittenhouse takes the stand in his own defense
I was shocked when I read that Rittenhouse was taking the stand in his own defense. That’s highly unusual, as most of you know, because it opens up even otherwise-sympathetic defendants to cross-examination. It’s usually not done, and when it is done it’s usually in the form of a hail-Mary pass. In the Rittenhouse trial, the prosecution has been doing so poorly so far that most people – including me – couldn’t see any reason it should even be considered.
Kyle Rittenhouse apparently differed and wanted to take the stand to clear his name by telling his side of the story. And as things developed, perhaps he was right to do so because it may have been the only way to get facts like this in evidence:
Rittenhouse, detailing the moments before he fired on Rosenbaum recalled Rosenbaum yelling “burn in hell” to him before Rittenhouse yelled “friendly, friendly, friendly!” in an attempt to calm Rosenbaum. But he was chased…
Earlier during his testimony, Rittenhouse revealed that Rosenbaum threatened to kill him two times prior to the fatal incident, on August 25, 2020.
“If I catch any of you f***ers alone I’m going to f***ing kill you,” Rosenbaum said to Rittenhouse and a friend, the teen testified.
On another occasion, he told the two males, “I’m going to cut your f***ing hearts out and kill you N-words,” Rittenhouse said, noting that Rosenbaum did not use the term “N-word” but used the real racial slur.
Just as a reminder, both Rittenhouse and Rosenbaum are white.
Rittenhouse broke down into sobs on the stand while telling – re-living, really – the story of how he was chased and surrounded by a murderous mob. The judge called a 10-minute recess after that., and then:
After the break ended and Rittenhouse returned to the stand, the teen said Ziminski told Rosenbaum, “Get him and kill him,” referring to Rittenhouse.
Rittenhouse was chased down and despite pointing his gun at Rosenbaum, the man did not stop, but lunged for his gun. “I remember his hand on the barrel of my gun,” he told the jury.
The forensic evidence presented yesterday was in line with that assertion of how close Rosenbaum’s hand was to the weapon.
The cross-examination of Rittenhouse by the prosecution appears to be ongoing. You can find discussion and a live feed at Legal Insurrection, and articles about the developments today here, here, and here (all from RedState). They include discussions of the prosecutor’s behavior on cross-examination and the reaction of the judge.
I will add one additional reason that I think the defense may have been okay with Kyle taking the stand: although trials often are decided on the fact situation and this fact situation already almost completely favored his exoneration, this trial is a political trial and Rittenhouse has been thoroughly demonized in the press for over a year. The jury had to have been tainted by that, as well as by threats to their own safety and the safety of their town. Perhaps letting him take the stand was necessary to present the real, very human and very young Kyle Rittenhouse, in order to convince the jury of his essential goodness.
Risky move, but I think it will pay off.
Question. How many rioters in Kenosha have been prosecuted?
Neo, you mean defense rather than prosecution in that last paragraph.
Yancey Ward:
Absolutely. Thanks! Just fixed it.
If Rittenhouse’s version of the events is accurate then Rosenbaum should be hanged by the neck until dead.
Rosenbaum was about to shoot to death Rittenhouse, so that’s attempted murder.
The only “good” thing about Rosenbaum’s surviving being shot by Rittenhouse is that he, Rosenbaum, basically admitted he was about to shoot Rittenhouse.
These ANTIFA types are clones of Ernst Rohm’s Brownshirts, and they should be eliminated from the living; ALL of them.
By the way, who thinks it is a coincidence that ANTIFA and BLM rioting came to a screeching halt once Joke Bidet was appointed president?
John Tyler:
I believe you are confusing Rosenbaum with Grosskreutz. It’s the latter who survived. Rosenbaum is dead.
The descriptions and videos at the Legal Insurrection site are breathtaking.
That prosecutor is one smarmy SOB who is reduced to fishing with no bait and playing chicken with the judge because that’s all he’s got left in his quiver—aside from the grotesque levels of intimidation and the hysterical outrage that the Corrupt Media has ginned up from its totally dishonest “reportage” on this case.
https://legalinsurrection.com/2021/11/rittenhouse-trial-kyle-takes-the-stand-prosecutor-incurs-wrath-of-judge/
Phew. Absolutely amazing.
