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Kyle Rittenhouse: US teenager cleared over Kenosha killings | Kyle Rittenhouse: US teenager cleared over Kenosha killings |
(33 minutes later) | |
A US teenager who shot dead two men during racial justice protests has been cleared of homicide and all other counts after claiming self-defence. | A US teenager who shot dead two men during racial justice protests has been cleared of homicide and all other counts after claiming self-defence. |
Kyle Rittenhouse, 18, killed the men and wounded a third on the streets of Kenosha, Wisconsin, on 25 August 2020. | Kyle Rittenhouse, 18, killed the men and wounded a third on the streets of Kenosha, Wisconsin, on 25 August 2020. |
During the high profile and politically divisive trial, his defence said he had feared for his life. Prosecutors argued he was looking for trouble that night. | During the high profile and politically divisive trial, his defence said he had feared for his life. Prosecutors argued he was looking for trouble that night. |
National Guard troops have been sent to the city amid fears of unrest. | National Guard troops have been sent to the city amid fears of unrest. |
Mr Rittenhouse faced five charges, including intentional homicide, which carries a mandatory life sentence. | Mr Rittenhouse faced five charges, including intentional homicide, which carries a mandatory life sentence. |
His fate was decided by a 12-person jury composed of seven women and five men. They reached their verdict after more than three days of deliberations. | His fate was decided by a 12-person jury composed of seven women and five men. They reached their verdict after more than three days of deliberations. |
Mr Rittenhouse sobbed and was held by his lawyers as the verdict was announced. | Mr Rittenhouse sobbed and was held by his lawyers as the verdict was announced. |
Two nights before he turned up in Kenosha, riots erupted on its streets after police shot Jacob Blake, a black man. | |
Mr Rittenhouse had travelled to the city from his home in Illinois and, armed with a semi-automatic rifle, he said he sought to help protect property from unrest. | Mr Rittenhouse had travelled to the city from his home in Illinois and, armed with a semi-automatic rifle, he said he sought to help protect property from unrest. |
PROFILE: Who is US teen accused of Wisconsin protest murders? | |
BACKGROUND: When can you shoot as self-defence? | |
Then aged 17, he shot dead Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, and Anthony Huber, 26, and wounded 27-year-old Gaige Grosskreutz. | |
Mr Rittenhouse's lawyers argued that he was "trying to help this community" and "reacted to people attacking him". | |
Prosecutors, meanwhile, questioned why Mr Rittenhouse broke curfew in a city he did not live in and "pretended to guard" people and property he was not familiar with. | |
"You cannot claim self-defence against a danger that you create," they said. | |
Jurors were shown video, sometimes frame by frame, leading up to and after each shooting. |