Status: 04/20/2021 11:34 PM
A US court has convicted former police officer Derek Chauvin on all charges against him in the trial of George Floyd’s death in custody. The jury announced the decision after nearly ten hours of deliberation.
In the trial for the murder of black man George Floyd, a jury found former white cop Derek Chauvin guilty of all counts. This was said by Judge Peter Cahill in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Chauvin faces a long prison sentence. The judge will determine the exact amount of the ruling at a later time. Chauvin’s defense may continue to appeal the ruling.
46-year-old Floyd was killed in detention in Minneapolis on May 25 last year. Videos documented how the police pushed the unarmed man to the ground. Chauvin pressed his knee to Floyd’s neck for nine minutes while he begged Floyd to let him breathe. According to the autopsy, Floyd was lost and died soon afterwards. Officers arrested him on suspicion of paying a fake $ 20 bill.
Experts assume a lower sentence
The most dangerous charge against Chauvin was second-degree murder. Up to 40 years in prison in Minnesota. According to German law, this would be more like manslaughter. In addition, Chauvin was also accused of committing third degree murder, which can carry a sentence of up to 25 years in prison. He also had to be held accountable for a second degree murder that led to his ten years in prison. According to German law, this charge corresponds to negligent homicide. Chauvin has pleaded not guilty.
Experts assume that the chauvin, who has not previously been convicted, should receive a sentence less than the maximum allowed. According to the US legal system, the verdict of guilt or innocence is up to the jury. There was no time limit for the deliberations of the twelve members of the jury, which had been going on since Monday noon. However, they were no longer allowed to return home during the talks, but were accommodated in a hotel. Their judgment had to be passed unanimously.
The jury is unknown for security reasons
In this case, the jury will remain anonymous until further notice for security reasons. Floyd’s fate sparked a wave of demonstrations against racism and police violence in the United States amid the Corona pandemic and developed into the largest protest movement in decades.