Bombshell: Mistrial Motion Filed As Prosecution Withheld HD Drone Footage from Rittenhouse Defense

By
David Rufful
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OPINION | This article contains commentary that reflects the author's opinion.

The Rittenhouse defense team has filed a motion for a mistrial due to prosecutorial misconduct.

The jury was shown high-definition drone footage in Kenosha on the night of the shootings, but this footage wasn’t provided to the defense lawyers.

The motion argues that the prosecution provided the defense with the drone footage at a lower resolution while the state withheld the high-definition resolution.

“The video footage has been at the center of this case,” the mistrial motion states.

“The failure to provide the same quality footage in this particular case is intentional and clearly prejudices the defendant.”

“The evidence is considered crucial by the state because it claims Rittenhouse was pointing his gun at those who were shot before he faced potential harm,” Western Journal explains.

The motion would be moot if Rittenhouse is acquitted of the charges against him. The jury resumed deliberations Wednesday morning.

Kenosha Circuit Court Judge Bruce Schroeder has not commented on the motion.

Riots erupted in Kenosha, Wisconsin after a police officer shot 29-year-old Jacob Blake.

Blake was armed with a knife and ignored orders from law enforcement. Blake had a warrant for his arrest for charges of third-degree sexual assault as well as other charges.

The “Black Lives Matter” riots rocked Kenosha for three nights. Businesses were destroyed by career criminals as law enforcement is accused of failing to protect people’s property.

17-year-old Rittenhouse arrived to assist a local business owner in defending his car dealership that suffered $1.5 million in damages.

Rittenhouse, who says he was defending himself from violent protesters, has been charged with one count of first-degree intentional homicide as well as other charges in the aftermath of the riots.

More from Western Journal:

According to the Tribune, the motion also cites issues that emerged last week, first when Assistant District Attorney Thomas Binger touched on Rittenhouse’s refusal to speak to police after his arrest and later when Binger sought to introduce comments Rittenhouse made in early August 2020.

Schroeder reprimanded Binger in both instances.

The defense motion asks the case to be dismissed with prejudice, which would mean Rittenhouse could not be tried again.

“This record has bad faith on the part of the prosecutor,” the motion states, according to the Tribune. “We know that because he attempted to inform the court of his good faith basis for asking questions regarding inadmissible evidence and was told ‘I don’t believe you.’ ”

The defense also noted in its motion that the case has “not gone very well for the prosecution,” the Tribune reported.

Legal experts interviewed by the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel said Schroeder’s delay in ruling on the motion was unusual.