Thread by @EmbryEthan

Did the defense just call Kyle Rittenhouse to testify?

They did. Taking a short recess and Kyle will testify right now. He’s being sworn in.

Here is the livestream

Judge is giving him his 5th amendment rights to remain silent.

Consistent with advice from his counsel. Curious to see if the Judges previous bias toward Kyle’s innocence plays out during the questioning.

If Kyle is found to be innocent of murder, the public reaction will likely not be shock. We know the system at play here. A white male has been given great legal counsel.

Now if the lynchers of Ahmad Aubrey are to walk, that’s a different story.

The first thing noticeable about the testimony from Kyle is is very careful and rehearsed nature of his demeanor. He doesn’t seem human, or youthful in the slightest. He seems robotic.
They’re highlighted his public service hobby’s. Life guard. Nurse training.

Paint him as a public servant and all around good citizen. An all American boy. Kyle is beginning to loosen up and is behaving more natural. He’s now accomplishing the goal of the defense. Make him nonthreatening.

The Great Lakes Police Department gave Kyle his bullet proof vest. Get that. A police department gave a 17 year old boy a bullet proof vest. Fuck.

We are now at the location of the shooting. No mention of carrying a weapon illegally as a minor or carrying it across state lines.

They have mentioned him putting a fire out at a church and a high school. He’s a saint clearly. Introduce him to your daughters because he will be the Senator from Wisconsin come 2024

Now testifying the first victim threatened to kill him twice. One time while carrying a chain.
“If I catch any of you alone I’ll fucking kill you” all while Kyle saved people with medical attention and put our church fires. He’s a saint. Clearly.

“Did you provide medical help to anyone”
“I did. This lady twisted her ankle. I’m not an expert on X-rays. I said Hey do you need help. I wrapped her ankle.”
He’s a saint. Just took his assault rifle across state lines to provide medical attention.

He claims he was pepper sprayed. Did not retaliate. He’s a saint.

“Film me helping people” he said to a amateur journalist right before shooting three people. He’s a saint.

The whole defense seems to be that Kyle came to Kenosha for the sole intention to provide people medical attention.
He was there to help the wounded. Let’s see how this holds up.

This clearly looks like he came to Kenosha to provide medical attention.
Clearly.

He claims he was yelling “friendly friendly friendly” when he was attacked with a pistol while trying to put out fires. He is now getting emotional. Very very emotional. He’s succeeding in presenting as a child. The judge stopped the questioning.

Trying to figure out why the judge stopped the questioning. Kyle is not a victim here. He’s the accused. He was man enough to carry a gun into a violent situation. He should be man enough to recall what he did at his trial.

Can any legal professionals jump in on whether the judge stopping the questioning was fair?

https://twitter.com/cathyrusson/status/1458470303747964928

Still on recess. The tell of the judges motivation will be during cross.

Trial resumes. Kyle seems just fine. Not like he was just terrorized only 5 minutes ago.

Eyes white. Claims plastic shopping bag thrown by the victim appeared to be a chain. The plastic shopping bag. Claims a gun was fired. And that the victim lunged and grabbed the barrel of his gun. The surrounding crowd prevented him from running away. He shot the victim 4 times.

Replays the events of the killings with no problem this time. No emotion. Points in my professional opinion to the earlier breakdown being disingenuous. There should be at least an effort in suppressing emotion after such an intense outburst.

Absolutely no emotion at this point. If the earlier outburst was from true emotion, how is he able to recall this violence with no trace of emotion at all. Doesn’t track.

Even the court camera person is working overtime to humanize Kyle. Continually cutting to his mother in the courtroom.

After two are dead and one injured Kyle says he
“Turned and walked toward the police line to turn myself in”
And there lies the rub. HE DIDNT. He left the state and went home after killing two and shooting one other. He DID NOT turn himself in.

Cross begins.

Will he hammer him, or will he go easy trying to prevent another breakdown?

Judge stopped it again?

Judge claiming a constitutional violation in asking defendant about his right to remain silent. Definite bias from the judge.

