I am really upset with the prosecutor in KR's trial

[DVRacer]

I’m a victim of domestic violence from my ex wife and it went on for years. We divorced over 10 years ago and I was immediately transported back watching closing statements. “Everyone takes a beating sometimes” if any jurors have experience with DV it probably sounded the same to them. This also makes the case for the defense that KR according to the prosecutor was about to take a beating.

[hlthe2b]

1. I'm deeply sorry for your experience and your lingering trauma. It is heart-breaking to read.

There is a difference, though as I doubt you intentionally traveled to the locale of your abuser and came prepared to provoke them with a loaded AR15 in their face. That is a necessary element for the prosecutor to get across to disprove the self-defense argument if they are to have any chance of convicting this little sociopath and to send a major message about vigilantism--something I know you appreciate as a priority.

There are some things I won't watch to preserve my own well-being. Most of this trial has been one of those. I hope you might as well.

[DVRacer]

8. It was like a time machine

Saint Patrick’s day 2011 she came home drunk with her boyfriend to our home. I was still bed ridden from spinal cord surgery only able to walk short distances. He stood in the living room as she screamed at me to get up and go sleep in our boys room because she needed the bed. Then she began punching me in the face. I rolled over with my phone calling 911 then she was punching my back. By the time the police showed up they took her away in handcuffs. This was in front of my 5,11 and 13 year old boys. The charges were later dropped by the DA because she said I must have done something to provoke it.

So a DA saying “everyone takes a beating sometimes” yeah that was a trigger.

My reason for watching the trial closely is I live in Oklahoma and we have even more relaxed laws about self defense (concerning to me) and just about anything can be stand your ground. After watching it all I still believe KR should have stayed home but legally he probably won’t be found guilty of anything. The prosecutors are one of the biggest reasons.

[lark]

2. The whole thing is such a kangaroo court, I can't watch.

i feel like rw murder is being tried and will be approved, and Democrats can now be killed (raped) with impunity for any reason, anytime, by white, right wing, straight males and the killers walk.

[walkingman]

6. I think you have a very legitimate reason to be concerned. I think it might even

go far beyond your worries. It feels like we are in the '64-'68 era again but this time with no fear by those who have these beliefs. I hope I am wrong but it gets weirder and weirder every single day.

[Amishman]

3. wait, he really said that? I saw a reference to that earlier and assumed it was BS

Seriously, what the heck?!?

[Sympthsical]

11. He said that and more

I couldn't believe that was his rebuttal.

It isn't too long, so if you have a chance, try to watch some of it.

It's . . . something.

The other prosecutor actually did a pretty good job. Then this prosecutor came up and lit a match.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

4. So sorry to hear what you had to go through... can't imagine your torment.

[Dr. Strange]

5. I understand, but that's the argument the prosecution HAS to make.

Rosenbaum is chasing Rittenhouse with what appears to be the intent of attacking/killing him. The two options are: Rittenhouse defends himself with lethal force or Rittenhouse lets Rosenbaum beat him up.

If the prosecution wants to argue that Rittenhouse should not defend himself, then (if they're being honest) they have to own up to their conclusion: Rittenhouse has to submit to the beating. If they want to argue that Rittenhouse has a right not to be beaten, then they have to admit that he has a right to self defense.

[consider_this]

22. I think the point was...

there are other ways to defend against a person with no weapon - he could engage physically (hell, in my mind, he could use the gun as bat too)- rather than use lethal force.
Somebody said - you don't bring a gun to a fist fight. (IMO, if he had it with him, doesn't mean he has to shoot it. That is where he made a fatally stupid error.) They showed video of groups of others with the same weapons confronting the same guy Rosenbaum - none of them shot - they just pushed each other around).

[Devil Child]

7. In addition to "everyone take a beating sometimes"

The prosecution also claimed the beating wouldn't be lethal as rosenbaum was just a "little guy" all bark and no bite. Quite an eyebrow raising closing argument by the prosecution.

Sorry to hear of the memories being dredged up.

No one should "take a beating" sometime or anytime.

