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Floyd case: Further ex-police officers charged and arrested

2020-06-05T13:27:13.499Z


George Floyd's death has shaken confidence in the police and judiciary in the United States. Prosecutors now want to crack down on them. Thousands demonstrate again against racism.


George Floyd's death has shaken confidence in the police and judiciary in the United States. Prosecutors now want to crack down on them. Thousands demonstrate again against racism.

Minneapolis / Washington (dpa) - After the death of African American George Floyd in a brutal police operation, the US judiciary has significantly tightened its pace against the officials involved.

The Minnesota state attorney's office indicted and arrested three ex-police officers involved in Floyd's arrest for complicity. The charges against the policeman, who is held responsible for Floyd's death, have been tightened. He is now facing a significantly longer prison sentence. The four police officers were released immediately after the incident became known. Meanwhile, there have been new protests across the country.

State Justice Secretary Keith Ellison said law enforcement in cases of police violence against black Americans had been insufficient for too long. The past cannot be changed, but he promises that the judiciary will "do its best to bring justice to the situation." The country owes this to Floyd and his family. Governor Tim Walz said the state and the whole country should now work hard in honor of Floyd to fight "systematic racism". The anger behind the protests shows that there is more to it. "George Floyd's death is a symptom of an illness."

During the police operation in the city of Minneapolis, officer Derek C. had pressed his knee on Floyd's neck for almost nine minutes - despite all requests from the 46-year-old to let him breathe. The ex-policeman now has to answer for a second-degree murder in court, according to the arrest warrant. This is up to 40 years in prison in Minnesota. He is also accused of third-degree murder, which can result in up to 25 years in prison. The judiciary also accuses him of homicide, for which he could face ten years in prison. Previously, he had only been accused of third degree murder and homicide.

The three former police officers who were also involved in arresting Floyd on Monday last week are now accused of complicity in a second-degree murder. They face a long prison sentence if convicted.

Floyd's family lawyer, Benjamin Crump, welcomed the announcement of the judiciary. The family is grateful that all four ex-police officers have now been charged and arrested, he said on Twitter. The relatives had asked for this for days. Crump said Floyd was "tortured to death" by the police. There will be a commemorative event in Minneapolis on Thursday (8:00 p.m. CEST). The 46-year-old was arrested on suspicion of paying with a fake $ 20 bill.

In Los Angeles, New York, Washington, Houston and other US cities, thousands of people protested again peacefully against police violence, racism and social inequality on Wednesday. Many demonstrators held up posters of the "Black Lives Matter" movement (in German, for example: Black lives are important). In several cities, including New York, Minneapolis and Washington, there was another night curfew to prevent looting and riots.

Original arrest warrant for police officer Derek C., English

Tweet from the family lawyer, English

Updated arrest warrant from Wednesday, English

Source: merkur

All news articles on 2020-06-05

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