Trial of a young American who killed two anti-racist protesters: room for the jury

In a tense climate, the prosecution and the defense completed Monday, November 15 their presentations at the trial of Kyle Rittenhouse, a young white American who killed two people on the sidelines of anti-racist protests in 2020. The jury, responsible for saying whether the youngster man is guilty of murder or if he acted in self-defense, will begin deliberations Tuesday morning.

In anticipation of a verdict that could create further unrest in Kenosha, a town in the Great Lakes region, the governor of Wisconsin has asked 500 National Guard troops to stand by.

To read also Trump in campaign in the blaze of Kenosha

During their last pass, the prosecution and the defense accused each other of bad faith in this case, emblematic of America's fractures over guns and the anti-racist movement Black Lives Matter (black lives matter. ). The drama is in fact part of the immense mobilization against racism and police violence in the summer of 2020. On August 23, Kenosha was set ablaze in turn because a white policeman had seriously injured a young African American, Jacob Blake. On the third night of the riots, Kyle Rittenhouse, then 17, had gone with an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle through the streets of the city and joined armed men who had come to

businesses.

Under confused circumstances, he opened fire, killing two and injuring one.

"Tourist of chaos"

The accused was

who

and

,

pleaded Monday prosecutor Thomas Binger.

pointing his gun at the crowd, he told the jurors.

Thomas Binger said again. To support his remarks, the prosecutor, in a theatrical gesture, himself put the assembly in play with the murder weapon.

, retorted the lawyer of the young man, Me Mark Richards, denouncing

prosecutions

.

Read alsoTwo anti-racist protesters killed in Kenosha: the trial opens in the United States

At the end of the day, Judge Bruce Schroeder called on jurors not to base their decision on their

.

he added.