Rittenhouse takes stand in own defense at murder trial

UPDATE: KENOSHA, Wisconsin — Kyle Rittenhouse took the stand in his murder trial, acknowledging he used deadly force when he shot three people during a protest against police brutality in Wisconsin year. But he said Wednesday that he didn't intend to kill anyone.

Rittenhouse killed Joseph Rosenbaum and Anthony Huber and wounded Gaige Grosskreutz during the protest in Kenosha in August 2020. He faces multiple charges, including homicide.

Rittenhouse contends the three men attacked him and he fired in self-defense. He testified Wednesday that he did what he had to do to protect himself.

Assistant District Attorney Thomas Binger accused him on cross-examination of wanting to kill the men. Rittenhouse denied that, saying he didn't intend to kill anyone and fired only to stop them as they attacked him.

ORIGINAL REPORT: KENOSHA, Wisconsin — The defense has called Kyle Rittenhouse to the stand at his trial on charges of killing two men and wounding a third during a night of turbulent protests in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

The former police youth cadet was 17 when he went to Kenosha during the summer of 2020 with an AR-style semi-automatic rifle and a medical kit in what he said was an effort to safeguard property from the damaging protests that broke out over the wounding of a Black man by a white Kenosha police officer.

Prosecutors used 5½ days of testimony to try to portray Rittenhouse as the aggressor on the night of the shootings. But the prosecution’s witnesses often bolstered the young man’s claim of self-defense.

Rittenhouse, now 18, could get life in prison if convicted of the most serious charge against him.