Anmol Khindri is a family member who owns Car Source. He testified during Kyle Rittenhouse’s trial at Kenosha County Courthouse, November 5, 2021 in Kenosha. Sean Krajacic/Pool via Getty Images
Two brothers claimed that they never asked Kyle Rittenhouse, or anyone else, to protect their Kenosha car dealership.
Rittenhouse's defense lawyers claim that Rittenhouse was asked to protect the property by the teenager on August 25, 2020.
For prosecutors' attempts to portray Rittenhouse as a vigilante, the testimony of the brothers is important.
Kyle Rittenhouse, a brother and father of the family-owned auto dealership Kyle Rittenhouse, testified that he was protecting them on the night that the Kenosha shootings occurred.
Anmol Khindri and Sahil said that they encountered Rittenhouse and other armed men the day before the shooting but only briefly.
For prosecutors' attempts to portray Rittenhouse as a vigilante who recklessly brought an AR-15 rifle into dangerous situations, the testimony of the Khindri brothers is important. Rittenhouse's defense lawyers have tried to portray Rittenhouse as a Good Samaritan, who provided much-needed protection for a family business that requested it.
Rittenhouse was charged with shooting and killing two men in a Car Source parking garage, as well as injuring another. He pleaded not guilty, claiming that he fired in self-defense as the men chased him.
The Khindri brothers stated that their parents owned three cars along Sheridan Road in downtown Kenosha and that they had both arrived at their parent's properties that day to check for damage from previous nights protests.
Sahil, who took a photo outside the Car Source along with Rittenhouse, and several heavily armed civilians, admitted that he didn't know any of them at the time. He asked for a photograph because he was impressed by the men's attire and had only previously seen them on television.
The court heard him say that he did not ask the men to help protect the business but also that he did not ask them to leave.
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Witness Sahil Khandri stated that he took photos with Kyle Rittenhouse, and other armed men on that day. However, he denied asking them to protect his business. FOX6 News Milwaukee
Anmol, then an inventory manager at Car Source properties at the time, recalls briefly speaking with Rittenhouse earlier that day and giving Rittenhouse his number.
Anmol stated that Rittenhouse had, like many others, expressed sadness for the property's damage and expressed interest in funding repairs.
Anmol said that Rittenhouse did not ask him to guard Car Source locations and that he didn't ask anyone else.
Rittenhouse said that he was asked by the dealership to protect it
Dominick Black and Rittenhouse, who were both with him that night, said they were there because Car Source owners asked them to protect the properties. However, Friday's testimony by the Khindri brothers contradicted those statements.
Corey Chirafisi (one of Rittenhouse’s attorneys) asked Anmol why he would leave the property unguarded on the third night civil unrest in Kenosha after the shooting of Jacob Blake.
Anmol stated, "After seeing the destruction there was nothing that I could do."
Chirafisi repeatedly asked Anmol if he was afraid of being sued if Anmol admitted that he had requested armed protection for the property where Rittenhouse shot Joseph Rosenbaum. Anmol did not seem to be able to answer the question.
Assistant District Attorney Thomas Binger shows a text message sent by Kyle Rittenhouse from Car Source to show that he was offering to protect the businesses. This is shown on monitors in front of the jury and witness. Kyle Rittenhouse's trial begins on November 5, 2021 in Kenosha. Mark Hertzberg/Pool via Getty Images
Prosecutors requested that both brothers read a text message Anmol sent on August 25, 2020. It stated, "Hey Sam, it's Kyle. Do you need anyone to protect my business tonight?". My brother and I would be armed."
Anmol confirmed that he is Sam and that he received the message on his cell phone.
However, he denied answering the message. He claimed he didn't know who Kyle was at the time, and that he didn't see the message until later in the day.
Insider has the original article.
