Trial delayed for Illinois man charged with killing two in Kenosha, Wis.
Originally scheduled for March 29, the trial is now set to start Nov. 1.
The trial for Kyle Rittenhouse, the Illinois man charged with fatally shooting two people and maiming a third in Kenosha, Wis., last summer, was pushed back seven months, a judge ruled Wednesday. Originally set for March 29, the trial is now scheduled to start Nov. 1.
Rittenhouse, of Antioch, Ill., who turned 18 late last year, is charged with first-degree intentional homicide, first-degree reckless homicide for killing Anthony Huber and Joseph Rosenbaum. He is also charged with attempted first-degree homicide for shooting and injuring Gaige Grosskreutz.
Additional charges include possession of a dangerous weapon while under the age of 18, and reckless endangerment.
Kenosha County District Attorney Thomas Binger said both his office and Rittenhouse attorney Mark Richards would not be prepared to start the trial at the earlier date.
Moving a status hearing to March 29 "will put us in a better position to know whether or not we'll be ready . . . it will also give us time to make sure witnesses will be available and all attorneys will be available," Binger said.
Kenosha County Circuit Judge Bruce Schroeder granted the status hearing and the new trial date.
"This case is getting older but we'll probably get a year from the time you were charged plus . . . it's the day you were arraigned," he told Rittenhouse, who attended the virtual hearing via Zoom. "Do you have any problem with the extension?"
Rittenhouse replied he did not.