Derek Chauvin, a former Minneapolis officer, was found guilty of murder and manslaughter on Tuesday for pinning George Floyd to the ground with his knee on his neck in a case that sparked worldwide marches, brutality, and a ferocious reexamination of racism and policing in the United States.
After about 10 hours of deliberation over two days, the jury of six white people and six black or multiracial people returned with their decision. The cases against Chauvin were found guilty: second-degree accidental homicide, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter.
His face was hidden under a Covid-19 mask, and he showed no emotion other than his eyes darting across the courtroom.
His parole was promptly denied, and his hands were cuffed behind his back as he was taken away.
The verdict was read in a courtroom surrounded by concrete blocks and razor wire, with National Guard troops patrolling the perimeter, in a community on the verge of another round of protests — not only because of the Chauvin lawsuit but also because of the fatal police killing of a young Black man, Daunte Wright, in a Minneapolis suburb on April 11.
The names of the jury were kept hidden and will not be revealed until the judge deems it necessary to do so.
In August, three other former Minneapolis police officers accused of aiding and abetting murder in Floyd’s death will go on trial.
Floyd, 46, died on May 25 after being arrested for allegedly exchanging a bogus $20 bill at a corner store for a pack of cigarettes. When officers attempted to place him in a patrol car, he panicked, pleaded that he was claustrophobic, and fought with them. Instead, they threw him to the ground.
The prosecution revolved around the excruciating bystander footage of Floyd constantly exclaiming, “I can’t breathe,” and onlookers shouting at Chauvin to stop while the cop put his knee on or next Floyd’s throat for 9 1/2 minutes, according to police. Floyd becomes increasingly deafeningly quiet and limp.
During opening remarks, prosecutors played the video as soon as possible, with Jerry Blackwell telling the jurors, “Believe your mind.” And it was seen over and over, with witnesses from both sides analyzing each frame one by one.
