The jury in the murder trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin found him guilty on Tuesday in the killing of George Floyd, which shocked the world last May.
Chauvin was found guilty of charges of second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter by a 12- person jury, consisting of six white and six Black or multiracial men and women.
The trial was called ‘overwhelming’ by Joe Biden, president of America. The killing of George Floyd sparked massive protest across America during the Trump administration last year.
President Biden and VicePresident Kamala Harris call the Floyd family after the verdict. ” We are gonna make it better now,” President told Floyd’s family.
After a three-week trial, Chauvin’s bail was immediately revoked and he was escorted out of the courtroom with his hands cuffed behind his back.
The prosecution was able to convince the jury that Chauvin, who pressed his knee on Floyd’s neck for nine minutes and 29 seconds, was responsible for Floyd’s death. In the video watched by the world, Floyd could be seen pleading to the officer “I can’t breathe”.
“Justice for Black America is justice for all of America,” the Floyd family’s attorney Benjamin Crump said in a statement, according to Reuters.
The prosecution called 38 witnesses and played the video of Floyd’s death on May 25, 2020, dozens of times over its 11-day presentation.
“This verdict is not a substitute for policy change,” tweeted congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez after the verdict.
Tensions are running high in cities around the US, according to reports. On 11 April, Minneapolis saw the killing of another Black man at the hands of police in nearby Brooklyn Center sparking fresh outrage.
