Derek Chauvin trial began today
Today in The New York Times;In response to:
March 29, 2021, 6:07 p.m. ET 6 hours ago
By Will Wright
Takeaways from the first day of the Derek Chauvin trial.
One of the most closely watched court cases in decades got underway on Monday as the murder trial began for Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer, who is being charged with murder in the death of George Floyd.
A long day in court began with the prosecution’s opening remarks, focusing the jury’s attention on the bystander video of Mr. Floyd’s death — all nine minutes and 29 seconds of it — and ended with the testimony of a mixed martial arts fighter who was on the scene and said he believed Mr. Chauvin was killing Mr. Floyd. In between, the defense laid out its theory of the case, vowing to prove over the course of the trial that Mr. Floyd died of a drug overdose and heart condition.
Here’s what happened.
The trial began with opening statements from both sides, laying the groundwork for both teams as they make their case to the jury pool. Prosecuting attorney Jerry W. Blackwell aimed to focus the jurors’ attention on the famous video of Mr. Floyd’s arrest, which sparked a wave of protests across the country this summer. The video, taken by a bystander, showed Mr. Chauvin kneeling on Mr. Floyd’s neck, where he remained for about 9 minutes and 30 seconds. “You can believe your eyes, that it’s homicide — it’s murder,” Mr. Blackwell said, adding that the trial was “about Derek Chauvin,” not the police in general.
Defense attorneys for Mr. Chauvin laid out their strategy as well — one that will ask jurors to consider heaps of evidence outside of the video itself. Eric Nelson, the lawyer for Mr. Chauvin, said there are more than 50,000 items in evidence and told jurors that the case “is clearly more than about 9 minutes and 29 seconds.”
The state also made clear another point: that Mr. Floyd’s exact cause of death will prove to be one of the most crucial points of this trial. In its opening statement, the prosecution (not the defense, as previously reported) said it would call seven medical experts, in addition to the Hennepin County medical examiner, Dr. Andrew Baker, who performed the only autopsy on Mr. Floyd and classified it as a homicide.
Witnesses, including a cashier at a gas station across the street who filmed the encounter and a 911 dispatcher, also described their actions during the time that Mr. Floyd was arrested. “My instincts were telling me that something’s wrong,” said Jena Scurry, the 911 dispatcher, who alerted a supervising sergeant about what was happening. But she was circumspect about what exactly she thought was wrong; she said she thought officers may have needed reinforcements.
Outside the courthouse, the amount of public interest in the trial was laid bare, as protesters gathered and a helicopter whirled overhead. Temporary concrete and metal barricades encircled some of the government buildings downtown, while national guard members and state police officers stood by. Ben Crump, a lawyer for Mr. Floyd’s family, told supporters on Monday that “the whole world is watching.”
March 29, 2021, 6:07 p.m. ET 6 hours ago
By Will Wright
Takeaways from the first day of the Derek Chauvin trial.
One of the most closely watched court cases in decades got underway on Monday as the murder trial began for Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer, who is being charged with murder in the death of George Floyd.
A long day in court began with the prosecution’s opening remarks, focusing the jury’s attention on the bystander video of Mr. Floyd’s death — all nine minutes and 29 seconds of it — and ended with the testimony of a mixed martial arts fighter who was on the scene and said he believed Mr. Chauvin was killing Mr. Floyd. In between, the defense laid out its theory of the case, vowing to prove over the course of the trial that Mr. Floyd died of a drug overdose and heart condition.
Here’s what happened.
The trial began with opening statements from both sides, laying the groundwork for both teams as they make their case to the jury pool. Prosecuting attorney Jerry W. Blackwell aimed to focus the jurors’ attention on the famous video of Mr. Floyd’s arrest, which sparked a wave of protests across the country this summer. The video, taken by a bystander, showed Mr. Chauvin kneeling on Mr. Floyd’s neck, where he remained for about 9 minutes and 30 seconds. “You can believe your eyes, that it’s homicide — it’s murder,” Mr. Blackwell said, adding that the trial was “about Derek Chauvin,” not the police in general.
Defense attorneys for Mr. Chauvin laid out their strategy as well — one that will ask jurors to consider heaps of evidence outside of the video itself. Eric Nelson, the lawyer for Mr. Chauvin, said there are more than 50,000 items in evidence and told jurors that the case “is clearly more than about 9 minutes and 29 seconds.”
The state also made clear another point: that Mr. Floyd’s exact cause of death will prove to be one of the most crucial points of this trial. In its opening statement, the prosecution (not the defense, as previously reported) said it would call seven medical experts, in addition to the Hennepin County medical examiner, Dr. Andrew Baker, who performed the only autopsy on Mr. Floyd and classified it as a homicide.
Witnesses, including a cashier at a gas station across the street who filmed the encounter and a 911 dispatcher, also described their actions during the time that Mr. Floyd was arrested. “My instincts were telling me that something’s wrong,” said Jena Scurry, the 911 dispatcher, who alerted a supervising sergeant about what was happening. But she was circumspect about what exactly she thought was wrong; she said she thought officers may have needed reinforcements.
Outside the courthouse, the amount of public interest in the trial was laid bare, as protesters gathered and a helicopter whirled overhead. Temporary concrete and metal barricades encircled some of the government buildings downtown, while national guard members and state police officers stood by. Ben Crump, a lawyer for Mr. Floyd’s family, told supporters on Monday that “the whole world is watching.”
For key moments from the trial today
For the complete day 1 of the trial today;
May justice prevail.
