Ex-officer found guilty of murder
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Derek Chauvin, a former Minneapolis police officer, has been convicted on all charges in the death of George Floyd.
Crowds of people have gathered in Minneapolis and across the country following today’s verdict. Here’s what you need to know.
What it was like in the courtroom
The courtroom was silent as the verdict was read, pool reporters inside said. Chauvin appeared to be in a daze while waiting for the jury to arrive and was staring at the empty jury seating area. He snapped out of it after a few seconds when his attorney, Eric Nelson, spoke with him.
Philonise Floyd, George Floyd’s brother, waited for the verdict in the courtroom with his head bowed and hands clasped. He appeared to alternate between praying, looking up towards Chauvin, and looking down praying again. As the first guilty verdict was read, his hands began shaking while clasped.
Reaction
- Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said the “verdict is an important step forward for justice,” but there is still work left to do. He called for a continued “march for justice” and said the only way the state will change is “through systemic reform.”
- Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said he would “not call today’s verdict justice,” but did say that it is “accountability.”
- Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey commended the jury and said they “refused to look away” and affirmed that Floyd “should still be here today.”
- Former President Barack Obama said “the jury did the right thing,” adding “we cannot rest.”
- Floyd family attorney Ben Crump reflected on the significance of the decision at a news conference after the verdict saying, “We frame this moment for all of us, not just for George Floyd. This is a victory for those who champion humanity over inhumanity, those who champion justice over injustice, those who champion morals over immorality. America, let’s lean into this moment.”
- Vice President Kamala Harris and President Biden addressed the country calling the verdict a “giant step forward in the march towards justice in America.” The President said he talked to Floyd’s daughter and told her, “daddy did change the world.”
Floyd’s family
- Floyd’s girlfriend Courteney Ross told reporters outside the courthouse that she hadn’t doubted this would be the outcome reached and that it was a “huge day for the world.”
- Philonise Floyd choked back tears as he responded to the guilty verdict, saying his work fighting for justice had only just begun.
- George Floyd’s nephew, Brandon Williams, called the guilty verdict a “pivotal moment for America,” adding that it was long overdue and hopefully a spark for systemic change.
What’s next
After Judge Peter Cahill read and confirmed the verdict with the jury, he announced technical next steps, including scheduling sentencing in eight weeks time.
Cahill said the court would look at written arguments from Chauvin “within one week” and issue factual findings on it. Then they will order a pre-sentencing investigation report, “returnable in four weeks.” That will be followed by a briefing on the pre-sentencing investigation report six weeks from now.
The sentencing
The maximum sentence for second-degree unintentional murder is imprisonment of not more than 40 years. The maximum sentence for third-degree murder is imprisonment of not more than 25 years. The maximum sentence for second-degree manslaughter is 10 years and/or $20,000.
edition.cnn.com 2021-04-21 01:15:03