On Friday, a jury found Kenosha Shooter Kyle Rittenhouse “not guilty” on all charges in his homicide trial after shooting and killing two protesters and injuring a third one. Although he was acquitted in the criminal case, his legal problems are far from over, according to legal experts.
During an MSNBC panel discussion on the case, former New York prosecutor Charles Coleman suggested that families of the victims could file civil suits against Rittenhouse.
“Charles, the criminal case is over, but could Rittenhouse still face anything civilly, any civil penalties?” host Kendis Gibson asked.
“He could,” Coleman said. “I don’t know how likely it is, but it is very possible. I think that the outcome of this criminal case certainly gives the chance of a civil case some degree of difficulty in terms of being able to get a liability verdict in civil court but it’s important that viewers understand that the standard for a civil case is much lower in terms of the standard of proof than it is for a criminal case,” he said.
He then explained why the families of the victims are likely to succeed if they pursue legal remedy:
“A criminal case requires that it is beyond a reasonable doubt. Whereas a civil case requires that it is beyond a preponderance of the evidence, which is basically 50.0001% of being able to prove or establish liability. With a lower bar perhaps it may be that plaintiffs decide that they want to try to sue for wrongful death, or some other sort of injury, and make Kyle Rittenhouse responsible — that remains to be seen at this point.”
Watch the discussion below:
