Death of George Floyd: first appearance of Derek Chauvin in court

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Sketch of Derek Chauvin's video conference appearance before the Hennepin County District Judge in Minneapolis, June 8, 2020. Cedric Hohnstadt Illustration via REUTERS.

Text by: Eric de Salve Follow

Two weeks after the asphyxiation death of George Floyd, a 46-year-old African American without problems who was arrested by police in Minneapolis, in the north of the United States, the main suspect, Derek Chauvin, appeared for the first time this Monday morning before the city justice.

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From our special envoy to Minneapolis,

The appearance lasted only 10 minutes. Two weeks after killing George Floyd , the ex-police officer wore the prisoners' orange attire. He was interviewed by videoconference from his high security prison where he is kept isolated from other detainees.

When the judge asked him for his address, Derek Chauvin, 44, simply confirmed but imperfectly: "it  was my address  ," he said.

An essentially procedural hearing. The judge set his next hearing on June 29 and his bail at $ 1.25 million, unconditionally, is the maximum provided by law.

The former police officer, who was already the subject of about 20 complaints and was involved in several shootings, was initially charged with manslaughter, but these facts were then reclassified as premeditated murder. A crime punishable by 40 years in prison. But many here fear that Chauvin will receive a light sentence, as is almost always the case for the police.

So to seek justice, a very strong scene occurred during this hearing: outside, a hundred lawyers demonstrated in silence all kneeling and turned towards the court room where Chauvin appeared with the same request, the end impunity for police killers in the United States.

All the lawyers kneel in the direction of the courtroom where Derek Chauvin is to be heard pic.twitter.com/SjbSaPGeRh

  Eric de Salve (@edsRFI_US) June 8, 2020

► Also read: Death of George Floyd: ex-police officer Derek Chauvin in Minnesota justice this Monday

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  • United States
  • Justice
  • Racism

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Death of George Floyd: ex-police officer Derek Chauvin in Minnesota justice this Monday