Rittenhouse Trial: Judge Will ‘Likely’ Allow Police Officer-Related Video Defense Believes Helps Rittenhouse

Kenosha County Circuit Court Judge Bruce Schroeder said last week during pre-trial hearings for the Kyle Rittenhouse case that he will “likely” allow video the defense team believes helps bolster their client’s claims of self-defense.

The video in question apparently shows police officers on the night Rittenhouse fatally shot two rioters thanking armed citizens for helping protect Kenosha, Wisconsin. The defense team is arguing that the footage sheds light on their client’s state of mind, essentially that Rittenhouse was welcomed and thanked for his services by an overwhelmed police department.

“Judge says he will likely allow video from a witness that shows anonymous officers thanking armed civilians and giving Rittenhouse and others water moments before the deadly shootings, state said police activity wasn’t relevant, defense says it speaks to his state of mind,” WISN 12 News investigative reporter Hillary Mintz posted on Twitter.

Judge says he will likely allow video from a witness that shows anonymous officers thanking armed civilians and giving Rittenhouse and others water moments before the deadly shootings, state said police activity wasn’t relevant, defense says it speaks to his state of mind

— Hillary Mintz (@HILLARY_MINTZ) October 25, 2021

Last August, Kenosha was hit hard with arson, rioting, vandalism and looting by protesters over the police wounding of an armed man, Jacob Blake. The county suffered a reported $50 million in damages.

An armed Rittenhouse, then 17 years old, went to Kenosha on August 25, 2020, with the stated intent to protect small businesses. During an incident with rioters, the teen fatally shot two men and injured a third.

He was charged with two felony counts of homicide and one count of felony attempted homicide and is facing potential life in prison. In January, Rittenhouse pleaded not guilty.

Judge Schroeder during pre-trial last week told prosecutors they’re barred from referring to the men shot by Rittenhouse as “victims,” while the defense team was permitted to refer to them as “rioters” and “looters,” if they can provide evidence of such actions.

“He can demonize them if he wants, if he thinks it will win points with the jury,” the judge reportedly said. “The word victim is a loaded, loaded word,” Schroeder added, telling prosecution they can’t use the term “victim” to refer to those shot.

Such restrictions are not uncommon in self-defense cases, though the ruling did upset prosecution. The Hill reported:

Prosecutors were frustrated by Schroeder’s decision, arguing that he was creating a double standard by allowing Rittenhouse’s attorneys to disparage the men