A defendants refusal to testify is a RIGHT…
The impetus of the state is to PROVE its case, it is not on the defendant to prove his innocence.
If you need to hear from the defendant to make your verdict then the state didn’t prove its case, period.
True but jurors - wrong or not - will often say, “He’s on trial and he didn’t take the stand? He must have been guilty!” Sad but it happens.
Self defense, as someone pointed out, involves state of mind. Kyle’s handling things well so far. He’s been humanized. He is that clean-cut kid the women on the jury would be proud to be their son. And he was out there alone with people attacking him after they said to his face they’d kill him.