Kyle Rittenhouse, teenager accused of murders during the demonstration of Jacob Blake, sentenced to trial

Kyle Rittenhouse – the 17-year-old accused of killing two people during protests in Kenosha, Wisconsin after the shooting of Jacob Blake – will stand trial on manslaughter and other crimes, a court commissioner said Thursday.

In a preliminary hearing at the Kenosha County Circuit Court, held by video link, Commissioner Loren Keating ruled that there was sufficient evidence to send Rittenhouse to trial for the murders of Joseph Rosenbaum , 36, and Anthony Huber, 26, on August 25.

Rittenhouse also faces charges of possession of a dangerous weapon when she was under the age of 18 and attempted homicide for injuring a third man, Gaige Grosskreutz.

Lawyers for Rittenhouse have argued the teenager, who has been praised by right-wing commentators and sympathetically greeted by the Trump administration, acted in self-defense when he opened fire.

But Keating said those arguments were matters for the trial – not a preliminary hearing. Lawyers for the teenager also asked Keating to dismiss two counts, including possession of a dangerous weapon, but the commissioner refused, saying it was also a matter of trial.

Rittenhouse, of Antioch, Ill., Was released on a $ 2 million bond last month, money mostly raised by Conservatives through a legal defense fund, the Associated Press reported.

When racial justice protesters took to the streets after Blake’s murder on August 23, authorities said Rittenhouse traveled to Wisconsin to protect a car dealership from looting. Armed with a Smith & Wesson M&P 15 rifle, he is said to have killed Rosenbaum after he threw a plastic bag at Rittenhouse – and missed it – and then attempted to pull the rifle away.

In the video of the chaotic aftermath of the incident, people in the crowd can be heard shouting “grab him” and “beat him. As Rittenhouse was running down the street he tripped and fell. Huber had him. hit with his skateboard and tried to grab the rifle.Rittenhouse opened fire, killing Huber and injuring Grosskreutz, who had a handgun.

An indictment is scheduled for January 5.