George Floyd murder trial: Derek Chauvin found guilty on all charges
Joe Biden welcomes Derek Chauvin’s conviction for George Floyd’s murder but warns such a verdict is 'all too rare’ in the US.
Joe Biden has welcomed the conviction of Derek Chauvin over George Floyd’s murder, but called for more action to address racial discrimination in policing and the criminal justice system.
Mr Biden said Chauvin’s conviction on all three counts of murder and manslaughter was a “giant step forward in the march toward justice in America.”
But the US president warned the verdict against a white police officer over the killing of an unarmed black man was “much too rare in America.”
“Nothing can ever bring their brother, their father back,” Mr Biden said of Mr Floyd’s family. “But this can be a giant step forward in the march toward justice in America.”
Chauvin, a former Minneapolis police officer, could face decades behind bars after being found guilty on all three counts of murder and manslaughter over Mr Floyd’s death.
The 45 year old who was charged with murder and manslaughter after kneeling on Mr Floyd’s neck for more than nine minutes last May, was convicted of second degree murder, third degree murder and second degree manslaughter.
A racially-diverse jury of seven women and five men in Minneapolis deliberated for less than 11 hours at the end of a three-week trial before finding the white officer guilty in unanimous decisions on all three charges he faced.
In an address to the nation, Mr Biden said Mr Floyd’s murder “lasted almost 10 minutes in broad daylight for all the world to see.”
He said he had spoken to Mr Floyd’s family after the verdict as well as while the jury was still deliberating. He recalled Mr Floyd’s daughter telling him that her father changed the world.
“I told her this afternoon: ‘Daddy did change the world’. Let that be his legacy,” Mr Biden said.
He added: “We have to listen: ‘I can’t breathe. I can’t breathe. Those were George Floyd’s last words. We can’t let those words die with him.”
Before Mr Biden spoke, Vice-President Kamala Harris said: “Today we feel a sigh of relief. Still, it cannot take away the pain. A measure of justice isn’t the same as equal justice.
“Black men are fathers and brothers and sons and uncles and grandfathers and friends. And neighbors.
“Their lives must be valued in our education system, in our health care system, in our housing system, in our economic system, in our criminal justice system. In our nation.”
She added: “Here’s the truth about racial injustice. It’s 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.”
A crowd gathered outside the heavily guarded downtown Minneapolis courtroom erupted in cheers when the verdicts were announced.
Floyd family lawyer Ben Crump hailed the conviction as a “turning point in history” for the US.
“Painfully earned justice has finally arrived for George Floyd’s family,” Mr Crump tweeted.
“This verdict is a turning point in history and sends a clear message on the need for accountability of law enforcement. Justice for Black America is justice for all of America!”
GUILTY! Painfully earned justice has finally arrived for George Floyd’s family. This verdict is a turning point in history and sends a clear message on the need for accountability of law enforcement. Justice for Black America is justice for all of America!
— Ben Crump (@AttorneyCrump) April 20, 2021
In a separate statement, Mr Crump added: “Today’s verdict … reinforces significant police reforms in Minneapolis … Today the world had its hope and faith restored in the American justice system.”
MEDIA ALERT: @AttorneyCrump & co-counsels release statement following #ChauvinTrial verdict of guilty, declaring it “painfully earned justice for the Floyd family & community.†pic.twitter.com/fC3V2Frdfb
— Ben Crump Law, PLLC (@BenCrumpLaw) April 20, 2021
Chauvin’s bail was revoked and he will be sentenced in around eight weeks. The three charges carry a total of 75 years jail time: 40 years for 2nd degree murder, 25 for third degree murder and 10 years for 2nd degree manslaughter.
Because Chauvin has no prior convictions, state sentencing guidelines recommend from 11 to 15 years in prison for the murder offences and around four years for the manslaughter charge, but prosecutors said they would seek a harsher sentence.
Of the three charges, second degree murder was the most serious: under Minnesota law, prosecutors had to prove that Chauvin caused Mr Floyd’s death while committing a crime, regardless of intent.
The verdict was welcomed with relief by Mr Floyd’s family and friends.
Mr Floyd’s younger brother Rodney said the verdict was historic.
the dead man’s brother said.
“Tears of joy, so emotional that no family in history ever got this far,” he told MSNBC. “This right here is for everyone that’s been in that situation. Everybody, everybody. We are here standing in unity.”
Mr Floyd’s former girlfriend said the verdict was a key step toward holding police “accountable.”
“I’m just extremely thankfully that Floyd’s voice is going to bring change now,” Courteney Ross told NBC News. “I knew the verdict was going to be guilty. I knew it.”
She added: “The truth is here, and now justice is here. It’s time, it’s time that everybody gets held accountable.”
Barack and Michelle Obama said the jury had done “the right thing” but called for “much more” to be done.
In a statement, the former president and first lady said: “True justice requires that we come to terms with the fact that Black Americans are treated differently, every day … we will need to follow through with concrete reforms.”
