The trial began on Monday in the United States, the first day of the trial of Derek Chauvin, a former Minneapolis police officer facing three criminal charges related to the death of African American George Floyd, sparking a major protest movement.
The trial saw a live replay of the last moments in Floyd's life, captured by a mobile phone camera, which showed Chauvin kneeling on Floyd's neck for approximately 9 minutes live.
And a number of observers considered that this trial would be among the most important trials in modern history.
The video broadcast showed the last moments in the life of Floyd, who died at the age of 46, and Floyd pleaded with the policeman Chauvin several times saying that he could not breathe.
The trial - which is expected to last for up to a month - opened in an atmosphere charged with a lot of anger. Chauvin faces 3 criminal charges, which are second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter.
George Floyd was killed by a policeman (Reuters)
Shocking details
The prosecution's opening case was brought by Jerry Blackwell, a Minneapolis-based attorney who works on the case for free, and was chosen by Minnesota State Attorney Keith Ellison, a former Democratic member of the House of Representatives.
"You will know that on May 25, 2020, Mr. Derek Chauvin betrayed the honor of the police insignia when he used excessive and unreasonable force against Mr. George Floyd's body," attorney Blackwell told the jury, adding that he "placed his knee on his neck and back, crushing him to his last breath." .
The lawyer showed the videotape of Chauvin kneeling on Floyd's neck for 9 minutes and 29 seconds. Attorney Blackwell's hearing took an hour, during which he tried to confirm that what happened was nothing but a "murder."
Focal points
How did George Floyd die?
A question considered by observers to be the crux of the issue that most US news channels broadcast live on Monday.
Attorney Blackwell highlighted the cause of death as stated in the coroner's office report in Hennepin County, Minnesota, in the Floyd autopsy report, which reads: "Pulmonary sclerosis (stopping the heart and lungs), which makes restraint and neck pressure difficult."
Blackwell told a jury that Floyd "did not die from a drug overdose."
Floyd is known to have struggled with substance abuse, and trace amounts of fentanyl and methamphetamine were found in his blood, but were not listed as the cause of death.
On the other hand, Chauvin's defense attorney, Eric Nelson, took advantage of Floyd's drug use, and told the jury in his opening argument that Floyd had died of "an irregular heartbeat that occurred as a result of high blood pressure and his ingestion of methamphetamine and fentanyl, which led to the damage to Floyd's heart and already put him at risk." .
Nelson added that despite the declared cause of death, Hennepin County coroner Andrew Baker did not notice "signs of suffocation" when recounting his findings at the autopsy.
Floyd's family at a press conference before the start of the trial (Reuters)
Defense points
Defense attorney Eric Nelson focused his defense on the allegation that common sense was on his client Chauvin's side.
"When you review the actual evidence, when you listen to the law and apply common sense and common sense, there will only be one fair judgment, which is that Mr. Chauvin is not guilty," Nelson told the jury during his opening argument.
Nelson confirmed in his pleading that the case closely juxtaposes the "9-minute 29-second video," and said, "Chauvin followed the policy adopted by the Minnesota Police Department."
"You will know that Derek Chauvin did exactly what he was trained to do during his 19-year career," he added.
The burden of proof
All charges against Chauvin require the prosecution to prove the responsibility for the killing of former policeman George Floyd beyond a reasonable doubt.
The three charges against Chauvin increase the prosecutor's chances of obtaining a guilty verdict.
The third-degree murder charge of Chauvin is somewhat unique, as Minnesota is one of the few states in the country that has such a charge.
The standard for proving third-degree murder is lower than for second-degree murder, but it still carries a heavy maximum penalty of 25 years.
In order for Chauvin to be found guilty by the jury for third-degree murder, the prosecution would need to prove that Chauvin acted without intending to kill Floyd but in a "very dangerous" manner, demonstrating a perverted mind without regard to human life.
Demands justice for Floyd (Reuters)
Jury
The Minneapolis court is taking measures to protect the identities of jurors, and they will not appear in front of the cameras in the courtroom or during their deliberations, and their names will remain confidential to protect their privacy and to preserve their lives.
Of the 12 jurors and 3 alternates selected for the committee, there are 3 black men, a black woman, and two jurors who are considered multi-ethnic.
And if none of the three alternate members - all white - were needed in the trading room, then 50 percent of the committee members who would vote on Chauvin's fate would be black or multiracial.
The jury selection does not reflect proportions equal to the demographics of Hennepin County, Minnesota, which has a white population of 74% of the total population.