The brevity of the moment probably did not reflect the expectations of the press and of American citizens who have been demonstrating for two weeks. A bail of at least a million dollars was set Monday at the first appearance in court of the American police officer Derek Chauvin, accused of the murder of George Floyd which overturns America and beyond.
The 44-year-old former detainee in a high-security prison appeared midday in an orange prisoner outfit on a screen in a courtroom in a court in Minneapolis, northern United States. In a neutral voice, he answered questions from Judge Jeannice Reding, notably agreeing to surrender his arms or to give up appearing in person.
Next hearing on June 29
He is charged with murder for suffocating two weeks ago George Floyd, a 46-year-old African American, by kneeling on his neck for almost nine minutes. The tragedy, whose images captured by a passerby went viral, sparked protests around the world and calls for police reform in the United States.
At the short hearing, Hennepin County Justice Reding fixed his bail at one million dollars with several conditions, or 1.25 million unconditionally, if he wants to be released on parole before his trial . His lawyer Eric Nelson did not object to this sum, which he probably could not collect.
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Prosecutor Matthew Frank pointed out that the tragedy had "obviously had a strong impact" on the population and that Derek Chauvin risked wanting to flee the proceedings and the reaction of the public. The parties have agreed to meet for a next hearing on June 29, which for the first time will deal with the merits of the case. Three other officers, who had witnessed the scene, were arrested and are being prosecuted for complicity.
