Ten months after George Floyd's death in the custody of the Minneapolis, Minnesota police, a jury is ready to hear the
opening arguments
in the same city
in the trial of Derek Chauvin
, the white agent accused of suffocating this black man. 46-year-old by pressing one knee against his neck for
about nine minutes
.
This phase of the judicial process will begin this Monday after, as of March 9 and during the following two weeks, the selection of the jury to judge the main defendant was carried out in court.
The jury will have to rule on
whether you are found guilty or not guilty
.
The trial is supervised by Hennepin County District Judge Peter Cahill, who has been in that court since 2007.
["Let's not let his life be wasted": Crowds attend George Floyd's second funeral in his native North Carolina]
Floyd's death triggered a wave of outrage and protests both in the United States and elsewhere on the planet.
Chauvin, a 19-year white cop with the Minneapolis Police Department, was fired and later jailed.
He was released from prison on a million dollar bond in October
.
Three other police officers were fired along with Chauvin and have charges against him in this case.
The city of Minneapolis settled with Floyd's family for a $ 27 million settlement.
This is what is worth knowing about this case, which will have great media coverage:
What charges are attributed to Chauvin
Chauvin faces charges of
second- and third-degree murder and
second-degree
reckless manslaughter
in Floyd's death.
For the first charge, he could face
up to 40 years in prison
.
According to the state definition of this crime, that would be justified if it is shown that Chauvin caused Floyd's death "while committing or attempting to commit a serious crime," which in this case is assault.
[Judge reinstates third degree murder charge against former police officer Derek Chauvin for George Floyd's death]
For the third degree murder charge, a charge considered minor,
the maximum possible penalty is 25 years
.
Cahill this month accepted prosecutors' request to reinstate this charge, after rejecting it last fall, claiming that the circumstances of Floyd's death did not warrant it.
Minnesota statute requires proof that the accused person committed an act "clearly and highly dangerous to others," that is, to more than one person.
An appeals court ruled last month that the statute could apply in this case.
Chauvin's defense appealed that ruling, but the state Supreme Court refused to intervene.
The third charge Chauvin faces, reckless murder in the second degree, has the lowest burden of proof and carries a
maximum penalty of 10 years
.
Prosecutors would have to prove that Floyd's death was caused by Chauvin's negligence in creating "an unreasonable risk" and by "knowingly assuming the risk of causing death or great bodily harm to another person."
George Floyd's death trial jury selection begins in Minneapolis
March 10, 202101: 49
What is known about the jury
The jury is made up of nine women and six men.
Nine of the jurors identify as white, four as black, and two as mestizo.
They are between the ages of 20 and 60
.
Two members of the jury are alternates.
Member number 15 will be excluded unless one of the others exits before that happens.
Although details about their lives, their general political views and their specific vision of the case
have been released
,
their identities have not been revealed
.
Who represents the prosecution
The prosecution is led by State Attorney General Keith Ellison.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz appointed Ellison just days after Floyd's death.
Ellison is
the first black and Muslim man to serve as
attorney general in Minnesota.
Other members of his office are helping him in this cause.
[How George Floyd's death began to "change the world"]
Activist Jerry Blackwell, founding partner, CEO, and president of Blackwell Burke PA and founder of the Minnesota Black Lawyers Association, is also helping prosecutors
for free
.
The indictment also includes former acting United States Attorney General Neal Katyal, a partner at Hogan Lovells in Washington, DC
Who will defend Chauvin
Chauvin's legal defense is covered by the Minnesota Peace and Police Officers Association.
Former police officer charged in George Floyd's death released on parole
Oct. 7, 202000: 32
Chauvin is still eligible to have his legal fees covered by the association's legal defense fund, because the Minneapolis Police Department is a member of it.
The defendant's lawyer is named
Erik Nelson
.
What about the other police officers fired for this case
Thomas Kiernan Lane, Alexander Kueng, and Tou Nmn Thao, the other three former officers implicated in Floyd's arrest,
are
scheduled to stand
trial in August
.
They are charged with complicity, participation in murder and murder in the second degree.
Also where applicable, legal fees may be covered by the Minnesota Peace and Police Officers Association legal defense fund.
With information from NBC News and AP.
