Time for deliberations in the George Floyd affair.
The jury withdrew on Monday April 19 to rule on the responsibility of Derek Chauvin, a former Minneapolis police officer, in the death of the African-American forties, after a final day during which the prosecution and defense exposed their arguments.
"You must be absolutely impartial", told them Judge Peter Cahill, who invited them to "examine the evidence, weigh it and apply the law" at the end of this extraordinary trial, scrutinized around the world.
The 45-year-old white police officer is on trial for murder, manslaughter and intentional violence resulting in the death of George Floyd, whom he arrested with three other officers for a minor offense.
For over nine minutes, he had kept his knee on the neck of the 40-year-old, who was lying on his stomach with his hands cuffed behind his back.
His agony, filmed live by passers-by, shocked the world and sparked demonstrations of historic proportions against racism and police violence.
Derek Chauvin has pleaded not guilty to the charges of murder, manslaughter and intentional violence resulting in the death of George Floyd, weighing against him.
He faces up to 40 years in prison.
"It was a murder, the accused is guilty of all three counts and there is no excuse," prosecutor Steve Schleicher said, concluding his indictment, which lasted more than an hour and half.
"This case is exactly what you originally thought about watching this video," he said.
"George Floyd begged until he couldn't speak," he said.
"It just needed a little compassion and nobody showed it that day," added the prosecutor, criticizing the policeman who remained impassive in the face of pleas from his victim and passers-by.
"The accused is not tried because he is a police officer" but "he is being tried for what he did," said Steve Schleicher, believing that Derek Chauvin had "betrayed his badge".
"Police officers are human beings"
But for his lawyer, Derek Chauvin acted in a "reasonable" manner during the eventful arrest of the 40-year-old with the imposing template, on May 25, 2020 in Minneapolis.
The prosecution has failed to provide evidence to the contrary "beyond a reasonable doubt, and Derek Chauvin must therefore be found not guilty," said Eric Nelson after nearly three hours of argument.
According to him, George Floyd died of the combination of heart problems and drug use - of fentanyl, an opioid, and methamphetamine, a stimulant - "against the background" of a detention by the police, but that - This did not cause his death, he says.
"Police officers are human beings and they can make mistakes in very stressful situations," he admitted, suggesting that the loud "frustration" of passers-by could pose a threat and had distracted Derek Chauvin's attention from the fate of George Floyd.
The policeman, in a clear suit and blue shirt, followed the pleading without wearing a mask, seeming concentrated without showing any emotion.
Sow doubt
Derek Chauvin refused to testify, making use of the right of any accused in the United States not to give evidence likely to incriminate him.
Eric Nelson's goal is to sow doubt in the minds of the jury, which must render a unanimous verdict on each of the three charges.
The ex-policeman faces up to 40 years in prison.
Police convictions for murder are very rare, with jurors tending to give them the benefit of the doubt.
If the jury cannot agree on all of the charges, the trial will be declared "void".
Any other scenario than a conviction worries the local authorities.
The trial is taking place amid high tensions and daily protests following the recent death of a young black man on the outskirts of Minneapolis.
Daunte Wright, a 20-year-old African-American, was killed by a white policewoman during an ordinary traffic stop on the outskirts of this large city in the north of the United States.
Minneapolis had already set alight after the death of George Floyd, and businesses were once again barricaded behind wooden planks.
More than 400 people marched through the streets of the city on Monday demanding the conviction of Derek Chauvin, chanting "the world is watching, we are watching, do what is right".
Walking behind a banner calling for "justice for George Floyd", they passed National Guard soldiers on their way, observing them near armored vehicles.
Camouflage clothing, and submachine gun slung, these soldiers have been patrolling the streets of the city for several weeks, on the sidelines of this high-tension trial.
Rodney Floyd, one of George's brothers, shared earlier today his gratitude for the messages of support "from around the world" to his family, several of whom have been following the proceedings since March 29.
"I hope the jurors return the correct verdict," Courtenay Carver, a 56-year-old African-American social worker, told AFP.
Janay Clanton, a resident of Minneapolis, said she was preparing "for the worst" if Derek Chauvin was not found guilty.
The outcome of the trial will also have an impact on that of the other three agents, who are to be tried in August for "complicity in murder".
With AFP
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