Nathan Layne

KENOSHA (Wis.) – On Tuesday, the prosecution in Kyle Rittenhouse’s murder trial said that they were done calling witnesses following days of testimony in the highly publicized self-defense case which has divided America.

Rittenhouse (age 18) was charged with the murders of two men as well as attempting death Gaige Grosskreutz. Rittenhouse was arrested during protests for racial equality on Aug. 25, 2020 in Kenosha. There, police shot and injured Jacob Blake, an African man.

Rittenhouse faces life imprisonment if convicted. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges and said that he acted in self defense in the shootings which injured Grosskreutz, killed Joseph Rosenbaum (36), and Anthony Huber (26). Rittenhouse’s lawyer stated in court that Rittenhouse would stand trial in his defense.

This case represents the highest-profile civil self-defense trial since George Zimmerman, who was acquitted of the murder of Trayvon Martin (an unarmed Black teenage) in 2013.

Rittenhouse is a hero for conservatives who believe unrestricted gun rights. They see Rittenhouse’s shootings as justifiable during Kenosha’s chaos. Many on the Left see Rittenhouse as an example of gun culture gone wild.