Comments (24)
9 Minutes And 29 Seconds: Derek Chauvin’s Murder Trial Began With A Recap Of How Long His Knee Was On George Floyd’s Neck
Tasneem Nashrulla
On the first day of the murder trial for the former Minneapolis officer, prosecutors and defense attorneys tried to make clear what the case was — and was not — about.
In the 9 minutes and 29 seconds that former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin had his knee on George Floyd’s neck and back, the unarmed Black man cried out “I can’t breathe” 27 times.
This crucial period of time, captured on a bystander’s video that sparked a national reckoning over racial justice and police brutality, was the focus of the prosecution’s opening statements in Chauvin’s murder trial, which began on Monday in Minneapolis.
In his opening statement, Chauvin's defense attorney, Eric Nelson, countered, “This case is clearly about more than 9 minutes and 29 seconds.”
Outside the courtroom, the case is being viewed as a watershed moment for police prosecutions in a country where cops are rarely convicted of killing civilians.
“This is a landmark moment in American history,” said Benjamin Crump, an attorney for Floyd’s family, at a press conference on Monday. “The whole world is watching.”
The high-profile trial, which is being livestreamed, is expected to last at least four weeks. Chauvin is charged with second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter.
Fourteen jurors — eight white people and six people of color — were chosen during a selection process fraught with concerns about how the excessive publicity in the case would prejudice them.
Inside the courtroom at the heavily fortified Hennepin County Government Center, both the prosecution and the defense tried to make clear what the case was — and was not — about.
“It’s about the evidence in this case,” said Nelson, the defense attorney. “There is no political or social cause in this courtroom.”
Nelson said this case was about the “totality” of what happened on May 25, 2020, and what the “actual cause” of Floyd’s death was, focusing on his underlying medical conditions and the “ingestion” of the drugs that were found in his system after his death.
Jerry Blackwell, a lawyer for the prosecution and the founder of the Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers, said the case was about “what happened in those 9 minutes and 29 seconds when Mr. Derek Chauvin was applying excessive force to the body of George Floyd.”
Prosecutors have revised the amount of time that Chauvin had his knee on Floyd’s neck from the previous time of 8 minutes and 46 seconds, which became an enduring symbol for last summer's police brutality protests.
Blackwell emphasized that the case wasn’t about “all police officers and all policing” but only about how Chauvin’s actions contributed to Floyd’s death.
In his opening statement, Blackwell laid out the prosecution’s plans to prove that Chauvin’s restraint on Floyd’s neck was an “imminently dangerous activity” and that the former officer did it “without regard” for the impact it would have on his life.
Blackwell said Chauvin “betrayed” his police badge when he put his knee on Floyd’s neck and back, “grinding and crushing him, until ... the very life was squeezed out of him.”
He said the state will call several use-of-force experts and law enforcement officials, including the Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo, to testify that Chauvin’s conduct was “not consistent” with police training and policy and that his actions constituted an excessive and unreasonable use of force that contributed to Floyd’s death.
Williams, who had gone fishing with his son earlier that day, described seeing one of the fish he had caught slowly losing air and dying.
He said he was on his way to Cup Foods when he saw the officers restraining Floyd.
“When I first arrived, Floyd was vocalizing his pain and distress,” Williams said.
But the longer Chauvin’s knee remained on Floyd's neck, he said, “the more you see Floyd slowly fade away like the fish in the bag.”
I'm Not saying Injustice was Not done to Mr. Floyd.
But disregarding that for the moment ...
Chauvin (and the Three Other Officers) exhibited Monumental STUPIDITY.
In an age when Every person with a phone is essentially a News Reporter ...
What Chauvin did was Moronically Self-Destructive & the Three who did Not Stop It were Equally Moronic.
There's something far more important, than the lack of intelligence of the defendants.
What on earth did they think they were doing ?????? Pure and simple MURDER with an audience too.
Mental cases but lets hope they do not plead (a mental case slip)
I have watched trial on television which over here gives you hours of it. Defence ?????? how can you defend behaviour which was plain to see. Even if guy had no other problems leaning on someones neck for so long would kill them.
Most people are not perfect, and most people are not extremists. However, extremists do exist also.
People should be judged by their individual behavior, not their skin color.
Skin color is merely differences in melanin pigmentation. It's not important, except in cases of severe sun exposure. People fear what they do not understand.
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JimN is just stating his opinions...and some people here do not agree with him...I only know JimN here...he has been respectful and kind to me when others were not...I can only judge what I know or see...
I am glad that conversations here are less toxic...well for awhile at least...lol...
Times are changing...sensitivity and cultural training now in place...and an inclusion of non white members who serve communities or areas that help build trust.
refuse to be changed.
Restrictions differ province to province...here in BC...restrictions have not been lifted but you can dine out due to restaurants abiding by social distancing and mask use...as well as shops...masks are a must...in hospitals...one visitor per patient if the patient is in the hospital for more than 3 weeks...not sure about other floors though...
Spikes of Covid 19 suggest youth have been gathering and fines have doubled...taking it seriously...Whistler ski resort shut down due to this...
The police culture is tough to crack as they tend to protect other members even when they know a problem exists...sad but true...
How does one eat with a mask on ?
I am thinking that politicians would flock to the prisons and make reform happen...lol...after all it would hopefully balance out the inequities...
Again Bernie was my fave but because of the hate about socialism...even when people were using socialist programs...chose Biden...fear has many consequences...Biden was safer than Trump or Hillary for that matter...
I Know you're a fan - And he's in Rare Form on This One ...
Sadly, prob'ly all Too Correctly. ...
I know Bernie Bros (One Especially!) who'd Vehemently disagree.
He Lives in your head Rent Free.
used by Trump.