No question huge bias from the bench.

Our senate matters everybody. They pick our judicial. You want people held accountable for their crimes? Vote for the senate that will ensure it.

Kyle is now talking about his straw purchase of the weapon he used to kill two and injure one.

Kyle knew he broke laws surrounding his possession of his rifle. And his application for possession was denied.

He’s being questioned about his legal agreement surrounding his possession of the gun. And how he broke that law in possessing it on the night of the killings.

Kyle is very familiar with gun laws in his state. That’s what prosecution is getting at. Kyle is openly admitting his knowledge of his states gun laws.

More interruption from the judge. The judge is claiming it’s irrelevant what the law IS. All that matters is what the defendant THOUGHT the law was.

“It’s not relevant except in this case. It’s complicated. I’ll instruct you at the end. Anything these people say isn’t relevant” judge says to the jury.

It gonna be a long shot getting a conviction passed this judge. His final instructions to the jury will at minimum cause confusion that results in a hung verdict. This case truly could go any way.

So much for the whole saint picture. His TikTok handle is Four Doors More Whores. Cool brah.

Kyle claims he was a member of the Antioch fire department. Through the cadet program. Prosecution presses any drip of truth about this statement. He brings up online school. Ask him why he went to school online and not in person. Was it about beating up a female student?

This is the first time Kyle has ever been questioned about his actions. It’s crazy that someone can kill two with an illegally obtained weapon and have a full year before being questioned about his actions.

Long list of awareness about the difference between using force to protect property and using force to protect life. Judge again stops the questioning. This judge is working overtime for the defense.

Judge is now screaming at the prosecution

Prosecution is being put on trial by the judge. He is YELLING at the States lawyers.

Fucking unreal.

This judge is a great example of the American justice system. If you’re white. Undeniable bias from the bench. This fucker is insane.

I think all of this is built on the attempt to keep Kyles prior violent record from the case.

If Kyle is found not guilty there is no retrial. Not sure how the prosecution can present a fair trial with this bench.
Jury returns to the courtroom after the WILDEST outburst from the judge.

Kyle is fucking STOKED.

Kyle drives around without a drivers license. Such a saint.

Prosecution needs a slam dunk or Kyle gets off. Defense put him up there for maybe 30-40 minutes. Got an emotional outburst, showed the jury his “humanity” and closed questioning. Prosecution hasn’t even gotten to the day of the event on hour into questioning.

Talking about how the day prior he told the car lot owners he would returned armed the following night. Clearly painting he was intending to protect property with deadly force.

Talking about when learning of the curfew, Kyle ignored it and decided to stay in Kenosha. Judge tried to intervene again. Subject changes. Talking about buying body armor in preparation for the night of being armed in Kenosha.

Kyle brought body armor to Kenosha and claims he always has it in the trunk of his car. Like all good saintly 17 year old boys. Buys rifle slings and carry’s body armor everywhere they go.

Bought the sling to assist him holding his AR15 when providing medical attention. He claims he carried the rifle because he wasn’t legally allowed to carry a pistol. He wasn’t legally allowed to carry either.

Talking about how the rifle used was just sitting around in a basement, fully loaded and chambered and that Kyle never needed to rack a round all night. It was just hot and ready waiting for action all night. All week. Since he last used the rifle.

Great gun practice y’all. Keepin a gun chambered is just fuckin insane.

Kyle knew the caliber was .223 and that they were full metal jacket. But he’s claiming ignorance on other gun knowledge. Prosecution is pointing toward the difference between hollow points and full metal jacket.

Kyle claims to not know much about ammo. Prosecution is hoping to point to the fact that.
Nope Judge calls lunch.

We’re back! Hope you enjoyed your Turkey sandwiches and straight white justice!

Defense lawyers arguing for a mistrial due to prosecutorial overreach.

Defense lawyers argue the prosecution is purposely aiming for a mistrial because the case is going badly. Asking the court to consider the prosecutions bad faith.
Oh my god. The judges phone just rang. His ring tone is that patriot freedom song.
God Bless the USA.
The Trump one.

