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| Derek Chauvin trial: jury begins deliberations over killing of George Floyd – live | Derek Chauvin trial: jury begins deliberations over killing of George Floyd – live |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Prosecution says ‘reason George Floyd is dead is because Mr Chauvin’s heart was too small’ – follow the latest trial news live | Prosecution says ‘reason George Floyd is dead is because Mr Chauvin’s heart was too small’ – follow the latest trial news live |
| The Associated Press is reporting that the White House is privately weighing how it will respond to the verdict in the Chauvin trial, including talks of a national address. | |
| The AP reports: | |
| Read the full story here. | |
| As the verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial approaches, Amudalat Ajasa reports for the Guardian today on a fence in Minnesota that’s become a flashpoint in a suburban community. | |
| She writes ... | |
| Read the full story below: | |
| Here’s a video of a dramatic moment from the closing arguments delivered by prosecutor Jerry Blackwell earlier today. | |
| Addressing the jury, Blackwell rebutted the defence’s argument that George Floyd died of heart disease and illegal drug use. “You were told … that Mr Floyd died because his heart was too big,” Blackwell said. “The truth of the matter is that the reason George Floyd is dead is because Mr Chauvin’s heart was too small.” | |
| The Associated Press has composed a useful explainer on the questions the 12 members of the jury face. | The Associated Press has composed a useful explainer on the questions the 12 members of the jury face. |
| Protesters gathered near the Hennepin county government center today, where the closing arguments in the trial took place. Photographers captured these scenes. | Protesters gathered near the Hennepin county government center today, where the closing arguments in the trial took place. Photographers captured these scenes. |
| Michael Slager, who was convicted of murdering Walter Scott in South Carolina in 2015, has been appealing his sentence, saying his lawyer did not inform him of options to get a lighter sentence. | Michael Slager, who was convicted of murdering Walter Scott in South Carolina in 2015, has been appealing his sentence, saying his lawyer did not inform him of options to get a lighter sentence. |
| This all playing out while the Derek Chauvin trial was happening in Minneapolis. | This all playing out while the Derek Chauvin trial was happening in Minneapolis. |
| Now The Associated Press brings this update: | Now The Associated Press brings this update: |
| Derek Chauvin’s defense lawyer, Eric Nelson, has cited comments by Democratic congress member Maxine Waters this weekend in a renewed push for a mistrial. | Derek Chauvin’s defense lawyer, Eric Nelson, has cited comments by Democratic congress member Maxine Waters this weekend in a renewed push for a mistrial. |
| “A United States congressperson was making, what I interpreted to be, what I think are reasonably interpreted threats against the jury process,” he tells Judge Peter Cahill shortly after the jury has left to deliberate. | “A United States congressperson was making, what I interpreted to be, what I think are reasonably interpreted threats against the jury process,” he tells Judge Peter Cahill shortly after the jury has left to deliberate. |
| Nelson was referring to Waters’ comments on Saturday when she spoke in Brooklyn Center, the Minneapolis suburb where Daunte Wright, a 20-year-old Black man, was fatally shot by a police officer last week. | Nelson was referring to Waters’ comments on Saturday when she spoke in Brooklyn Center, the Minneapolis suburb where Daunte Wright, a 20-year-old Black man, was fatally shot by a police officer last week. |
| “I’m going to fight with all of the people who stand for justice,” said Waters, who is Black. “We’ve got to get justice in this country and we cannot allow these killings to continue.” | “I’m going to fight with all of the people who stand for justice,” said Waters, who is Black. “We’ve got to get justice in this country and we cannot allow these killings to continue.” |
| Waters further commented: “We’ve got to stay on the street and we’ve got to get more active, we’ve got to get more confrontational. We’ve got to make sure that they know that we mean business.” | Waters further commented: “We’ve got to stay on the street and we’ve got to get more active, we’ve got to get more confrontational. We’ve got to make sure that they know that we mean business.” |
| “I hope we’re going to get a verdict that will say guilty, guilty, guilty. And if we don’t, we cannot go away,” she said of Chauvin. | “I hope we’re going to get a verdict that will say guilty, guilty, guilty. And if we don’t, we cannot go away,” she said of Chauvin. |
| Nelson paraphrased Waters’ view as “if there’s not a guilty verdict, then there would be further problems”. | Nelson paraphrased Waters’ view as “if there’s not a guilty verdict, then there would be further problems”. |
| The judge, although he rejects Nelson’s request for a mistrial based on Waters’ comment, says it could pose an issue going forward. | The judge, although he rejects Nelson’s request for a mistrial based on Waters’ comment, says it could pose an issue going forward. |
| “I wish elected officials would stop talking about this case, especially in a manner that is disrespectful to the rule of law,” Cahill says. “Their failure to do so is abhorrent.” | “I wish elected officials would stop talking about this case, especially in a manner that is disrespectful to the rule of law,” Cahill says. “Their failure to do so is abhorrent.” |
| The jury in Derek Chauvin’s murder trial has been sent to start deliberations. | The jury in Derek Chauvin’s murder trial has been sent to start deliberations. |
| The final line of prosecutor Jerry Blackwell came as a dramatic rebuke to Derek Chauvin’s defense, who had claimed that George Floyd died because of an enlarged heart, among other health problems. | The final line of prosecutor Jerry Blackwell came as a dramatic rebuke to Derek Chauvin’s defense, who had claimed that George Floyd died because of an enlarged heart, among other health problems. |
