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No, of course not: I have tried many cases myself.

The DA was almost certainly caught off guard: too bad for him.

The kid's testimony on direct exam was the result of "the best money can buy."

Had he been a black teen in Detroit accused of double murder and assault I can assure you he would not have been nearly as ... smooth.

Quote: missedhervee

FWIW I have mixed feelings about what he did: he missed one.

I do as well. He didn't need to put himself in that position.
If he goes to Kenosha, he should have picked a Car Source location and stayed on property all night.
The wandering around amongst the rioters asking if anyone needed medical help was not smart.
He isn't a certified EMT, he didn't even offer up any "stop the bleed" type training he had taken.
His EMT skills consisted of Glorified Gauze dispenser.
He mentioned "airways" (clearing them I suppose) in response to what he did as a Antioch FD Cadet.
He carried no non-lethal weapons that night, huge mistake in my opinion.
Rosenbaum's actions chasing Kyle were the perfect scenario for a hose down with OC Spray @ the 10' range.
The resulting pain for Rosenbaum gives Kyle a chance to run off to the safety of numbers at another location.
Instead he shoots Rosenbaum as he lunges for his rifle & that brings the wrath of the crowd and the dominos fall.
It's clearly all self defense post Rosenbaum.
You get to use deadly force when deadly force is used against you. Even if your form of deadly force seems larger.
Foot stomping someone's head on the ground with a shod foot is considered the use of deadly force.
Swinging a skateboard at someone's head is considered use of deadly force.
Rushing someone with a pistol in hand and pointing it at them is use of deadly force.
So "Jumping Hoody Guy", "Skateboard Dude" & "Pulverized Bicept Recipient" all deserved rounds down range aimed at them.
The only question in my mind is if the jury believes Rosenbaum's threats & that he attempted to take Kyle's gun.
Rosenbaum chased Kyle a long way and eventually grabbed the rifle, why would he do that if he didn't want to take if from Kyle?
Of course juries are unpredictable, but unlike the Chauvin Case, the DA was horrible in this one.
I think he walks from all serious charges & based on Jury Instruction arguments Friday, he may get off on the gun charge as well.

Quote: missedhervee

Perhaps the DA screwed up his cross examination because he never dreamed the kid would take the stand: oops.

In the self defense legal world, there are plenty of defense attorneys that will recommend their accused client's take the stand.
I think these cases are a little different because you are essentially stipulating that you fired the gun and shot the guy intentionally.
You are arguing an Affirmative Defense in that despite the fact you shot the guy, you were justified in doing it.
Part of that is your state of mind at the time, your decision making process, why you did what you did.
No one but you can tell that story with accuracy. Your defense relies on the jury believing your story.
If you can't articulate why you pulled the trigger & the circumstances justified you pulling the trigger, you're cooked anyway.

Good points.

How then to otherwise explain the DA's ineptitude?

This is tougher nut to crack.
I think politically they had to prosecute a really bad case when it came to facts.
They couldn't let Kyle walk on a minor gun charge, but the reality is the facts don't support a conviction.
So maybe they did the best they could with a case that simply sucked.
Of course now that I said that the Jury will find Kyle guilty on all counts :-)

Quote: missedhervee

Good points.

How then to otherwise explain the DA's ineptitude?

I like how the media never mentions that all the victims were white. Ask the average person on the street and he will say at least one of the victims was black. That's what the media wants you to think. There's going to be all these riots if Kyle gets off because so many people think the victims were black. If they had been black the media would mention this in every single broadcast. But because they were not they never mention race at all. Just another form of playing the race card.

I have long felt that it should be open season on antifa and their ilk, no bag limit.

The damage, the insult, they've caused beautiful Portland is beyond the Pale.

Were I on the jury I'd vote to acquit Rittenhouse; to paraphrase that infamous Texas trial attorney, Racehorse Haynes: "Those SOB's needed killing."

There's the law, and then there's what's right.

Quote: Evenbob

I like how the media never mentions that all the victims were white. Ask the average person on the street and he will say at least one of the victims was black. That's what the media wants you to think. There's going to be all these riots if Kyle gets off because so many people think the victims were black. If they had been black the media would mention this in every single broadcast. But because they were not they never mention race at all. Just another form of playing the race card.

Mention it? They would have their pictures up every time. The same media who said showing Willie Horton's pic being racist (and I never understood why it was) would have the pics up at every story.

I watched nearly the entire trial live.

Kyle will be found not guilty, except the weapons charge.

I also think there is a possibility the DA might lose his job over this.

Quote: missedhervee

The damage, the insult, they've caused beautiful Portland is beyond the Pale.
.

I didn't see any riot damage
I was on my bike
So
I was able to check out a lot of neighborhoods. I covered a ton of territory. I even talked to Muslims
I noticed no riot damage
In fact, it looked just like any other city I have visited
Maybe you should have let me know exactly where to go to see damage beyond the pale.