Prosecution making the argument that the defendant has spoken to the media, but never told his story in a legal environment.

This is a political trial no ifs ands or butts about it.

Judge seems to be considering the states reasoning for bringing the questioning into evidence due to things Kyle said in a Washington post article.

Judge won’t allow the time Kyle hung with Proud Boys after the killings.

Yells at State attorney when he brings up that ruling. Clearly he knows it’s a shit box unpopular bias ruling.

State asks to bring up the shirt he wore after the killings that said Free as Fuck.
Argues the relevance. Applies to remorse. Judge rules…

Defense argues they didn’t have the opportunity to bring it up first. So it shouldn’t be allowed. And that four months after the events shouldn’t be considered evidence of his thinking the night of the incident.

Judge rules…

Judge says he struggles with why it’s relevant in the case. Why someone who killed two wearing a shirt that says Free as Fuck isn’t relevant.

State argues that decision making by the defendant is relevant to show repeated poor choices. That the night of the event occurred because of bad judgment. Judge rules…
Against allowing the evidence.

This is almost comically biased. This judge is gonna offer Kyle a job after this is over. Take him to a movie. I don’t see a conviction coming out of this.

There hasn’t been a shadow of emotion from Kyle since his breakdown. Even after telling the same story for over an hour. Hasn’t struggled once. Talking about the victims. Talking about all of it. Not any emotion.

Judge again tries to stop the line of questioning but ultimately allows it. History repeats itself so there’s probably gonna be an outburst from the judge when the state gets to the point of this questioning.

Judge interrupts to check if the temperature in the court is ok. Complains of a freeze. That’s your cold conservative heart your honor. That’s the chill you feel.

Kyle states that only the first victim showed him any aggression. State plays video that shows Kyle in an aggressive crowd prior to the shooting. Video that shows an older member of his group tell him to not engage with the crowd.

I think it’s the first Fuck Around And Find Out quote.
Surprised it took this long.

State shows video of Kyle just prior to the shooting.
Kyle claims to not know the interview was for right wing Daily Caller. I think I know where this is going.

“Why do you need the gun?”

“To protect myself from an attack.”

“Why did you think you would be attacked?”

“I didn’t.”

“Then why bring the gun?”

“I don’t understand. Why bring the gun if you didn’t consider the danger?”

My head hurts.

This is not a trial about whether a young boy can illegally carry a weapon into a crowd of unrest and kill two people with immunity.
It’s about whether civilian population has the legal room to arm up against civil unrest and act in a way our law enforcement agencies can not.

Kyle is looking to his attorneys to gage whether or not to answer certain questions. The state asks the judge to have him stop the nonverbal communication.

Video shows Kyle walking around shouting if anybody in the crowd needs medical.

Kyle walks up to a group of young black men and one of them accuses Kyle of pointing his rifle at them earlier in the night. Kyle admits on the tape that he did but denies the fact in the courtroom.
Claims he never pointed the rifle at the young black man in yellow pants.

Kyle claims he admitted that he pointed the rifle at him to avoid conflict. Not sure how admitting you pointed a gun at someone is a great way to avoid conflict.

State brings up the anger of the crowd due to having laser sights pointed at them. I think they are trying to prove Kyle knew there was the danger of violence, and went toward it instead of away from it.

State is painting the environment clearly showing that Kyle had plenty of opportunity to leave, in fact the crowd and danger had moved past his position, and instead of leaving or staying away from the violence, Kyle moved toward the aggressive crowd.

The dangers moved away. His job had been accomplished, police had pushed the threat away. Why didn’t he leave? Kyles only answer is to continue providing medical attention.

Why when he was separated from the older member of his group, and left alone in a hostile crowd, did he not retreat to a safe area. He stayed. He finds other militia members and gathers with them.
But he still claims there was no threat from the group he was afraid to be alone in

The most disturbing part of this trial is the video that shows gas was $2.09 a gallon last year.

