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George Floyd Case - Closing Arguments: 'That wasn't police work. That was murder. "

2021-04-20T17:27:32.544Z


The defense of the ex-police officer Derek Chauvin demands an acquittal, the prosecution demands a long prison term. Now the jury has to decide.


Read the video transcript here

From now on, the jury will take over.

It's up to you to decide whether or not white ex-cop Derek Chauvin is to be blamed for killing African American George Floyd.

The 46-year-old African American was killed in an arrest in Minneapolis on May 25 last year.

Videos documented the accused policeman holding his knee on Floyd's neck for more than nine minutes while Floyd pleaded for him to breathe.

Under strict security precautions, the main proceedings came to an end with the closing arguments from the prosecution and defense.

According to prosecutors, Chauvin's excessive and merciless use of force killed Floyd.

Steve Schleicher, District Attorney


“This case is exactly what you first thought when you saw the video.

It was exactly like that.

You can believe your eyes.

It was exactly what you thought it was.

It was exactly what you saw with your eyes.

It was exactly what you already knew.

It was what it felt like in your stomach.

What your heart is telling you now.

It wasn't police work.

That was murder.

The accused is guilty of all three counts, all of them.

And there is no excuse. "

The prosecutor repeatedly stressed that Floyd's struggle to survive under Chauvin's knee had lasted 9 minutes and 29 seconds - even though Floyd was arrested only on suspicion of having paid with a fake $ 20 bill.

Steve Schleicher, District Attorney


“The Minneapolis Police Department motto is 'Protect with Courage, Act with Compassion'.

But George Floyd was not a threat to anyone.

He wasn't trying to hurt anyone.

He wasn't trying to harm anyone.

Meeting George Floyd that day didn't take a bit of courage, and it wasn't shown.

No courage was required.

All that was required was a little compassion.

But that wasn't shown that day either. "

The defense pleaded for acquittal and stressed the innocence of the police officer.

Whose action during the arrest was justified use of force in the context of a "dynamic" police operation, because Floyd had resisted the arrest.

Eric Nelson, defense attorney


“The prosecution really focused on the nine minutes and 29 seconds. Nine minutes, 29 seconds. Nine minutes, 29 seconds. This is not a correct analysis. Because the nine minutes and 29 seconds ignore the previous 16 minutes and 59 seconds. They are completely left aside. That would mean: At this point, none of what happened before should be considered by a sensible police officer. // A sensible cop would do just that: take into account the previous 16 minutes and 59 seconds, his experience with the subject, the fight the two were having, the comparison of his words with his actions. It all plays a role. Why? Because human behavior is unpredictable. Human behavior is unpredictable. And nobody knows that better than a policeman. "

Now it is up to the twelve jurors to decide the case.

Derek Chauvin faces a long prison sentence if convicted.

Many people in the US hope for a verdict that will take a stand against racism and police violence.

There is no time limit for advising the twelve jury members, so it is unclear when the decision will be made.



If Chauvin is acquitted or given a short prison sentence, massive protests are expected again.

Source: spiegel

All life articles on 2021-04-20

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