Today, a jury did the right thing. But true justice requires much more. Michelle and I send our prayers to the Floyd family, and we stand with all those who are committed to guaranteeing every American the full measure of justice that George and so many others have been denied. pic.twitter.com/mihZQHqACV
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) April 20, 2021
Minnesota Attorney-General Keith Ellison, who led the prosecution against Chauvin, described the verdict as “the first step towards justice.”
“I would not call today’s verdict justice, however, because justice implies true restoration,” Mr Ellison said. “But it is accountability, which is the first step towards justice. And now the cause of justice is in your hands.”
Mr Ellison said it was “the work of our generation” to end the lack of accountability for law enforcement and police violence.
“This has to end with true justice,” he said. “That’s not one case. That is a social transformation that says that nobody is beneath the law, and no one is above it. This verdict reminds us that we must make enduring systemic societal change.”
Mr Floyd’s killing on May 25 2020 sparked protests against racial injustice around the world and is being seen as a landmark test of police accountability.
Biden prays for “right verdict”
US President Joe Biden says he is praying for the “right verdict” in the murder trial of the police officer accused of killing George Floyd, as the jury prepares to read its verdict.
Mr Biden said he could “only imagine the pressure and anxiety” Mr Floyd’s family were feeling
White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters the President was “certainly not looking to influence” the trial
Derek Chauvin, a former Minneapolis police officer, is standing trial charged with murder and manslaughter after kneeling on Mr Floyd’s neck for more than nine minutes last May.
The verdict will be read this morning between 6.30 – 7am (AEST) after the jury deliberated for around 10 hours. Chauvin has returned to the courtroom and is waiting for the jury to return.
Mr Biden told reporters: “I’ve come to know George’s family. I can only imagine the pressure and anxiety they are feeling and so I waited until the jury was sequestered and I called.”
He added: “They’re a good family, and they’re calling for peace and tranquillity, no matter what that verdict is.”
'He would say, let's start taking care of each other a little bit better and love each other a little bit more.'
— Sky News (@SkyNews) April 20, 2021
Courteney Ross, George Floyd's girlfriend, says she tries to think of what he would have said as she awaits the jury's verdict.
Read more: https://t.co/ddmNmYVxeypic.twitter.com/1TZFMEq3hU
Prosecution’s arguments
These are the main arguments used by the prosecution and defence during the three-week trial.
Chauvin, 45, who is white, was captured on video kneeling on the neck of Floyd, a 46-year-old African-American man, for more than nine minutes.
He is charged with murder and manslaughter for Floyd’s May 25, 2020 death, which sparked protests across the United States and around the world against racial injustice and police brutality.
As we await the verdict, here are the criminal charges Derek Chauvin faces — with the relevant jury instructions:
— John Kruzel (@johnkruzel) April 20, 2021
Count I: Second-degree murder pic.twitter.com/KfDI6MCFy7
As we await the verdict, here are the criminal charges Derek Chauvin faces — with the relevant jury instructions:
— John Kruzel (@johnkruzel) April 20, 2021
Count I: Second-degree murder pic.twitter.com/KfDI6MCFy7
Count III: Second-degree manslaughter pic.twitter.com/J885ngz7mo
— John Kruzel (@johnkruzel) April 20, 2021
State of Minnesota
The most compelling evidence in the case against Chauvin was the video of Floyd’s arrest taken by a 17-year-old bystander, Darnella Frazier.
Prosecutors repeatedly showed excerpts from the video and in closing arguments, the state’s attorney urged jurors to “believe your eyes.”
“This case is exactly what you thought when you saw it first, when you saw that video,” prosecutor Steve Schleicher said.
“This wasn’t policing, this was murder,” he said. “Nine minutes and 29 seconds of shocking abuse of authority.” Prosecutions of police officers are notoriously difficult in the United States because they enjoy what is called “qualified immunity,” said David Schultz, a law professor at the University of Minnesota and Hamline University.
“Generally you can’t hold police officers criminally responsible unless you can show they didn’t follow department procedure or protocol, that they didn’t act the way a reasonable officer would,” Schultz said.
Prosecutors called several police officers to testify that Chauvin’s use of force against Floyd, who was being taken into custody for allegedly passing a counterfeit $20 bill, was excessive.
They included the Minneapolis police chief Medaria Arradondo, who said Chauvin’s actions violated the department’s training policies and its “values.” Floyd’s cause of death was also a key element of the trial and prosecutors called medical experts to testify that he died of hypoxia, or a lack of oxygen, from Chauvin’s knee on his neck and that illegal drugs were not a factor.
Defence
Defence lawyer Eric Nelson told the jury they needed to look at Chauvin’s actions “from the perspective of a reasonable police officer.”
“He did not purposefully use unlawful force,” Nelson said. “You have to take into account that officers are human beings capable of making mistakes.” Nelson put a retired police officer on the witness stand who testified that in his opinion Chauvin’s use of force against Floyd was “justified.” Nelson also sought to persuade the jury that Floyd’s death was caused by an enlarged heart, narrowed arteries and the drugs fentanyl and methamphetamine.
A retired forensic pathologist put on the stand by the defence said Floyd died of cardiac arrest brought on by heart disease and the drugs.
Chauvin decided not to testify in his own defence and invoked his constitutional Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.
With AFP
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