State painting a picture that Kyle knew the crowd would be hostile when he approached the crowd and still ran right into the danger. Kyle refuses to acknowledge the clear facts of this.

Kyle keeps checking in with his lawyers. You can see a slight eye direction change toward their table every time he does.
Specifically when asked if he had the rifle for protection.

We are reaching the point of the story his emotional outburst last happened.

Thankfully Kyle is super young. If this was me at my age, I would’ve had to piss like 30 times by now.

Jury is excused while the state plays a video of the shooting. Not sure why. Seems like something the jury should see. A video of the first shooting..

Defense can’t pronounce “algorithms” . They are complaining about apple AI that doesn’t exist. Defense is asking to expel a video from testimony because the State wants to zoom into it to see it more clearly.

The argument is that pinching in and zooming on an image creates a picture that wouldn’t have existed to begin with.

Judge seems to agree that zooming into an image can change what was captured. Which is fucking ridiculous. State claims it’s common sense. Because they’re not idiots.

Judge says an expert is needed to allow the evidence. Because zooming into an image inserts more data into an image altering the pixels.
CAN WE GET AN EXPERT DAMNIT

The judge doesn’t believe that zooming in on an image is just magnifying the existing image, he says while holding an analog magnifying glass. Poor poor court stenographer. She’s askin them to slow down..

Judge takes a recess to clarify the authenticity of zooming in on an image. State asks to adjourn because the weight of evidence is vital. Judge gives him 20 minutes to find an expert to testify before showing a video AND PINCHING IN ON THE IMAGE TO HIGHLIGHT CERTAIN ELEMENTS.

Here is the clip of Trumps actual theme song playing on the judges flip phone after he forgot to turn the ringer off after recess

https://twitter.com/ronfilipkowski/status/1458521835151269893

Trial is back. Will they have an expert? And why were they all clapping?

Jury returns. State attorney seems as perplexed as us.

Watching the exhibit! Maybe they won’t be zooming in at all.

The video in question is drone footage of the first killing. They have slowed the video down 50% to no objection.

Video shows Kyle with his gun raised. Kyle claims to not see that.
Kyle moves closer to the screen to be able to see clearly.

Kyle claims he never raised his rifle when he arrived to the location of the first shooting.

State shows the video of the first killing. Kyle runs away, turns and raises his rife. Victim raises both arms. Kyle turns away and runs, then turns and shoots.

Video shows that the victim never touched Kyle and carried no weapons.

State shows that possession of the rifle was not in question because of the sling Kyle bought earlier that day.

No emotion from Kyle watching the murder.

Kyle looks across the jury pool between videos of the killing

State shows Kyle slowed down before turning to shoot. He then rounds the cars and returns to the body.

“I continued to fire until he was no longer a threat to me”

What was the risk to you?

If I would’ve let him take my firearm from me he would’ve killed me and other people.

State mentions the use of the purchased strap. And that it’s purpose is to keep the gun in the wearers possession.

Why did you point the gun with no intention of using it.

Kyle begins to break up a little bit as he defends himself.

Judge steps in again.

Do you understand how dangerous it is to point a gun and it puts someone in fear of being killed.
That it will make someone believe they are about to be killed.

Kyle won’t answer the question.

Judge allows the question.

Kyle claims the victim had the opportunity to leave the situation.
Defense steps in. Judge says it “seems argumentative”

State highlights it was intentional to point the gun at him.
Kyle keeps saying it didn’t stop the victim from chasing him.
He continued to shoot until he was no longer a thread to me.
State highlights Kyle with a medic bag, never gave the victim medical attention.

After spending all day highlighting Kyles drive to save lives, lifeguard, medic claims, nursing school, Kyle never gave the victim a medical check in the slightest.

Stop showing the killers mother.

On to the second shooting.

Nope. Same shooting different angle. Video shows a total of 8 shots. Kyle claims to have shot 4 times.

Video shows Kyle make a phone call and run from the growing crowd. State shows the crowd doesn’t turn onto Kyle until he starts to run away. That’s the first time anyone says “get him”. When he turns to run.

