Derek Chauvin, a former Minneapolis Police officer was declared guilty of the murder of George Floyd. The verdict was passed on Tuesday, April 20 in Hennepin County Courthouse in Minneapolis. Chauvin who knelt on George Floyd’s neck for more than 9 minutes causing his death has been found guilty of all three charges against him.
He is convicted of second-degree unintentional murder which states Chauvin assaulted George Floyd with his knee that caused his death. The third-degree murder charge said that Chauvin acted with a ‘deprived mind.’ The manslaughter charge stated that his ‘culpable negligence’ caused the death of Floyd.
The jurors in Hennepixxxn County Court deliberated for more than ten hours over two days, later declaring the former police officer guilty. The date for sentencing is set for eight weeks from now and the state has asked for a tougher sentence.
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The guilty could face 40 years of prison for second-degree unintentional murder. The maximum sentence faced for third-degree murder could be 25 years and for the manslaughter charge, the sentence could be up to 10 years or USD 20,000.
Remembering George Floyd, many empathized with his family and friends for their loss. After the verdict was passed, US President Joe Biden tweeted, “Today, a jury in Minnesota found former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin guilty of murdering George Floyd. The verdict is a step forward. And while nothing can ever bring George Floyd back, this can be a giant step forward on the march towards justice in America.”
US president Joe Biden also said, “Let there be a legacy of peace, not violence. Those who see to exploit raw emotions of the moment, fan the flames of division, we can’t let them succeed. This is the time to unite as Americans and fight racial prejudice.”