The defense announced in opening statement Kyle would take the stand. Watching him testify, it seems a good choice to me. I read somewhere else that to ask for a directed verdict the defendant must testify. Have no idea if there is any truth in that. Too lazy to look.
No truth to that in general. Might be truth to that in a case wehre an affirmative defense is the only way to be acquitted, but I imagine a self-defense case can be made with witnesses and facts that don;t depend on defendant testimony at trial.