A Wisconsin jury on Friday acquitted US teenager Kyle Rittenhouse of all charges in a trial that highlighted divisions over gun rights and stirred fierce debate about the boundaries of self-defence in the US.
The jury found Mr Rittenhouse not guilty on charges including two counts of homicide for the deaths of two people, one count of attempted homicide for wounding a third man and two counts of recklessly endangering public safety during racial justice protests marred by arson, rioting and looting in Kenosha, Wisconsin, last year.
Mr Rittenhouse, dressed in a dark blue suit, stood and cried as the verdict was read before collapsing.
The jury, composed of seven women and five men, had deliberated for about 24 hours over the course of four days.
Defence lawyer Mark Richards said that Mr Rittenhouse immediately left the courthouse following the verdict to return home.
Mr Richards was asked about the defence's strategy to put Mr Rittenhouse on the stand, when the teenager broke down in tears recalling the night of the shootings.
"If you don't put a client on the stand, you're gonna lose," Mr Richards said.
Speaking to reporters in Washington, US President Joe Biden said that the jury's decision must be abided by.
"I stand by what the jury concluded. The jury system works," he said.
In a statement released shortly after, Mr Biden called for peace.
"While the verdict in Kenosha will leave many Americans feeling angry and concerned, myself included, we must acknowledge that the jury has spoken," Mr Biden said.
I stand by what the jury concluded. The jury system works
US President Joe Biden
Mr Biden and former president Donald Trump both spoke out on the shooting and Kenosha protests last year during their presidential campaigns, adding to the political undercurrents of the shootings and resulting trial.
Assistant District Attorney Tom Binger, who led the prosecution, said the jury's decision must be respected although it is "disappointing".
"We are grateful to the members of the jury for their diligent and thoughtful deliberations," Mr Binger said in a statement.
"The Kenosha community has endured much in the past 15 months and yet we remain resilient and strong."
Amid a heavy law enforcement presence, several dozen protesters lined the steps outside the courthouse after the verdict was read, some carrying placards in support of Mr Rittenhouse and others expressing disappointment.
On Wednesday, jurors had asked to re-watch a series of videos of the shootings, including drone footage of Mr Rittenhouse firing four times at Joseph Rosenbaum as he charged at the teenager.
In closing arguments, prosecutors said Mr Rittenhouse was a “wannabe soldier” who provoked the “entire incident” that led him to shooting three men — killing two of them — in Kenosha, Wisconsin, during protests that erupted last year after a white police officer shot and wounded Jacob Blake, a black man.
But Mr Rittenhouse’s lawyer countered that he had acted in self-defence after being ambushed.
Mr Rittenhouse was 17 years old on the day of the shootings.
The case stirred fierce debate in the US over guns, vigilantism and law and order.
Views on the trial have largely split along ideological lines, with Mr Rittenhouse considered a hero by some conservatives who favour expansive gun rights, while being seen by many on the political left as a symbol of American gun culture run amok.
Mr Binger zeroed in on the killing of 36-year-old Rosenbaum, who was the first man gunned down that night and whose shooting set in motion those that followed.
The prosecutor repeatedly called it murder, saying it was unjustified, and reminded jurors that Mr Rittenhouse had said he knew Rosenbaum was unarmed.
In his own closing argument, defence lawyer Mark Richards called Rosenbaum a “crazy person” who was “hellbent on causing trouble that night” and went after Mr Rittenhouse unprovoked.
After killing Rosenbaum, Mr Rittenhouse shot and killed Anthony Huber, 26, and wounded Gaige Grosskreutz, 28, while trying to make his way through the crowd.
Mr Rittenhouse said that Huber hit him with a skateboard and that Mr Grosskreutz came at him with a gun of his own — an account largely corroborated by video and Mr Grosskreutz himself.
Mr Binger said Huber, Mr Grosskreutz and others in the crowd were trying to stop what they believed was an active shooter.
When it was all over, Rittenhouse walked away like a “hero in a Western — without a care in the world for anything he’s just done”, Mr Binger said.
In his instructions to the jury, the judge had said that to accept Mr Rittenhouse’s claim of self-defence, the jury must find that he believed there was an unlawful threat to him and that the amount of force he used was reasonable and necessary.