| “You were told, for example, that Mr. Floyd died because his heart was too big,” Blackwell says. “And now, having seen all the evidence, having heard all the evidence, you know the truth, and the truth of the matter is that the reason George Floyd is dead is because Mr. Chauvin’s heart was too small.” | “You were told, for example, that Mr. Floyd died because his heart was too big,” Blackwell says. “And now, having seen all the evidence, having heard all the evidence, you know the truth, and the truth of the matter is that the reason George Floyd is dead is because Mr. Chauvin’s heart was too small.” |
| In his rebuttal, prosecutor Jerry Blackwell is now emphasizing his argument that Derek Chauvin abused his power, saying it is “wrong to take this badge, which is a symbol of a commitment of a higher calling, to use this badge as a license to abuse the public, to mistreat the public.” | In his rebuttal, prosecutor Jerry Blackwell is now emphasizing his argument that Derek Chauvin abused his power, saying it is “wrong to take this badge, which is a symbol of a commitment of a higher calling, to use this badge as a license to abuse the public, to mistreat the public.” |
| Blackwell has also countered arguments from Chauvin’s defense lawyer, Eric Nelson, that the former Minneapolis officer was worried about bystanders. | Blackwell has also countered arguments from Chauvin’s defense lawyer, Eric Nelson, that the former Minneapolis officer was worried about bystanders. |
| “He had all of the power at that point,” Blackwell says. “He had the bullet, guns, the Mace that he threatened bystanders with, he had backup, he had the badge.” | “He had all of the power at that point,” Blackwell says. “He had the bullet, guns, the Mace that he threatened bystanders with, he had backup, he had the badge.” |
| If the crowd was such a threat to Chauvin, and wanted to intervene, they could have overpowered him. But, Blackwell points out, they did not. Instead, they recorded the incident on cell phones. | If the crowd was such a threat to Chauvin, and wanted to intervene, they could have overpowered him. But, Blackwell points out, they did not. Instead, they recorded the incident on cell phones. |
| “The fact of the matter, ladies and gentleman, is there can be no excuse for police abuse.” | “The fact of the matter, ladies and gentleman, is there can be no excuse for police abuse.” |
| Blackwell also says that Chauvin’s actions were so obviously wrong that a young child could understand it, an apparent allusion to testimony from a nine-year-old who witnessed Floyd’s death. | Blackwell also says that Chauvin’s actions were so obviously wrong that a young child could understand it, an apparent allusion to testimony from a nine-year-old who witnessed Floyd’s death. |
| Prosecutor Jerry Blackwell has started the state’s rebuttal argument in Derek Chauvin’s murder case. When Blackwell’s rebuttal ends, jurors will start deliberating. | Prosecutor Jerry Blackwell has started the state’s rebuttal argument in Derek Chauvin’s murder case. When Blackwell’s rebuttal ends, jurors will start deliberating. |
| “You can believe your eyes, ladies and gentlemen,” Blackwell says. “It was homicide.” | “You can believe your eyes, ladies and gentlemen,” Blackwell says. “It was homicide.” |
| “Reasonable officer” are not “magic words,” Blackwell says. “Reasonable is as reasonable does.” | “Reasonable officer” are not “magic words,” Blackwell says. “Reasonable is as reasonable does.” |
| Blackwell’s reference to “reasonable officer” alludes to Eric Nelson, Chauvin’s defense attorney. During his closing, Nelson repeatedly claims that Chauvin’s actions were those of a “reasonable officer.” | Blackwell’s reference to “reasonable officer” alludes to Eric Nelson, Chauvin’s defense attorney. During his closing, Nelson repeatedly claims that Chauvin’s actions were those of a “reasonable officer.” |
| That is, Nelson has argued that Chauvin’s use-of-force was justified based upon George Floyd’s behavior early in his encounter with police as well as the growing crowd. | That is, Nelson has argued that Chauvin’s use-of-force was justified based upon George Floyd’s behavior early in his encounter with police as well as the growing crowd. |
| Derek Chauvin’s lawyer, Eric Nelson, has just completed his closing argument. Nelson has said that several things might have gone differently on the day of George Floyd’s death. | Derek Chauvin’s lawyer, Eric Nelson, has just completed his closing argument. Nelson has said that several things might have gone differently on the day of George Floyd’s death. |
| Paramedics didn’t move sooner with resuscitation efforts nor did they give him Narcan, a drug that is administered during a suspected opioid overdose. | Paramedics didn’t move sooner with resuscitation efforts nor did they give him Narcan, a drug that is administered during a suspected opioid overdose. |
| “I am no suggesting to you that the ambulance, paramedics did anything wrong,” he says. “It shows that human beings make decisions in highly stressful situations that they believe to be right in the very moment it’s occurring.” | “I am no suggesting to you that the ambulance, paramedics did anything wrong,” he says. “It shows that human beings make decisions in highly stressful situations that they believe to be right in the very moment it’s occurring.” |
| “There’s lots of what ifs,” after an incident, Nelson says. “Lots of them.” | “There’s lots of what ifs,” after an incident, Nelson says. “Lots of them.” |
| “When you take into consideration the presumption of innocence, and proof beyond a reasonable doubt, I would submit to you that it is nonsense to suggest none of these other factors have any role that is not reasonable,” he says, alluding to Floyd’s health, drug use, and his claim earlier about possible carbon monoxide poisoning. “The state has failed to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt.” | “When you take into consideration the presumption of innocence, and proof beyond a reasonable doubt, I would submit to you that it is nonsense to suggest none of these other factors have any role that is not reasonable,” he says, alluding to Floyd’s health, drug use, and his claim earlier about possible carbon monoxide poisoning. “The state has failed to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt.” |
| Lawyers and the judge are now discussing legal issues. The prosecution’s rebuttal will begin very soon. | Lawyers and the judge are now discussing legal issues. The prosecution’s rebuttal will begin very soon. |