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Equality

Rittenhouse’s Winning Strategy Rested on Tear-Filled Testimony

  • His acquittal was driven by the definition of self-defense
  • Prosecution failed to show that he was the cause of violence
Kyle Rittenhouse breaks down on the stand as he testifies during his trial at the Kenosha County Courthouse on Nov. 10.

Kyle Rittenhouse breaks down on the stand as he testifies during his trial at the Kenosha County Courthouse on Nov. 10.

Photographer: Sean Krajacic/Pool/Getty Images

Lawyers for Kyle Rittenhouse, the teenager acquitted on all charges for having killed two people at a tumultuous Black Lives Matter protest in Wisconsin last year, say they knew his personal testimony would be key to his defense because they tested mock juries for it.

“We did two different juries, one with him testifying, one without, and he did substantially better” with the jury when he testified, said defense attorney Mark Richards. “That sealed it.”