The Rittenhouse verdict
Kyle Rittenhouse was found not guilt of murder, and other associated charges. This is not at all surprising, based on the actual evidence presented in court. Reason magazine summarises:
The prosecution had hoped to convince the jury that a 17-year-old Rittenhouse killed Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, and Anthony Huber, 26, without just cause when he traveled to the riots on August 25, 2020, although their case struggled to gain traction. Rosenbaum was described by a witness for the state as “hyperaggressive,” ultimately chasing Rittenhouse down and trying to wrestle away his AR-15 before Rittenhouse shot him. Video footage showed Huber striking Rittenhouse in the neck with a skateboard before also trying to take his firearm. And Gaige Grosskreutz, 27, the man who Rittenhouse shot in the bicep, testified for the prosecution that he approached Rittenhouse that evening with his own pistol raised, throwing cold water on characterizations that Grosskreutz had his hands in the air.
Rosenbaum told Rittenhouse twice he was going to kill him, and then tried to wrestle his gun away. Huber was battering Rittenhouse and Grosskreutz admitted in court that only when he pointed his pistol at Rittenhouse, did Rittenhouse shoot him.
The prosecution’s own evidence and witnesses were so helpful to the defence, that even without defence witnesses an acquittal always seemed likely, based on needing reasonable doubt.
When the shootings occurred, I was one of many who accepted the narrative in most of the media that he was a vigilante who hunted down peaceful protesters. It was only after the trial began, did I realise that the media narrative had been hopelessly biased.
As for Rittenhouse, despite the considerable amount of punditry devoted to a binary narrative—that he was a hero or a murderer—Neily presents another option: “I think he exhibited very poor judgement in arming himself and then going into that environment with a very visible, modern rifle. There’s no question that there are people who perceive that to be a provocative act,” Neily says. Based on the evidence, however, “I think he should be acquitted.”
It appears the jury agrees.
Indeed Rittenhouse is neither a hero nor a murderer. I think he is a douchebag and the last thing you want is people with rifles pouring into towns where they think there will be protests, or even riots.
However one commentator did make the valid point, that the Police may need to rethink their approach to such protests. The Kenosha “protest” caused around $100 million of damage. They were not peaceful, but the Police basically stood back and let it happen. By doing so, they may encourage Rittenhouse types to show up, in the absence of the state protecting local businesses.
Overall it just makes me glad we live in NZ, when you could never have a 17 year old turn up with a rifle to a protest