Source: Freedom Clash

Kyle Rittenhouse, the teenager who shot three people during a protest in Kenosha, Wisconson, has entered a plea of not guilty to all charges.

The teen and his legal team argue that he acted in self-defense, maintaining that he fired his weapon only after being attacked from behind.

Prosecutors accused Rittenhouse of traveling across state lines from his home in Antioch, Illinois, to Kenosha after he heard about a call for militia to protect businesses during the protest on August 25.

John Pierce, the attorney representing Rittenhouse in civil matters related to the incident claimed, “If what happened in Kenosha is not self-defense for Kyle Rittenhousem the right to self-defense does not exist anymore in America.”

After voluntarily turning himself in, the teenager told investigators that he had received blows to the head and neck with a baseball bat and skateboard. Several videos were circulating online showing scenes from the encounter.

After the police shooting of Jacob Blake, protesters flooded the streets of Kenosha. Rittenhouse shot three people during the protests, two of them died and the third was seriously injured.

In addition to the shooting-related charges, the teen, who was 17 at the time, is accused of violating curfew to attend the protest.

Pierce said, “The charges should be dropped immediately. If the prosecutors have such poor judgment that they are intent on taking this case to trial, we will prove Kyle’s innocence and we will win.”

The pleas were entered during a virtual hearing on Tuesday amid the coronavirus pandemic. Rittenhouse’s trial is scheduled to begin on March 29 but could be delayed due to certain circumstances. A pretrial hearing is set for March 10.