Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin has been found guilty of second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in the death of George Floyd during an arrest.
The jury deliberated 10 hours over two days before reaching a verdict Tuesday.
Judge Peter Cahill revoked Chauvin’s bail and remanded him to the custody of the sheriff’s department. He thanked the jury for its service.
Chauvin looked baffled as the verdicts were read. Clapping and cheers could be heard in the street outside the courthouse.
Biden praying for ‘right verdict’
President Joe Biden said he’s praying for the “right verdict” in the case against former Minneapolis officer Chauvin, who is accused of murder in Floyd’s death.
“I’m praying the verdict is the right verdict,” Biden said. “Which is — I think it is overwhelming in my view.”
Biden made his remarks after the jury had been sequestered for its deliberations.
Biden says he’s praying for the ‘right verdict’ as Chauvin jury deliberates case
The trial
Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man, died while in police custody on May 25, and his death sparked an avalanche of protests across the nation. He died after Chauvin, a former Minneapolis police officer who is white, pressed his knee into Floyd’s neck for more than nine minutes, as three other officers didn’t intervene.
A 17-year-old bystander took video of the incident, in which Floyd can be heard saying, “Please, please, please, I can’t breathe.”
Chauvin faced charges of second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. His trial opened March 29, and the case went to the jury for deliberations Monday.
Prosecutors argued that Chauvin violated police training and procedures, causing Floyd’s death.
“You were told Mr. Floyd died because his heart was too big,” said prosecutor Jerry Blackwell. “The reason George Floyd is dead is because Mr. Chauvin’s heart was too small.”
Defense attorneys argued that Floyd’s death could have been caused by other factors and that Chauvin’s use of force didn’t violate police guidelines.
“The standard is not what should the officer have done,” said defense attorney Eric Nelson. “The standard is what were the facts known to this officer at the exact moment he used force.”
Officers J. Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao were also fired and arrested, charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder and aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter.
Floyd was arrested after being accused by a store employee of using a counterfeit $20 bill to buy a pack of cigarettes at a Minneapolis grocery store.
