The judge in Kyle Rittenhouse’s homicide trial on Monday dismissed the misdemeanour gun possession charge the teenager faced&nbsp;after defence lawyers argued that he did not violate the state statute in question because of his age and the length of the barrel of his semi-automatic rifle.

Judge Bruce Schroeder’s ruling, delivered shortly before closing statements, resolved a byzantine legal debate over a Wisconsin statute that began after Rittenhouse was charged last year with fatally shooting two men and wounding a third during chaotic demonstrations in Kenosha.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/man-shot-by-kyle-rittenhouse-calls-him-an-active-shooter-calls-use-of-gun-self-defence-427985">Man shot by Kyle Rittenhouse calls him an 'active shooter,' calls use of gun 'self-defence'</a>

Rittenhouse still faces five felony charges, including first-degree intentional homicide, which carries a potential life sentence. The jury will begin deliberating Tuesday morning.

The defence had long argued that the gun possession charge was invalid, saying that Wisconsin law did not bar Rittenhouse from carrying the military-style semi-automatic rifle on Aug. 25, 2020. Its successful argument hinged in part on the fact that the Smith &amp; Wesson M&amp;P 15 he had strapped around his shoulder has a 16-inch-long barrel.

The misdemeanour charge of illegally possessing a dangerous weapon as a minor was the least serious one Rittenhouse faced and carried a relatively short sentence. But jurors might have settled on the charge, said Steven Wright, a law professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, if they baulked at the more serious counts but wanted to convict Rittenhouse of something.

“A jury, perhaps inclined toward compromise, won’t have the gun charge as an option,” Wright wrote in an email.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kyle-rittenhouse-case-judge-makes-offensive-anti-asian-joke-during-homicide-trial-428719">Kyle Rittenhouse case: Judge makes offensive anti-Asian joke during homicide trial</a>

Michael O’Hear, a law professor at Marquette University Law School, wrote in an email that the dismissal of the gun possession charge could make the jury perceive that the prosecution had generally overreached with its charges.

Schroeder told jurors Monday that they could consider some less serious charges than the ones Rittenhouse has faced all along. For instance, jurors could opt to convict him of second-degree intentional homicide instead of the higher charge of first-degree intentional homicide.

It is legal for adults to openly carry firearms in Wisconsin, but state law prohibits minors from possessing firearms except in limited circumstances.

Prosecutors argued it was clear that Rittenhouse’s possession of the gun was illegal and that the jury should be asked to decide on the charge. The defence lawyers argued that the statute barring “possession of a dangerous weapon by a person under 18” did not apply in this case.

Watch |&nbsp;Kyle Rittenhouse breakdown during the trial

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/kyle-rittenhouse-breakdown-during-the-trial-428633/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The statute says it applies to minors carrying a rifle or shotgun only if they are not in compliance with at least one additional statute. These include the regulation of “hunting and use of firearms by persons under 16 years of age,” and the prohibition of rifles with barrels less than 16 inches long.

Rittenhouse was 17 at the time of the shootings. The judge threw out the charge after nobody in court disputed the length of the gun’s barrel.

The judge in Kyle Rittenhouse’s homicide trial on Monday dismissed the misdemeanour gun possession charge the teenager faced after defence lawyers argued that he did not violate the state statute in question because of his age and the length of the barrel of his semi-automatic rifle.

The judge in Kyle Rittenhouse’s homicide trial on Monday dismissed the misdemeanour gun possession charge the teenager faced after defence lawyers argued that he did not violate the state statute in question because of his age and the length of the barrel of his semi-automatic rifle. Judge Bruce Schroeder’s ruling, delivered shortly before closing statements, resolved a byzantine legal debate over a Wisconsin statute that began after Rittenhouse was charged last year with fatally shooting two men and wounding a third during chaotic demonstrations in Kenosha. Also read | Man shot by Kyle Rittenhouse calls him an 'active shooter,' calls use of gun 'self-defence' Rittenhouse still faces five felony charges, including first-degree intentional homicide, which carries a potential life sentence. The jury will begin deliberating Tuesday morning. The defence had long argued that the gun possession charge was invalid, saying that Wisconsin law did not bar Rittenhouse from carrying the military-style semi-automatic rifle on Aug. 25, 2020. Its successful argument hinged in part on the fact that the Smith & Wesson M&P 15 he had strapped around his shoulder has a 16-inch-long barrel. The misdemeanour charge of illegally possessing a dangerous weapon as a minor was the least serious one Rittenhouse faced and carried a relatively short sentence. But jurors might have settled on the charge, said Steven Wright, a law professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, if they baulked at the more serious counts but wanted to convict Rittenhouse of something. “A jury, perhaps inclined toward compromise, won’t have the gun charge as an option,” Wright wrote in an email. Also read | Kyle Rittenhouse case: Judge makes offensive anti-Asian joke during homicide trial Michael O’Hear, a law professor at Marquette University Law School, wrote in an email that the dismissal of the gun possession charge could make the jury perceive that the prosecution had generally overreached with its charges. Schroeder told jurors Monday that they could consider some less serious charges than the ones Rittenhouse has faced all along. For instance, jurors could opt to convict him of second-degree intentional homicide instead of the higher charge of first-degree intentional homicide. It is legal for adults to openly carry firearms in Wisconsin, but state law prohibits minors from possessing firearms except in limited circumstances. Prosecutors argued it was clear that Rittenhouse’s possession of the gun was illegal and that the jury should be asked to decide on the charge. The defence lawyers argued that the statute barring “possession of a dangerous weapon by a person under 18” did not apply in this case. Watch | Kyle Rittenhouse breakdown during the trial The statute says it applies to minors carrying a rifle or shotgun only if they are not in compliance with at least one additional statute. These include the regulation of “hunting and use of firearms by persons under 16 years of age,” and the prohibition of rifles with barrels less than 16 inches long. Rittenhouse was 17 at the time of the shootings. The judge threw out the charge after nobody in court disputed the length of the gun’s barrel.

