Derek Chauvin convicted of murder and manslaughter in George Floyd's death
The death of George Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man, touched off international protests against police brutality and racial injustice.
April 20, 2021, 12:30 PM PDT / Updated April 20, 2021, 2:21 PM PDT
By Janelle Griffith
MINNEAPOLIS — Derek Chauvin was found guilty on all counts Tuesday for his involvement in George Floyd's death, a verdict that could send to disgraced former Minneapolis police officer to prison for the rest of his life.
Dressed in a gray suit, Chauvin eyes darted left as the judge announced that he was convicted of second- and third-degree murder, as well as second-degree manslaughter. He faces up to 75 years in prison when he returns for sentencing in eight weeks.
Second-degree murder carries a maximum sentence of 40 years. Third-degree murder carries a maximum sentence of 25 years. Second-degree manslaughter is punishable by up to 10 years.
The third-degree murder charge had initially been dismissed, but it was reinstated after an appeals court ruling in an unrelated case established new grounds for it days before jury selection started.
The panel of seven women and five men began deliberating Monday after three weeks of witness testimony.
Chauvin, who is white, knelt on Floyd's neck for more than nine minutes as Floyd, who was Black, was handcuffed and lying on the ground.
Prosecutors argued that Chauvin's actions caused Floyd to die from low oxygen, or asphyxia. The defense claimed that Floyd's illegal drug use and a pre-existing heart condition were to blame and urged jurors not to rule out other theories, as well, including exposure to carbon monoxide.
During closing arguments, prosecutors sought to focus jurors' attention on the 9 minutes, 29 seconds they say Chauvin knelt on Floyd's neck, while Chauvin's defense attorney told them that "the 9 minutes and 29 seconds ignores the previous 16 minutes and 59 seconds" of the interaction.
Prosecutors called 38 witnesses, including the teenager who recorded the widely seen bystander video that brought global attention to Floyd's death. She and other bystanders who testified said they are haunted by Floyd's death and that they wish they had done more to try to save his life. The defense called seven witnesses, two of whom were experts.
Chauvin had agreed to plead guilty to third-degree murder days after Floyd's death, but William Barr, then the U.S. attorney general, rejected the deal because, officials said, he was worried that it was too early in the investigation and that it would be perceived as too lenient.
Floyd's death touched off international protests against police brutality and racial injustice. The city of Minneapolis has spent months preparing for the trial and for the potential of unrest over the verdict.
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