The possibility of a mistrial with prejudice would remove the jury intimidation that has colored this case. I fear the jurors, like those in the Chauvin case, will be too afraid to acquit.
Rosenbaum is dead. –neo
As is Guildenstern, ho, ho, ho.
John Tyler effectively asks the question whether Grosskreutz isn’t legally liable for charges of violence or threatened violence.
I’m curious too.
Grosskreutz has reportedly lost 90% of his bicep. How much of that can come back?
“…possibility of a mistrial…”
I’d very much like to agree with you—in theory, you’re right—but I don’t think that that’s a given here.
The “mythical” mob is rabid and is egged on and encouraged by an insane media, by a ubiquitously abusive social media that magnifies the murderous outrage, hysteria and insanity to incendiary levels, and— worst of all—by a criminal Democratic Party.
Hope (of course) I’m wrong about this….
By now, no way can any of the jurors honestly vote for conviction.
There are at least two good points about Rittenhouse. One, he expresses an unadulterated moral purity. Two, even in the face of mortal threats that would force lesser men to take a knee, he demonstrated extraordinary self-control without cheap “heroics”. If anyone could be a credible witness for himself, it is this young man.
I’ve avoided watching the Rittenhouse trial, because I fully expect the jury to find him guilty. This is a political trial, and the lawyers are only there to provide a performance. Those jurors who are woke believe in the politicization of the personal, and of the law. And their belief is as strong as that of any other religious fanatic. Evidence, reason, and law have no more to do with this trial than they do for a presidential debate.
The jury should have been polled before the trial even began. Are they woke? Are they afraid of the mob? If yes to either one, then Rittenhouse is guilty. At least that would have been an honest process.
The CBS News twitter feed includes a video of Rittenhouse, while testifying, breaking down into uncontrollable sobs (https://tinyurl.com/wsetmeaa). To get a sense of just how far the country has degenerated into a pathological Left, please read the comments following the video. There’s an endless stream of ignorant viciousness. And this is at CBS News, which is far from the most loony part of the Left. People like these are now on every jury, and those who oppose them will discover that death threats are the new norm.
I’ve reached the sad conclusion that violence is the only way to defeat the Leftist mob. In that way, we’ve all become like Kyle Rittenhouse.
Gotta wake up early to beat Huxley to the punch line. Good one.
I agree with n.n. on Rittenhouse’s character. Every action he took were exceptional in its boldness with restraint. He literally ran to a fire to put it out. Rittenhouse then retreated rather than stand his ground. Rittenhouse was chased and cornered by Rosenbaum. Rittenhouse brandished his firearm which did not deter Rosenbaum, who grabbed the barrel. Only when physical violence commenced did Rittenhouse pull the trigger.
Rittenhouse flees the scene shortly, because he didn’t know who all were still pursuing him. He didn’t threaten the nearby videographer in his retreat. Rittenhouse returned to the spot of the shooting, offers aid, and called for emergency services and admitted his actions. At this point, he is spotted by Rosenbaum associates that began to pursue him once more. Again, Rittenhouse retreated from the scene rather than stand his ground.
While fleeing, Rittenhouse falls and is attacked. Again, Rittenhouse doesn’t fire until physical violence on him begins. The exception is the shooting of Grosskruetz. Grosskruetz, in an act of perfidy, raises his hands in surrender. Rittenhouse lowers his weapon and Grosskruetz begins to draw his weapon. This is when Rittenhouse doesn’t wait for Grosskruetz to get in the first shot, and Rittenhouse was entirely justified in his actions.
I will remember this trial whenever I hear the progressive gun control argument that suggests “a duty to retreat”. Apparently retreating isn’t enough. They really just want you to die. Glenn Reynolds noted this morning that some seem concerned about protests if Rittenhouse is acquitted. They should be worried about the protests if he is convicted.
Words, words. They’re all we have to go on.
Tom Stoppard, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead
Certain parts of Rittenhouse’s testimony excruciatingly difficult to see; gasping and overwrought. He held his ground during the granular “badgering” so far.
Also, we can stick a fork in what passes for journalism.
I watched part of Rittenhouse’s testimony; boy, does my heart hurt for him and what he went through and is now having to relive it!
Perhaps, his lawyers knew that he would break down – and maybe that would show the jurors just the kind of fear that he had when confronted by his assailants.