George Floyd trial verdict: Derek Chauvin found guilty of murder

US President Joe Biden has described the conviction of former police officer Derek Chauvin as a “step forward” – but he’s not satisfied.

Former police officer Derek Chauvin has been found guilty of murdering George Floyd in the United States.

The 12-person jury deliberated for about 10 hours before arriving at a unanimous verdict, finding Chauvin guilty on all three counts: second degree unintentional murder, third degree murder and second degree manslaughter.

The most serious of those charges carries a maximum sentence of 40 years, though Chauvin is unlikely to face such a long period in prison. The guidelines for an offender with no criminal record suggest a sentence of about 12.5 years.

The sentencing phase of the trial is still to come.

Chauvin was taken from the courtroom in handcuffs moments after the verdict was read. Meanwhile, Mr Floyd’s brother Philonise hugged the prosecutors.

Mr Floyd died in Minneapolis last year after a confrontation with police, who had responded to reports he’d used a fraudulent $US20 note to purchase cigarettes.

Bystanders filmed Chauvin kneeling on the unarmed African-American man’s neck and back for nine minutes and 29 seconds, a position he maintained despite Mr Floyd’s pleas that he couldn’t breathe.

RELATED: World reacts to the guilty verdict

Derek Chauvin as the verdict was being read.

Chauvin was taken from the courtroom in handcuffs.

FLOYD FAMILY REACTS TO VERDICT

At a media conference alongside the Floyd family’s lawyers, a tearful Philonise Floyd said he always had “faith” that Chauvin would be convicted.

“I feel relieved today that I finally have the opportunity to hopefully get some sleep,” he said.

“Today you have cameras all around the world to see and show what happened to my brother. It was a motion picture. The world saw his life being extinguished. And I could do nothing but watch, in that courtroom over and over again, as my brother was getting murdered.”

He started to fight back tears.

“We have to always understand that we have to march. We will have to do this for life. We have to protest. Because it seems like this is a never-ending cycle,” he said.

“I’m going to put up a fight every day. Because I’m not just fighting for George anymore, I’m fighting for everyone around this world.

“We’re here, and we’re not going anywhere.”

George Floyd’s brother Philonise: ‘I feel relieved today I finally have the opportunity for hopefully getting some sleep … we have to protest because it seems like this is a never-ending cycle … today we are able to breathe again … justice for George means freedom for all’ pic.twitter.com/SacErqB3vd

— NowThis (@nowthisnews) April 20, 2021

Ben Crump, one of the lawyers representing the family, called the guilty verdict “painfully earned justice”.

“Today’s verdict goes far beyond this city and has significant implications for the country, and even the world,” Mr Crump said.

“Justice for black America is justice for all of America. This case is a turning point in American history for accountability of law enforcement, and sends a clear message we hope is heard clearly in every city and every state.”

Another of the family’s lawyers, Jeff Storms, said the jury had sent “a clear and direct message that this can never happen again”.

Mr Floyd’s girlfriend Courteney Ross spoke outside the courthouse.

“We needed it. This city needed it,” she said of the verdict.

“It’s a moment to celebrate. Take tonight, just to be glad that we have one day of victory. This battle is going to continue.”

As the verdict was read, a crowd that had gathered on the spot where Mr Floyd died erupted in cheers.

A separate crowd outside the courthouse also celebrated, chanting “all three counts”.

WATCH: George Floyd's family reacts to the conviction of Derek Chauvin on all three counts in the death of George Floyd. https://t.co/6nN46Fosolpic.twitter.com/15Q5jiE3oB

— ABC News (@ABC) April 20, 2021

Americans outside the courthouse react to the verdict. Picture: Chandan Khanna/AFP

There were nerves, and tears. Picture: Chandan Khanna/AFP

And hugs. Picture: Chandan Khanna/AFP

‘IT’S NOT ENOUGH’: BIDEN’S SOBERING MESSAGE

Addressing Americans about two hours after the verdict, President Joe Biden praised the Floyd family for its “extraordinary courage” and described the result as “a step forward” in his country’s struggle with racism.

“It was a murder in full light of day, and it ripped the blinders off for the whole world to see the systemic racism (which is) a stain on our nation’s soul,” Mr Biden said.

“Nothing can ever bring their father, their brother back. But this can be a giant step forward in the march towards justice in America.”

He noted the unique circumstances of the case, with the murder caught on camera.

“Such a verdict is much too rare,” said the President.

“For so many people, it seems like it took a unique and extraordinary convergence of factors: a smart young woman with a camera, a crowd that was traumatised, a murder that lasted almost 10 minutes in broad daylight, officers standing up and testifying against a fellow officer instead of closing ranks.

