The three men that Kyle Rittenhouse shot during a protest in Wisconsin can be labeled as rioters, looters, or arsonists if the teenager's defense team has evidence to support the characterizations, but not victims, the judge ruled in his murder trial this week.
Kenosha County Judge Bruce Schroeder set the ground rules for the trial, which is expected to begin on Nov. 1. The labeling of those shot was not the only precedent set by the judge, NBC News reported.
The Assistant District Attorney, Thomas Binger, had asked the judge to prohibit the defense from referring to the men shot by any derogatory terms.
However, Schroeder has a long-standing policy that prohibits using the word "victim" in his criminal trials until conviction. The judge cited the word is "loaded" with prejudgement.
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To this, Binger said the words "rioters," "looters," and "arsonists" are "loaded, if not more loaded," than "victim," NBC News reported.
"You've not let me call someone a victim when it was proven," he told Schroeder.
Binger said the three men's actions before they were shot have nothing to do with their confrontations with Rittenhouse and his choice to shoot at them. He continued that Rittenhouse had not seen them do anything before he opened fire.
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During the protest in Kenosha over the shooting of Jacob Blake by a police officer, Rittenhouse, 18, fatally shot Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, and Anthony Huber, 26, while wounding Gaige Grosskreutz.
Rittenhouse has been charged with homicide and attempted homicide, to which he has pleaded not guilty on all charges. He is also free on bond.
Rittenhouse was 17 when he used the semiautomatic rifle that resembles the AR-15 at the protest.
He said that when he went to the demonstrations on Aug. 25, 2020, he was trying to help protect businesses from looters. He claimed he was attacked, so he acted in self-defense.
Barring any changes, the trial will begin on Monday, Nov. 1.
