Rittenhouse Jury Continues Deliberations As Mistrial Looms

KENOSHA, WISCONSIN – NOVEMBER 17: Kyle Rittenhouse seems again as attorneys talk about gadgets within the movement for mistrial introduced by his protection throughout his trial on the Kenosha County Courthouse on November 17, 2021 in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Rittenhouse is accused of taking pictures three demonstrators, killing two of them, throughout an evening of unrest that erupted in Kenosha after a police officer shot Jacob Blake seven occasions within the again whereas being arrested in August 2020. Rittenhouse, from Antioch, Illinois, was 17 on the time of the taking pictures and armed with an assault rifle. He faces counts of felony murder and felony tried murder. (Photo by Sean Krajacic – Pool/Getty Images)

The 12-member jury sitting in judgment of Kyle Rittenhouse concluded its second full day of deliberations Wednesday, Nov. 17, with out a verdict. Somehow, the courtroom had simply as a lot drama as a full day of trial. Prosecutors admitted to sending the protection a low-quality copy of drone footage as an alternative of the HD model they possessed. This revelation prompted the protection to file one other petition for a mistrial, together with one that might enable the state to retry Rittenhouse.

Jurors have thus far requested for written copies of jury directions and entry to numerous movies introduced as proof within the trial. These normal queries are made public, however nearly nothing else is relating to the jury deliberations. The jury of seven males and 5 girls have been charged with saying a verdict on Monday night and have been at it throughout common enterprise hours ever since.

With Prejudice

Previously, the protection requested Kenosha Circuit Court Judge Bruce Schroeder for a mistrial with prejudice to treatment the assorted misdeeds by the prosecution. Lead prosecutor Thomas Binger trampled on Rittenhouse’s Fifth Amendment rights, as an illustration, when he derogatorily referred to the defendant maintaining silent earlier than trial. Binger was cross-examining Mr. Rittenhouse on the time, and the decide stopped the trial to inform him: “It better not happen again.” Shortly thereafter, Binger referenced proof the decide stated he would exclude. That prompted a full dressing down by Schroeder, who responded to Binger’s protestations of fine religion by saying, “I don’t believe you.”

The protection requested for a mistrial “with prejudice,” a ruling that might forbid the state from prosecuting Rittenhouse sooner or later if granted. It got here with no value to protection as a result of they’d undergo no penalty of a retrial if granted. Now the protection has filed an extra mistrial request, this time with out the unfairness requirement. The transfer broadcasts simply how a lot harm to Rittenhouse the protection believes the prosecutorial lies or ineptitude has carried out.

Waiting For Judgement

That first mistrial petition remains to be earlier than the decide, who has not but dominated on the request. On Wednesday afternoon, it was revealed that the prosecution offered the protection with a small, grainy copy of the drone footage of the incident. Meanwhile, the prosecutors possessed a a lot greater high quality model, which they used. The protection crew argued the video was the “linchpin” to the federal government’s case, and it was inconceivable that they wouldn’t present the protection with the identical high quality model. The rights of defendants to the disclosure of all of the proof towards them is a long-standing proper ensconced in Constitutional regulation since 1963.

Milwaukee protection legal professional and former prosecutor Julius Kim informed AP of the brand new movement requested with out prejudice: “They are essentially saying, ‘We just kind of want a new trial at this point, no matter what.’” Judge Schroeder met with the trial legal professionals to debate the revelation and acknowledged that he would handle the mistrial petitions after the jurors accomplished their work. If Rittenhouse is acquitted, the motions can be made moot. Jurors are resulting from report Thursday morning in Kenosha at 9 a.m. native time to renew their deliberations.

~ Read extra from Scott D. Cosenza.