jimnyc
11-15-2021, 05:21 PM
I would vote not guilty and wouldn't be reluctant in the slightest bit. Nor any lesser charges as I just don't see any of them applying or sticking.
And yes, the evidence is the evidence - and it all shows people going after him and him defending his life. This one even says that it is "clear" that he was fearing for his safety, and yet feels it may not be justified? I disagree.
A proper verdict but unjust? There was a lot "wrong" with the entire way this entire thing came about for Kyle, but that's all semantics in the end. What matters is, carrying a weapon or not, he was in fact attacked and chased by a mob. He shot to defend his life. That's really all that matters as per the law.
Do I think this happens if he applies common sense and never goes? Nope. There was a ton wrong here. Plenty of stupid decisions by Kyle to get him into that area. The entire mob, any antifa there as well, also aren't applying common sense. Out again protesting and confronting people. And then chasing a guy with a weapon. Lots and lots of stupid decisions made here. But IMO, in the end, it's those final decisions that matter the most.
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Acquitting Rittenhouse in Kenosha murder case would be the correct, if unjust, verdict
Before, I could see Kyle Rittenhouse being found not guilty. Now, having seen the rest of the evidence, I’d be shocked if he’s convicted of anything more than a weapons charge.
Lawyers are scheduled to deliver their closing arguments Monday in the Kyle Rittenhouse trial, and then the case will go to the jury.
If I were a member of that jury, I expect I would reluctantly vote to acquit Rittenhouse of the most serious homicide charges based on the evidence that he was acting in self-defense when he shot three people in Kenosha in August 2020.
That’s without the benefit yet of hearing those closing arguments. Prosecutors might still be able to pull together their case in a more compelling manner than they have managed so far.
And it’s also without knowing the jury instructions about the applicable law, which possibly could leave room for a compromise verdict on a lesser charge that would reflect the truth — which is that Rittenhouse was hardly faultless when he shot two people to death and very nearly killed two more.
But the evidence is the evidence, and I don’t expect the legal instructions to significantly change the outcome.
In the moments before he pulled the trigger, it’s pretty clear Rittenhouse had valid reasons to fear for his safety — first from a mentally unhinged man chasing him with full knowledge that he was carrying an AR-15 rifle and later from what he perceived as a mob violently attacking him to avenge the first shooting.
The mob’s motives — such as stopping an active shooter who was running away to bring him to justice — might offer a justification for their actions.
But it doesn’t nullify Rittenhouse’s own perception of events and the actions he took to defend himself.
After seeing the rest of the evidence this past week, let me take it a step further. I will be shocked if he’s convicted of anything more than underage possession of a dangerous weapon.
As someone who has made no secret of his predisposition against Rittenhouse and those of his ilk who would hold him up as some sort of hero, I thought I ought to put that opinion out there before people start reacting to a possible verdict they don’t understand.
I’ve watched the entire trial on television, which is not quite as good as being in the courtroom, but I don’t think I’ve missed much.
I saw Rittenhouse crying on the witness stand. I wasn’t sympathetic, but I found it genuine. I’m sure Rittenhouse feels very badly — for himself.
Even though I think an acquittal would be a proper verdict, I’d still come away from the Rittenhouse trial believing that to be an unjust result.
It was Rittenhouse’s reckless foolishness as a 17-year-old who chose to play volunteer lawman amidst a hostile crowd while toting an AR-15 rifle — a gun he was too young to own — that ultimately is the cause of getting those people killed.
But nobody foresaw the need to create a law covering underage vigilantism, and, as a result, an acquittal would result in his trial sending a message that his actions were OK.
Rittenhouse would then be allowed to go through the rest of his life believing exactly what he said on the witness stand: “I didn’t do anything wrong. I defended myself.”
Rest - https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2021/11/12/22778778/kenosha-shooter-kyle-rittenhouse-murder-trial-self-defense-verdict-prediction
And yes, the evidence is the evidence - and it all shows people going after him and him defending his life. This one even says that it is "clear" that he was fearing for his safety, and yet feels it may not be justified? I disagree.
A proper verdict but unjust? There was a lot "wrong" with the entire way this entire thing came about for Kyle, but that's all semantics in the end. What matters is, carrying a weapon or not, he was in fact attacked and chased by a mob. He shot to defend his life. That's really all that matters as per the law.
Do I think this happens if he applies common sense and never goes? Nope. There was a ton wrong here. Plenty of stupid decisions by Kyle to get him into that area. The entire mob, any antifa there as well, also aren't applying common sense. Out again protesting and confronting people. And then chasing a guy with a weapon. Lots and lots of stupid decisions made here. But IMO, in the end, it's those final decisions that matter the most.
---
Acquitting Rittenhouse in Kenosha murder case would be the correct, if unjust, verdict
Before, I could see Kyle Rittenhouse being found not guilty. Now, having seen the rest of the evidence, I’d be shocked if he’s convicted of anything more than a weapons charge.
Lawyers are scheduled to deliver their closing arguments Monday in the Kyle Rittenhouse trial, and then the case will go to the jury.
If I were a member of that jury, I expect I would reluctantly vote to acquit Rittenhouse of the most serious homicide charges based on the evidence that he was acting in self-defense when he shot three people in Kenosha in August 2020.
That’s without the benefit yet of hearing those closing arguments. Prosecutors might still be able to pull together their case in a more compelling manner than they have managed so far.
And it’s also without knowing the jury instructions about the applicable law, which possibly could leave room for a compromise verdict on a lesser charge that would reflect the truth — which is that Rittenhouse was hardly faultless when he shot two people to death and very nearly killed two more.
But the evidence is the evidence, and I don’t expect the legal instructions to significantly change the outcome.
In the moments before he pulled the trigger, it’s pretty clear Rittenhouse had valid reasons to fear for his safety — first from a mentally unhinged man chasing him with full knowledge that he was carrying an AR-15 rifle and later from what he perceived as a mob violently attacking him to avenge the first shooting.
The mob’s motives — such as stopping an active shooter who was running away to bring him to justice — might offer a justification for their actions.
But it doesn’t nullify Rittenhouse’s own perception of events and the actions he took to defend himself.
After seeing the rest of the evidence this past week, let me take it a step further. I will be shocked if he’s convicted of anything more than underage possession of a dangerous weapon.
As someone who has made no secret of his predisposition against Rittenhouse and those of his ilk who would hold him up as some sort of hero, I thought I ought to put that opinion out there before people start reacting to a possible verdict they don’t understand.
I’ve watched the entire trial on television, which is not quite as good as being in the courtroom, but I don’t think I’ve missed much.
I saw Rittenhouse crying on the witness stand. I wasn’t sympathetic, but I found it genuine. I’m sure Rittenhouse feels very badly — for himself.
Even though I think an acquittal would be a proper verdict, I’d still come away from the Rittenhouse trial believing that to be an unjust result.
It was Rittenhouse’s reckless foolishness as a 17-year-old who chose to play volunteer lawman amidst a hostile crowd while toting an AR-15 rifle — a gun he was too young to own — that ultimately is the cause of getting those people killed.
But nobody foresaw the need to create a law covering underage vigilantism, and, as a result, an acquittal would result in his trial sending a message that his actions were OK.
Rittenhouse would then be allowed to go through the rest of his life believing exactly what he said on the witness stand: “I didn’t do anything wrong. I defended myself.”
Rest - https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2021/11/12/22778778/kenosha-shooter-kyle-rittenhouse-murder-trial-self-defense-verdict-prediction