***This thread is intended to be for discussion of the trial (and aspects of the incident, people involved relevant to the trial), it's not intended to be about any previous or future protests/civil unrest or broader discussions of other incidents involving US police forces.***
The trial is starting today - or at least the jury selection aspect, apparently the prosecution can object to up to 9 jurers and the defence up to 15.
Chauvin is charged with second-degree murder (originally he was charged with third-degree murder by a local prosecutor then the charge was upgraded when the state AG took over) and second-degree manslaughter. There are arguments, perhaps to be steeled today re: whether a third-degree murder charge can also apply too.
Obviously, this is a highly publicised case and there are arguments that he can't get a fair trial locally, so possibly the trial could be moved too - though so far the judge seems to have said that the same applies anywhere in the US, it's hard to have escaped this incident.
The trial will be televised, this is going to be bigger than the OJ Simpson trial potentially. the prosecution had objected to this but the judge is allowing it. I do wonder if the person who performed the autopsy will get a bit of flack as his evidence is going to be pretty key here.
IMO, if it wasn't for the fact this is so political with all the coverage and resources are thrown at it, I'd be quite skeptical about the prospects of a conviction - but... it looks like Chauvin was worried enough that he was prepared to accept a plea deal with 10 years in prison and 3rd-degree murder! But that was rejected.
Key bit of reporting that has often been missed in the press coverage is the drugs issue and the fact that Floyd had breathing difficulties before he was even put on the floor - was already saying "I can't breathe" when in the police car. On the other hand, Chauvin does hear from Floyd himself that he's having difficulties specifically with the knee on his neck - that could be the bit of dialogue that caused the charges to be upgraded to 2nd-degree murder. To complicate things though, the knee on the neck is covered in their police dept training manual.
Recent BBC article, doesn't mention the drugs:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-56270334
Washington post article, but more detailed/thorough:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/03/07/derek-chauvin-trial-george-floyd/
The trial is starting today - or at least the jury selection aspect, apparently the prosecution can object to up to 9 jurers and the defence up to 15.
Chauvin is charged with second-degree murder (originally he was charged with third-degree murder by a local prosecutor then the charge was upgraded when the state AG took over) and second-degree manslaughter. There are arguments, perhaps to be steeled today re: whether a third-degree murder charge can also apply too.
Obviously, this is a highly publicised case and there are arguments that he can't get a fair trial locally, so possibly the trial could be moved too - though so far the judge seems to have said that the same applies anywhere in the US, it's hard to have escaped this incident.
The trial will be televised, this is going to be bigger than the OJ Simpson trial potentially. the prosecution had objected to this but the judge is allowing it. I do wonder if the person who performed the autopsy will get a bit of flack as his evidence is going to be pretty key here.
IMO, if it wasn't for the fact this is so political with all the coverage and resources are thrown at it, I'd be quite skeptical about the prospects of a conviction - but... it looks like Chauvin was worried enough that he was prepared to accept a plea deal with 10 years in prison and 3rd-degree murder! But that was rejected.
Key bit of reporting that has often been missed in the press coverage is the drugs issue and the fact that Floyd had breathing difficulties before he was even put on the floor - was already saying "I can't breathe" when in the police car. On the other hand, Chauvin does hear from Floyd himself that he's having difficulties specifically with the knee on his neck - that could be the bit of dialogue that caused the charges to be upgraded to 2nd-degree murder. To complicate things though, the knee on the neck is covered in their police dept training manual.
Recent BBC article, doesn't mention the drugs:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-56270334
Washington post article, but more detailed/thorough:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/03/07/derek-chauvin-trial-george-floyd/
