Derek Chauvin, Cop at Center of George Floyd Killing, Found Guilty
- Details
- Category: Crime
- Published on Tuesday, 20 April 2021 14:08
- Written by Janet Walker
Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis Police Officer charged in the death of George Floyd has been found guilty on all charges after a trial that has captivated the nation and became a lightning rod for the lethal use of force.
Charged in the death of George Floyd, Chauvin was filmed kneeling on the neck of the handcuffed Floyd for more than nine minutes. His death fueled the Black Lives Matter movement and sparked global protests over the use of lethal force by police officers.
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After the May 25, 2020 Minneapolis Police were called to a local bodega where Floyd had been reported for passing a counterfeit $20 bill. A small scuffle began as Chauvin attempted to resist arrest. A crowd also gathered filming the arrest.
Floyd was forced to the ground and Chauvin kneeled on the man's neck to subdue him. Floyd subsequently died. Chauvin was released from the Minneapolis Police Force the next day and arrested within four days.
Chauvin was arrested on May 29, 2020 and charged with multiple charges including third-degree murder, second degree manslaughter.
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"Under Minnesota law, third-degree murder is defined as causing another's death without intent to kill, but "evincing a depraved mind, without regard for human life". Second-degree manslaughter also does not imply lethal intent, but that the perpetrator created "an unreasonable risk" of serious harm or death," according to Wikipedia.com.
The twelve jurors, seven women and five men, a racially, gender and demographically mixed including six white, four black and two multiracial debated ten hours without sending any notes or indication to the judge for clarification or other hints that might provide some sort of tea leaf type of reading.
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The three-week trial included dozens of witnesses, many Minneapolis Police officials including the Chief of Police, Medaria Arradondo, who testified for the prosecution breaking what is normally thought to be a blue wall of solidarity.
Reasonable doubt which was at the center of the defense. Floyd medical condition, which included a positive COVID diagnosis, years of drug abuse including a toxicology report with proved Floyd had recently ingested an illegal drug cocktail which included an elevated amount of Fentanyl, and a smaller dose of methamphetamine.
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Chauvin will be sentenced in eight weeks. His bail was revoked and he was remanded to await sentencing in jail.