“For so many, it feels like it took all of that for the judicial system to deliver basic accountability.

“As we saw in this trial from the fellow police officers who testified, most men and women who wear the badge serve their communities honourably, but those few who fail to meet that standard must be held accountable. No one should be above the law, and today’s verdict sends that message, but it’s not enough. We can’t stop here.

“We can and we must do more to reduce the likelihood that tragedies like this will happen again.”

Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris both addressed the nation. Picture: Brendan Smialowski/AFP

Speaking again about the Floyd family, Mr Biden recalled a previous meeting with George’s young daughter Gianna.

“The guilty verdict does not bring back George, but through the family’s pain, they’re finding purpose, so George’s legacy will not just be about his death, but about what we must do in his memory,” he said.

“(Gianna) said to me, I’ll never forget it, ‘Daddy changed the world.’ I told her this afternoon, ‘Daddy did change the world.’ Let that be his legacy. A legacy of peace, not violence. Of justice.

“There can never be any safe harbour for hate in America.

“We can’t leave this moment thinking our work is done. We have to look as we did for those nine minutes and 29 seconds. We have to listen.

“We have to keep hearing those words. We must not turn away, we can’t turn away. We have a chance to begin to change the trajectory in this country.”

Americans also heard from Vice President Kamala Harris, who joined Mr Biden in urging the US Senate to pass the George Floyd Justice and Policing Act.

“A measure of justice isn’t the same as equal justice,” said Ms Harris.

“We still have work to do. We still must reform the system.

“This bill is part of George Floyd’s legacy. The President and I will continue to urge the Senate to pass this legislation, not as a panacea for every problem, but as a start.”

She said the US had “a long history of systemic racism” and African-Americans had been “treated as less than human”.

“Black men are fathers and brothers and sons and grandfathers, and friends and neighbours. Their lives must be valued in our education system, our healthcare system, our housing system, our economic system, our criminal justice system,” Ms Harris said.

“Here’s the truth about racial injustice: It is not just a black America problem, or a people of colour problem. It is a problem for every American

“ It is keeping us from fulfilling the promise of liberty and justice for all, and it is holding our nation back from realising our full potential.

“We are all a part of George Floyd’s legacy, and our job now is to honour it and to honour him.”

Harris says racial injustice "is not just a Black America problem or people of color problem. It is a problem for every American. It is keeping us from fulfilling the promise of liberty and justice for all. And it is holding our nation back from realizing our full potential." pic.twitter.com/Qx3lldwDUr

— CBS News (@CBSNews) April 20, 2021

PROSECUTORS SAY VERDICT IS ‘FIRST STEP’

Minnesota Attorney-General Keith Ellison, who had overarching responsibility for the prosecution, also spoke this evening.

“I would not call today’s verdict justice, because justice implies true restoration. But it is accountability, which is the first step towards justice,” he said.

“Now the cause of justice is in your hands. And when I say your hands, I mean the people of the United States.

“George Floyd mattered. His death shocked the conscience of our country. He was loved by his family and friends. He mattered because he was a human being.

Mr Ellison said the witnesses who filmed Mr Floyd’s death, and subsequently testified during the trial, had engaged in “simple yet profound acts of courage” by telling the world “the truth about what they saw”.

“We say, all of us, thank you,” he said on behalf of the prosecutors.

RELATED: ‘Stop talking’: Judge in Chauvin trial erupts

OTHER LEADERS REACT

Former president Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama released a statement saying the jury had done “the right thing”.

“But if we’re being honest with ourselves, we know that true justice is about much more than a single verdict in a single trial,” the Obamas said.

“True justice requires that we come to terms with the fact that black Americans are treated differently, every day.

“It requires us to recognise that millions of our friends, family and fellow citizens live in fear that their next encounter with law enforcement could be their last.

“While today’s verdict may have been a necessary step on the road to progress, it was far from a sufficient one. We will need to follow through with concrete reforms that will reduce and ultimately eliminate racial bias in our criminal justice system.”

Chauvin kneeling on George Floyd’s neck. Picture: Darnella Frazier/AFP

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz labelled the verdict “an important step forward for justice”.

“The trial is over, but our work has only begun,” Mr Walz said.

“No verdict can bring George back, and my heart is with his family as they continue to grieve his loss. Minnesota mourns with you, and we promise the pursuit of justice for George does not end today.

“True justice for George only comes through real, systemic change to prevent this from happening again.

“Too many black people have lost, and continue to lose their lives at the hands of law enforcement in our state. Our communities of colour cannot go on like this. Our police officers cannot go on like this.

“The only way it will change is through systemic reform.”