Why Kyle Rittenhouse no longer faces a gun possession charge

Judge Bruce Schroeder made an offensive joke about Asian food during the Kyle Rittenhouse trial for homicide.

Schroeder had said, ''I hope the Asian food isn't coming... isn't on one of those boats from Long Beach Harbor.''

His strange remark was deemed inappropriate and faced backlash for being&nbsp;anti-Asian.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/kyle-rittenhouse-breakdown-during-the-trial-428633/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

John Yang, president and executive director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice-AAJC said, ''It harms our community and puts us in the crosshairs of micro-aggressions as well as actual physical violence.''

After facing backlash, Schroeder defended himself, saying he was ''referring to the supply chain backlogs caused by congestion problems in California ports.''

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/man-shot-by-kyle-rittenhouse-calls-him-an-active-shooter-calls-use-of-gun-self-defence-427985">Also read |&nbsp;Man shot by Kyle Rittenhouse calls him an 'active shooter,' calls use of gun 'self-defence'</a>

Earlier, he had&nbsp;sent the jury out of the courtroom after prosecutor Thomas Binger began questioning Kyle&nbsp;Rittenhouse's decision to remain silent after&nbsp;shooting last year.

Over 9,000 anti-Asian incidents reported in the US since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite months of political and social action, the number of anti-Asian incidents documented in the United States so far this year is poised to surpass last year, as per a report by Stop AAPI Hate, a nationwide coalition that became the authority on gathering statistics on racially motivated assaults.

Kyle Rittenhouse is an American teenager who is charged with killing two people during racial justice protests last year.

In dramatic and risky testimony in his own defence, Rittenhouse tried to portray himself as wanting to help others during the protests last year in the city of Kenosha and opened fire only in self-defense after being attacked and ambushed.&nbsp;

Prosecutors have described Rittenhouse as a vigilante who killed two protesters. But he struggled in front of a jury to explain why he carried an AR-15-style assault rifle to the protests.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/jacob-blake-sues-police-officer-who-shot-him-373496">Also read |&nbsp;Jacob Blake sues police officer who shot him</a>

The case has drawn national attention because it arose from the nationwide Black Lives Matter demonstrations last year.

The protests and rioting in Kenosha erupted when a white policeman shot a Black man, Jacob Blake, several times in his car during an arrest, leaving him paralysed.

In right-wing and pro-gun circles, including former president Donald Trump and his followers, Rittenhouse is a painted as a hero figure.&nbsp;

The case is the most high-profile civilian US&nbsp;self-defence trial since George Zimmerman was acquitted in the fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin, an unarmed Black teenager, in Florida in 2013.

(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

Judge Bruce Schroeder made an offensive joke about Asian food during the Kyle Rittenhouse trial for homicide. Schroeder had said, ''I hope the Asian food isn't coming.

Judge Bruce Schroeder made an offensive joke about Asian food during the Kyle Rittenhouse trial for homicide. Schroeder had said, ''I hope the Asian food isn't coming... isn't on one of those boats from Long Beach Harbor.'' His strange remark was deemed inappropriate and faced backlash for being anti-Asian. John Yang, president and executive director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice-AAJC said, ''It harms our community and puts us in the crosshairs of micro-aggressions as well as actual physical violence.'' After facing backlash, Schroeder defended himself, saying he was ''referring to the supply chain backlogs caused by congestion problems in California ports.'' Also read | Man shot by Kyle Rittenhouse calls him an 'active shooter,' calls use of gun 'self-defence' Earlier, he had sent the jury out of the courtroom after prosecutor Thomas Binger began questioning Kyle Rittenhouse's decision to remain silent after shooting last year. Over 9,000 anti-Asian incidents reported in the US since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite months of political and social action, the number of anti-Asian incidents documented in the United States so far this year is poised to surpass last year, as per a report by Stop AAPI Hate, a nationwide coalition that became the authority on gathering statistics on racially motivated assaults. Kyle Rittenhouse is an American teenager who is charged with killing two people during racial justice protests last year. In dramatic and risky testimony in his own defence, Rittenhouse tried to portray himself as wanting to help others during the protests last year in the city of Kenosha and opened fire only in self-defense after being attacked and ambushed. Prosecutors have described Rittenhouse as a vigilante who killed two protesters. But he struggled in front of a jury to explain why he carried an AR-15-style assault rifle to the protests. Also read | Jacob Blake sues police officer who shot him The case has drawn national attention because it arose from the nationwide Black Lives Matter demonstrations last year. The protests and rioting in Kenosha erupted when a white policeman shot a Black man, Jacob Blake, several times in his car during an arrest, leaving him paralysed. In right-wing and pro-gun circles, including former president Donald Trump and his followers, Rittenhouse is a painted as a hero figure. The case is the most high-profile civilian US self-defence trial since George Zimmerman was acquitted in the fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin, an unarmed Black teenager, in Florida in 2013. (With inputs from agencies)

Kyle Rittenhouse case: Judge makes offensive anti-Asian joke during homicide trial

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Why Kyle Rittenhouse no longer faces a gun possession charge

Kyle Rittenhouse case: Judge makes offensive anti-Asian joke during homicide trial