Nov. 1 (UPI) -- The trial of Kyle Rittenhouse, who shot two men dead and injured a third, during anti-racism protests in Kenosha, Wis., last year, began Monday with the selection of the jury.
Nine men and 11 women, were selected from the field of 150 potential jurors for the trial stemming from an August 2020 protest of the police shooting of Jacob Blake where the then-17-year-old Rittenhouse shot and killed Anthony Huber, 26, and Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, and injured Gaige Grosskreutz, now 27.
Ultimately, 12 of the selected jurors will determine whether Rittenhouse is guilty of criminal homicide for the deaths. Defense attorneys argue that he fired his assault-style rifle in self-defense.
Rittenhouse, now 18, who has pleaded not guilty to felony homicide and misdemeanor charges, has been free since he posted $2 million in bail a year ago.
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The process of selecting 12 impartial jurors was made more difficult because of the high-profile nature of the case.
Addressing the issue, Circuit Judge Bruce Schroeder asked for a show of hands from jurors who had not read or heard about the case and no hands went up.
He told the jurors they would need to focus only on what is presented at trial, neglecting anything they had previously heard about the shootings.
"You're going to hear the exact evidence you need to decide the case," said Schroeder.
Dozens of potential jurors were dismissed early on Monday for varying reasons.
Last week, Schroeder ruled that attorneys in the trial may refer to all three men who were injured by Rittenhouse as "rioters," "looters," and "arsonists" -- but not as "victims."
"The word 'victim' is a loaded, loaded word," he said. "Alleged victim' is a cousin to it."
Rittenhouse was arrested a day after the shootings and was indicted as an adult on charges of being a fugitive from justice. Since then, he's been charged with five felonies, including first-degree intentional homicide, first degree reckless homicide, attempted first-degree intentional homicide and two counts of first-degree recklessly endangering safety.
Other charges include misdemeanor possession of a dangerous weapon under the age of 18 and non-criminal violation of failure to comply with an emergency order.
Rittenhouse's attorney has argued that he left his home across the border in Illinois and traveled to Kenosha to protect businesses during the protests, and that he feared for his life.
Prosecutors say Rittenhouse flashed White supremacist symbols at a bar on Jan. 5, the day he pleaded not guilty to felony homicide and other crimes.