[uponit7771]

12. If this is the rebuttal DA I've heard he was a train wreck.

[Devil Child]

15. It was part of rebuttal, initial close by Binger was stronger

The other prosecutor(can't recall his name) lost his temper, yelled at jury, introduced the statement referenced in the OP.

Binger, was claiming rosenbaum wasn't a threat due to his 5'3" height. Called him little barking dog and "all bark no bite."

I agree with you that the DA made some missteps in the closing. It was strange to watch.

[xmas74]

9. In this case they're arguing the justification

He purposely put himself into a scenario where there was the distinct possibility of violence. Compared to a DV survivor or victim he could have chosen to not put himself in that situation with no adverse consequences.

Removing a person from DV can get sticky, to say the least. Things can escalate. KR's situation never had any of these issues. He could have chosen to stay home with absolutely no negative consequences.

Basically, KR was that mouthy kid in school who thought everyone would put up with his nonsense. Eventually someone retaliated and now KR claims he was innocent, a victim who did nothing wrong and was just defending himself.

[uponit7771]

13. Some people are claiming "reasonable means to escape death" is shooting at unarmed people while

... running away.

KR could've just kept running and not turn around at all

[xmas74]

16. Exactly

I'm disgusted at how many here are defending the actions of a bully caught on tape. Just two weeks earlier near Kenosha Harbor he was recorded whaling a young woman in a restaurant parking lot. His former classmates also stated he was voted Most Likely to be a School Shooter.

Honestly, he could have blended into the crowd and walked away without a single shot.

[Dial H For Hero]

17. I would point out that saying that his actions meet the legal standard of self defense in WI and

saying that his actions were right and proper are two very different things.

I have yet to see anyone here cheering him on, as some have asserted.

[xmas74]

18. Then you haven't looked in the right places. Nt

[Dial H For Hero]

19. Could you provide a few links, then?

[BlackSkimmer]

21. Is there a video of that?

I hadn’t heard he was a woman beater too. Though I suspect most women could kick his flabby ass.

[tulipsandroses]

10. If I am not mistaken, closing arguments talked about how much force he could use for self defense

I did not hear those specific words you cited. I had to cut it off to go back to work. What I heard him talk about was what could Rittenhouse do and claim it was self defense. He talked about Rittenhouse provoking the situation. Then mentioned that he used more force than would be legal. To better explain that concept, he compared it to a bar fight.
I actually thought the closing argument was well done. He referenced that one person had a plastic bag, one person had a skateboard, one person had his hands. Rittenhouse had an AR 15.
Sorry for what happened to you but I believe the prosecutor was trying to paint the picture of what happens in fighting.As in a bar fight as he mentioned. And link it to whether this was self defense.

[uponit7771]

14. There was a rebuttal DA who I heard was a train wreck

[PDT69]

20. People need to keep their hands to themselves.

Always!

Nobody should ever "take a beating".

[LetMyPeopleVote]

23. It sounds like the Prosecution had a good closing

Link to tweet

Speaking with CNN's John Berman on Tuesday morning, two legal experts expressed surprise at the strong closing argument presented by the prosecutor in the Kyle Rittenhouse case and said the jury may not let the young man who pleaded self-defense after killing two BLM protesters off the hook.

With the jury to be winnowed down from 18 to 12 via a lottery on Tuesday, Brooklyn Law School Assistant Professor Alexis Hoag told the "New Day" host: "The prosecution really delivered."

"I think they used the weekend well to bring their narrative together," Hoag continued. "What they did was deliver a compelling story arc, that's what jurors want to hear. They want the evidence, they want the witnesses to make some sort of sense."

"Their overarching narrative was you had this person coming in from outside, not defending their own property, not defending their own family, nor their home, bringing a gun, looking for a fight," she continued. "Then they peppered it with the highlights of evidence jurors saw, reinforcing repeatedly their storyline and the story arc. We saw the drone footage. We saw it when Rittenhouse shot, initially, Mr. Rosenbaum. He was on the ground, he wasn't lunging or attacking. Of course, that was the defense's characterization, so the prosecution actually really delivered."