One thing is abundantly clear.
Kyle isn’t mature enough to handle an intimate relationship let alone a loaded ar15 and 30 rounds.

Next video shows Kyle running from the crowd and telling those asking him why he shot the victim and Kyle telling the crowd the victim had a gun. Victim did not have a gun.

Zero emotion from Kyle. He sits just staring into the court while they load the next video.

Next video shows Kyle tell someone “I didn’t shoot anyone” and claim he was going to the police.

State shows Kyle lied to a reporter earlier in the night that he was a medic.
State shows Kyle lied about the victim having a gun.
State shows Kyle lied about not shooting anyone.

Next video shows crowd chase Kyle and knock him to the ground as he tries to escape. One person hits hit on the back of the head.
One person runs up and tries to kick Kyle. Kyle shoots him twice. But he misses.

I didn’t know that Kyle tried to kill a fourth person and missed. Shot twice at close range and missed.

Kyle claims he doesn’t know if a shot from a .223 AR has a high likelihood of killing the person.

Now they play the video of the killing of the second victim. The victim has his skateboard up trying to use against Kyle.

They show the shooting of the third victim in frame by frame and it shows the victim shot in the arm never points the gun at Kyle.

Judge again stops the line of questioning when shit heats up. But then allows the question.

State highlighting that on the night of the incident Kyle was never worried that a gun was fired at him. He never once thought anyone shot at him. Kyle agrees. Kyle agrees no shots were fired toward him that night.

State now reaches the infamous point where Kyle walks calmly past the police line. Kyle never once offered medical attention to the people he shot. After his only mission that night claimed to give medical attention he not once offered any victim help.

Kyle claims if he saw someone shoot someone he wouldn’t intervene completely contradicting all his actions previously.

Judge says the crowd is important for some charges but then says it’s not important…this judge man..

Kyle claims he left to turn himself into police. Kyle claims he didn’t know that his identity was known between when he left and when he turned himself in. State seems to be suggesting he only turned himself in because he learned his identity was known. Testimony ends.

Defense needs a peepee because he’s an old ass man like myself. Kyle is done testifying. No redirect.
We all know the facts. And there’s video evidence. But does our justice system only work for a few, and is Kyle one of those few it works for? Tough to guess.
Could go either way

Deciding whether to swear in the next witness now or adjourn till tomorrow. Witness for defense traveled from Oregon to testify.

This judge is a piece of fucking work. He wants to take a vote whether to continue but then decide whatever the hell he wants to do. So vote but I’ll decide.

Seems as if it’s done for today. Judge can get his 5pm drink on.

The Judge seems to be leaning toward not allowing a photo of Rittenhouse pointing his rifle at the crowd prior to anyone chasing him because zooming into the image “alters the photo”
This is a photo that has been enhanced by the crime lab.

They have given the judge printed copies of the photos that he is using his magnifying glass to view. He asks to have them projected because he “can’t see anything at all”

The state is walking the judge through the video trying to show him the moments before the first shooting. It’s the first time I’ve been able to see the area Kyle is in. There’s about 50 or so people in the frame.

Judge says he will allow the video and the enhancement.

State says they have a witness that wants deny that an official from the Great Lakes Police gave Kyle a bullet proof vest. Kyle claimed his vest was a gift from the department, the state has a witness that denies that.

Defense has one more exhibit and will then rest. State calls a witness to the stand. The witness is the video software technician. Explaining what will (hopefully) be shown to the jury.

Witness explains all he did was sharpen the image, brighten the image, and enlarge it. And explains it’s all standard image enhancement. (Used by all law enforcement agencies)

Defense is arguing that by enlarging the image, pixels of Kyle pointing his gun at a nonthreatening crowd were created.

So they are arguing in the original image, Kyle is just walking around like a saint with a rifle, looking for people to provide medical attention to. If you enlarge that same image, in the enlargement process the computer algorithms make Kyle point his rifle at the crowd.