George Floyd Death Was 'Murder, Not Policing', 9 Mins of 'Shocking Abuse of Authority': Prosecutor
News 18Jurors on Monday began mulling the fate of the white ex-Minneapolis policeman accused of killing African-American George Floyd, a death that sparked a nationwide reckoning on racism and which prosecutors called a “shocking abuse of authority”. “You must be absolutely fair,” Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill said in his final instructions to the 12-member jury hearing the case against former officer Derek Chauvin. And there’s no excuse.” Defense attorney Eric Nelson told the jury they need to look at Chauvin’s actions “from the perspective of a reasonable police officer.” “He did not purposefully use unlawful force,” Nelson said. “I’m not suggesting this was an overdose death,” Nelson said, “but it is a preposterous notion to say that this did not come into play here.” Nelson urged the jury to find Chauvin not guilty: “The state has failed to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt.” Schleicher, the prosecutor, said Chauvin violated training, did not follow the police department’s use of force rules and did not perform CPR on Floyd. The defense called a retired police officer who said Chauvin’s use of force against Floyd was “justified.” Police officers testifying for the prosecution — including the Minneapolis police chief — said it was excessive and unnecessary.