This week, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers said that 500 National Guard members would be prepared for duty in Kenosha if local law enforcement requested them.
Agencies contributed to this report
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
Cricket World Cup League 2 Fixtures
Saturday March 5, UAE v Oman, ICC Academy (all matches start at 9.30am)
Sunday March 6, Oman v Namibia, ICC Academy
Tuesday March 8, UAE v Namibia, ICC Academy
Wednesday March 9, UAE v Oman, ICC Academy
Friday March 11, Oman v Namibia, Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Saturday March 12, UAE v Namibia, Sharjah Cricket Stadium
UAE squad
Ahmed Raza (captain), Chirag Suri, Muhammad Waseem, CP Rizwan, Vriitya Aravind, Asif Khan, Basil Hameed, Rohan Mustafa, Kashif Daud, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Karthik Meiyappan, Akif Raja, Rahul Bhatia
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
The Cairo Statement
1: Commit to countering all types of terrorism and extremism in all their manifestations
2: Denounce violence and the rhetoric of hatred
3: Adhere to the full compliance with the Riyadh accord of 2014 and the subsequent meeting and executive procedures approved in 2014 by the GCC
4: Comply with all recommendations of the Summit between the US and Muslim countries held in May 2017 in Saudi Arabia.
5: Refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of countries and of supporting rogue entities.
6: Carry out the responsibility of all the countries with the international community to counter all manifestations of extremism and terrorism that threaten international peace and security
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 247hp at 6,500rpm
Torque: 370Nm from 1,500-3,500rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 7.8L/100km
Price: from Dh94,900
On sale: now
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
The bio
Favourite book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Favourite travel destination: Maldives and south of France
Favourite pastime: Family and friends, meditation, discovering new cuisines
Favourite Movie: Joker (2019). I didn’t like it while I was watching it but then afterwards I loved it. I loved the psychology behind it.
Favourite Author: My father for sure
Favourite Artist: Damien Hurst
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20M3%20MACBOOK%20AIR%20(13%22)
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Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
ULTRA PROCESSED FOODS
- Carbonated drinks, sweet or savoury packaged snacks, confectionery, mass-produced packaged breads and buns
- Margarines and spreads; cookies, biscuits, pastries, cakes, and cake mixes, breakfast cereals, cereal and energy bars
- Energy drinks, milk drinks, fruit yoghurts and fruit drinks, cocoa drinks, meat and chicken extracts and instant sauces
- Infant formulas and follow-on milks, health and slimming products such as powdered or fortified meal and dish substitutes
- Many ready-to-heat products including pre-prepared pies and pasta and pizza dishes, poultry and fish nuggets and sticks, sausages, burgers, hot dogs, and other reconstituted meat products, powdered and packaged instant soups, noodles and desserts
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
Company profile
Date started: January, 2014
Founders: Mike Dawson, Varuna Singh, and Benita Rowe
Based: Dubai
Sector: Education technology
Size: Five employees
Investment: $100,000 from the ExpoLive Innovation Grant programme in 2018 and an initial $30,000 pre-seed investment from the Turn8 Accelerator in 2014. Most of the projects are government funded.
Partners/incubators: Turn8 Accelerator; In5 Innovation Centre; Expo Live Innovation Impact Grant Programme; Dubai Future Accelerators; FHI 360; VSO and Consult and Coach for a Cause (C3)
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20NOTHING%20PHONE%20(2A)
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Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203.0-litre%20six-cylinder%20turbo%20(BMW%20B58)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20340hp%20at%206%2C500rpm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20500Nm%20from%201%2C600-4%2C500rpm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20ZF%208-speed%20auto%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3E0-100kph%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204.2sec%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETop%20speed%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20267kph%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Now%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20From%20Dh462%2C189%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EWarranty%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2030-month%2F48%2C000k%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The Details
Kabir Singh
Produced by: Cinestaan Studios, T-Series
Directed by: Sandeep Reddy Vanga
Starring: Shahid Kapoor, Kiara Advani, Suresh Oberoi, Soham Majumdar, Arjun Pahwa
Rating: 2.5/5
