Throughout the third week of the Chauvin trial, Derek Chauvin invoked his Fifth Amendment rights and opted not to testify at the trial, a topic which his defense attorney noted that they debated throughout the course of the trial. Members of the jury heard over 40 witnesses, as well as experts who took the stand. The defense released footage from a 2019 arrest of George Floyd. Ultimately, the defense went on to raise doubt about Floyd’s cause of death, citing that it should be undetermined and possibly attributed to drug use or pre-existing conditions. The prosecutor, however, argued that Chauvin caused Floyd’s death in May. Prosecutor Steve Schleicher also addressed the timeline, testimony for medical experts and the charges. Schleicher also showcased video footage and photographic evidence from May 25 to the jury.
Closing statements began April 19, followed by a rebuttal from the prosecutor. The jury then began their private deliberations to decide on the verdict of the trial and Chauvin’s murder charges and manslaughter charges. If convicted, Chauvin faces penalties of up to 40 years for second-degree unintentional murder, 10 years and a fine of no more than $20,000 for second-degree manslaughter and up to 25 years and a fine of no more than $40,000 for third-degree murder.
While the jury deliberated, protests mounted in the Minneapolis area. George Floyd Square, located at the intersection of East 38th Street and Chicago Avenue, is currently being maintained as a site of occupation for protestors and memorial for Floyd. The autonomous zone first originated in late May as a result of protests congregating there following Floyd’s death.
The jury came to a verdict in the late afternoon of April 20 after 10 hours of deliberation. While awaiting the jury’s verdict to be announced, protestors gathered around the courthouse, as did media outlets.
The verdict was announced to the public at 4 p.m. CT. Chauvin, as predicted by Floyd’s family, girlfriend and attorney Ben Crump, was found guilty of all three charges. His bail was revoked and bond was discharged.
Chauvin, who was released on bail in the fall of 2020, will be held in jail until sentencing in the upcoming weeks. Following the verdict, Chauvin was placed in solitary confinement for 23 hours per day and being held at a maximum-security prison in Minnesota.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said that “the sentence should exceed the sentencing guidelines.”
After the verdict was read, protestors could be heard outside of the courthouse cheering, celebrating justice for Floyd.
The three officers — Tou Thao, J. Alexander Kueng and Thomas Lane — are expected to be tried in August 2021 in a joint trial.
President Joe Biden and Minnesota Governor Tim Waltz commented on the verdict, noting that it is a step forward. They also recognized the necessity of systemic reform. Vice President Kamala Harris raised awareness of systemic racism and racial inequality in her statement prior to Biden’s statement. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi also released a statement; however, she has drawn criticism for saying that Floyd “sacrificed his life.”
As of now, the federal civil rights investigation on Floyd’s death is ongoing, as reported by Attorney General Merrick Garland. The Department of Justice is also considering charging Chauvin for a 2017 incident in which he knelt his knee on a Black teenager.
