Rittenhouse Takes Stand, Reveals What Was Said to Him Moments Before Pulling Trigger
Kyle Rittenhouse took the stand to testify under oath on Wednesday regarding shootings that killed two men and wounded a third during a Black Lives Matter riot in Wisconsin, arguing his case for self-defense.
Rittenhouse passed on his opportunity to plead the Fifth Amendment, choosing instead to directly answer questions from the prosecution’s attorneys.
[Warning: Graphic language throughout court transcripts.]
“Friction between your group and others?” attorney Mark Richards asked Rittenhouse.
“Rosenbaum threatened to kill me twice,” Rittenhouse replied.
Richards: Friction between your group and others?
Rosenbaum threatened to kill me twice.
Ever seen him before, done anything to upset him?
No, no.
— Law of Self Defense (@LawSelfDefense) November 10, 2021
Rittenhouse was also asked by Richards about other details in the shooting.
“Describe first time threatened to kill you?” Richards asked.
“Me and Balch, Rosenbaum walking with steel chain, had blue mask around face, just mad about something, me and Balch asking if anyone needs medic, he screams if I catch any of you fuckers alone I will fucking kill you,” Rittenhouse answered.
Richards: Describe first time threatened to kill you?
Me and Balch, Rosenbaum walking with steel chain, had blue mask around face, just mad about something, me and Balch asking if anyone needs medic, he screams if I catch any of you fuckers alone I will fucking kill you.
— Law of Self Defense (@LawSelfDefense) November 10, 2021
The second threat outside of Car Source added additional concerning words.
“Second threat outside Car Source, not sure to me but I heard it, said to Joann Fiedler, another guy, Collete, I’m going to cut your fucking hearts out, kill you N-words,” Rittenhouse said.
Kyle: Second threat outside Car Source, not sure to me but I heard it, said to Joann Fiedler, another guy, Collete, I’m going to cut your fucking hearts out, kill you N-words.
— Law of Self Defense (@LawSelfDefense) November 10, 2021
Reporter Corri Hess of Wisconsin Public Radio also shared information from the court transcripts on Twitter.
At one point, the court took a 10-minute break as Rittenhouse broke down in tears.
Rittenhouse breaks down crying on the stand, describing his fatal encounter with Rosenbaum. The court is taking a 10 minute break.
— Corri Hess (@CorriHess) November 10, 2021
“When asked if he had any confrontation with protesters, Rittenhouse said: ‘The only type of stuff that happened was the person who tried to kill me threatened to kill me twice.’ Referring to Joseph Rosenbaum, the first man he killed,” she tweeted.
When asked if he had any confrontation with protesters, Rittenhouse said: “The only type of stuff that happened was the person who tried to kill me threatened to kill me twice.” Referring to Joseph Rosenbaum, the first man he killed.
— Corri Hess (@CorriHess) November 10, 2021
This is a breaking story. Updates may be added.
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