Derek Chauvin will not speak in court.
The 45-year-old former police officer, who is pleading not guilty to murder charges against George Floyd, said Thursday, April 15, that he refused to testify at his trial.
"I invoke my 5th Amendment right today," he said, referring to the right of any accused in the United States not to give evidence that could incriminate him.
Derek Chauvin, 45, is accused of killing George Floyd on May 25, 2020 by keeping a knee on the African-American 40-year-old's neck for more than nine minutes, a drama that sparked historic anti-racism in the United States.
He pleads not guilty and his lawyer assures that George Floyd, suspected of having passed a fake 20 dollar bill, died of an overdose combined with heart problems while the police tried to subdue him.
The proceedings are in their third week and the defense must finish hearing its witnesses on Thursday.
The jury is expected to withdraw to deliberate after hearing the requisitions and pleadings on Monday.
The verdict of the jurors in this extraordinary trial is not expected before the end of the month.
With AFP
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