A jury has convicted Derek Chauvin of second-and third-degree murder, as well as second-degree manslaughter of George Floyd.
The jury read the decision on Tuesday, April 20, 201 the day after deliberations began.
Chauvin is a white police officer who knelt on Floyd’s neck for more than nine minutes as Floyd, who was Black, was handcuffed and lying on the ground on May 25, 2020.
Floyd died after Chauvin placed his knee on Floyd’s neck while he pleaded, “I can’t breathe.”
Chauvin faces up to 75 years in prison for murder and manslaughter of Floyd.
Second-degree murder carries a maximum sentence of 40 years. Third-degree murder carries a maximum sentence of 25 years. Second-degree manslaughter is punishable by up to 10 years.
The panel of seven women and five men began deliberating on Monday after three weeks of witness testimony.
Prosecutors argued that Chauvin’s actions caused Floyd to die from low oxygen, or asphyxia. The defense claimed that Floyd’s illegal drug use and a pre-existing heart condition were to blame and urged jurors not to rule out other theories, as well, including exposure to carbon monoxide.
During closing arguments, prosecutors sought to focus jurors’ attention on the 9 minutes, 29 seconds they say Chauvin knelt on Floyd’s neck, while Chauvin’s defense attorney told them that “the 9 minutes and 29 seconds ignores the previous 16 minutes and 59 seconds” of the interaction.
Prosecutors called 38 witnesses, including the teenager who recorded the widely seen bystander video that brought global attention to Floyd’s death.
She and other bystanders who testified said they are haunted by Floyd’s death and that they wish they had done more to try to save his life.
The defence called seven witnesses, two of whom were experts.
