JURY ALLOWED TO CONSIDER TEEN PROVOKED ATTACK

The judge in the murder trial of Kyle Rittenhouse said on Friday he would allow the jury to consider that the teenager provoked an encounter with one of two men he is charged with killing during racial justice protests Kenosha, Wisc. last year.

Rittenhouse, 18, is charged with first-degree reckless homicide, first-degree intentional homicide and attempted first-degree intentional homicide. He faces life in prison if convicted on those counts.

The ruling is a boost for prosecutors, who were seeking approval for less serious second-degree charges to be considered after testimony provided considerable evidence to support the teen's self-defence argument. Lesser charges lower the burden of proof for conviction.