Kyle Rittenhouse asks for self-defense expert to testify at trial

Kyle Rittenhouse, the Illinois teenager accused of fatally shooting two protesters in Kenosha, Wis., is expected to request permission on Tuesday for an expert self-defense witness to testify at his trial next month.

Rittenhouse’s lawyers will attempt to convince jurors that the teen was attempting to prevent his own death or injury when he shot three people last year, killing two. His murder trial is scheduled for Nov. 1, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Rittenhouse was 17 at the time of the shooting, which took place during an August 2020 protest that followed the police shooting of Jacob Blake, a 29-year-old Black man.

Last month, defense attorneys claimed without evidence that Joseph Rosenbaum, one of the individuals killed by Rittenhouse, had chased Rittenhouse and attempted to steal his rifle because, as a recently institutionalized convicted sex offender, Rosenbaum could not legally purchase a firearm.

Rittenhouse then tripped and fell and shot two more people — Anthony Huber, who died, and Gaige Grosskreutz, who survived a gunshot wound to his arm — who also tried to take his gun while he was on the ground, his attorneys said.

John Black, who defense attorneys say is their expert witness, will attempt to explain Rittenhouse’s actions, according to the Tribune.

Circuit Judge Bruce Schroeder said at a pretrial hearing in September that Black’s testimony could be limited since it’s the judge’s responsibility to ensure the jury understands the law, the Tribune reported.

“When it comes to use of force, I am the expert,” Schroeder said. “I’m the only one who is going to be defining what is reasonable under the law, what constitutes self-defense. I’m not going to have competition in the courtroom.”

Tuesday’s hearing will discuss allowing Black’s testimony, as Schroeder acknowledged that the expert could explain the teen’s handling of the rifle  or reaction times, the Tribune reported.

Rittenhouse used an AR-15-style rifle in the shooting despite not being old enough to openly carry a gun.