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| Kyle Rittenhouse: Biden angry after teen cleared of shootings | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
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| Americans react to Kyle Rittenhouse’s full acquittal | Americans react to Kyle Rittenhouse’s full acquittal |
| US President Joe Biden has said he is angry after a teenager who shot dead two men during racial unrest last year in Wisconsin was cleared. | |
| The president expressed dismay at the verdict in a written statement after earlier telling reporters he supported the jury's decision. | The president expressed dismay at the verdict in a written statement after earlier telling reporters he supported the jury's decision. |
| Kyle Rittenhouse, 18, sobbed as he was acquitted of all charges over the shooting in Kenosha on 25 August 2020. | Kyle Rittenhouse, 18, sobbed as he was acquitted of all charges over the shooting in Kenosha on 25 August 2020. |
| There were low-key protests over the outcome in a trial that divided the US. | There were low-key protests over the outcome in a trial that divided the US. |
| Mr Rittenhouse nearly collapsed with relief as he learned his fate on Friday from a jury of seven women and five men after three-and-a-half days of deliberations. His mother, Wendy, also wept. | Mr Rittenhouse nearly collapsed with relief as he learned his fate on Friday from a jury of seven women and five men after three-and-a-half days of deliberations. His mother, Wendy, also wept. |
| The former police youth cadet was cleared of two counts of intentional homicide, one count of attempted homicide and two counts of recklessly endangering safety. | The former police youth cadet was cleared of two counts of intentional homicide, one count of attempted homicide and two counts of recklessly endangering safety. |
| Mr Rittenhouse had acknowledged fatally shooting Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, and Anthony Huber, 26, and injuring Gaige Grosskreutz, 28, but maintained he did so in self-defence. | Mr Rittenhouse had acknowledged fatally shooting Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, and Anthony Huber, 26, and injuring Gaige Grosskreutz, 28, but maintained he did so in self-defence. |
| The defendant and the men he shot were all white, but the issue of race hung over the case because the shooting happened during civil disorder over perceived police brutality. | The defendant and the men he shot were all white, but the issue of race hung over the case because the shooting happened during civil disorder over perceived police brutality. |
| ANALYSIS: Why Kyle Rittenhouse case so divides the US | ANALYSIS: Why Kyle Rittenhouse case so divides the US |
| PROFILE: Who is US teen cleared of protest killings? | PROFILE: Who is US teen cleared of protest killings? |
| BACKGROUND: When can you shoot as self-defence? | BACKGROUND: When can you shoot as self-defence? |
| During last year's election campaign, Mr Biden tweeted a video that appeared to link Rittenhouse without any evidence to white supremacists. | During last year's election campaign, Mr Biden tweeted a video that appeared to link Rittenhouse without any evidence to white supremacists. |
| On Friday outside the White House a reporter asked the Democratic president whether he stood by his past comments about the teenager. | On Friday outside the White House a reporter asked the Democratic president whether he stood by his past comments about the teenager. |
| Mr Biden replied: "I stand by what the jury has concluded. The jury system works and we have to abide by it." | Mr Biden replied: "I stand by what the jury has concluded. The jury system works and we have to abide by it." |
| He later released a statement saying: "While the verdict in Kenosha will leave many Americans feeling angry and concerned, myself included, we must acknowledge that the jury has spoken." | He later released a statement saying: "While the verdict in Kenosha will leave many Americans feeling angry and concerned, myself included, we must acknowledge that the jury has spoken." |
| What happened in Kenosha? | What happened in Kenosha? |
| Mr Rittenhouse, then 17, showed up in Kenosha after the city had been convulsed by two nights of rioting, looting and arson when police shot a black man, Jacob Blake, seven times in the back on 23 August 2020, leaving him paralysed. | |
| The defence presented their client as a civic-minded teenager who had gone to the Midwestern US city to protect private property and only shot the men because he was in fear of his life. | The defence presented their client as a civic-minded teenager who had gone to the Midwestern US city to protect private property and only shot the men because he was in fear of his life. |
| The prosecution had depicted Mr Rittenhouse as a reckless vigilante and the men he shot as heroes attempting to disarm someone they thought was an "active shooter". | The prosecution had depicted Mr Rittenhouse as a reckless vigilante and the men he shot as heroes attempting to disarm someone they thought was an "active shooter". |
| The trial heard that Mr Rosenbaum had been acting erratically that night and chased Mr Rittenhouse before trying to grab his gun. Mr Rittenhouse fatally shot him. | The trial heard that Mr Rosenbaum had been acting erratically that night and chased Mr Rittenhouse before trying to grab his gun. Mr Rittenhouse fatally shot him. |
| Mr Huber was then killed after striking Mr Rittenhouse in the head or neck with a skateboard. | Mr Huber was then killed after striking Mr Rittenhouse in the head or neck with a skateboard. |
| Mr Grosskreutz had his bicep shot off after pointing his own gun at Mr Rittenhouse. | Mr Grosskreutz had his bicep shot off after pointing his own gun at Mr Rittenhouse. |
| What other reaction was there? | What other reaction was there? |
| After the verdict, defence attorney Mark Richards said of his client: "He wants to get on with his life. | After the verdict, defence attorney Mark Richards said of his client: "He wants to get on with his life. |
| "He wishes none of this ever happened. But as he said when he testified, he did not start this." | "He wishes none of this ever happened. But as he said when he testified, he did not start this." |
| The parents of Huber, the second person shot by Mr Rittenhouse, said they were "heartbroken" by the verdict. | The parents of Huber, the second person shot by Mr Rittenhouse, said they were "heartbroken" by the verdict. |
| Karen Bloom and John Huber said in a statement: "It sends the unacceptable message that armed civilians can show up in any town, incite violence, and then use the danger they have created to justify shooting people in the street." | Karen Bloom and John Huber said in a statement: "It sends the unacceptable message that armed civilians can show up in any town, incite violence, and then use the danger they have created to justify shooting people in the street." |
| Family members of Jacob Blake react with dismay to the verdict | Family members of Jacob Blake react with dismay to the verdict |
| To conservatives, Mr Rittenhouse is a heroic patriot who asserted his rights to bear arms and self-defence against a rampaging mob | To conservatives, Mr Rittenhouse is a heroic patriot who asserted his rights to bear arms and self-defence against a rampaging mob |
| The BBC's Nomia Iqbal in Kenosha said a small number of protesters gathered outside the court, holding signs that read "Killer Kyle," and "No justice no peace." | The BBC's Nomia Iqbal in Kenosha said a small number of protesters gathered outside the court, holding signs that read "Killer Kyle," and "No justice no peace." |
| Local store owners told her they would be glad once the verdict was announced so that the city could move forward. | Local store owners told her they would be glad once the verdict was announced so that the city could move forward. |
| The trial exposed political divisions, with many Democrats condemning the verdict while Republicans said justice had been served, with some even offering him internships. | The trial exposed political divisions, with many Democrats condemning the verdict while Republicans said justice had been served, with some even offering him internships. |
| Following the verdict, right-wing Fox News host Tucker Carlson posted a clip of an exclusive interview with Mr Rittenhouse, to be broadcast on Monday. | Following the verdict, right-wing Fox News host Tucker Carlson posted a clip of an exclusive interview with Mr Rittenhouse, to be broadcast on Monday. |
| In the footage, Mr Rittenhouse describes waking up in a cold sweat because of "scary" dreams he has every night about what happened. | In the footage, Mr Rittenhouse describes waking up in a cold sweat because of "scary" dreams he has every night about what happened. |