What prosecutors must prove and what the jury will deliberate
From CNN s Maureen Chowdhury
Following the closing arguments, the jury must deliberate whether or not the prosecution proved beyond a reasonable doubt that former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin is guilty of three charges.
Here s a look at what prosecutors must prove for each charge:
Second-degree unintentional murder
There is no need to prove intent to kill, just intent to act.
If convicted, he could face up to 40 years in prison.
Third-degree murder
Prosecutors must prove Chauvin committed a reckless act that is eminently dangerous to others with depraved mind.
Closing arguments in Derek Chauvin’s trial will contrast the prosecution’s concise case with a more complex defense
Prosecutors and the defense will offer competing visions of Derek Chauvin’s role in George Floyd’s death during closing arguments Monday in the former Minneapolis officer’s criminal trial.
For the prosecution, that means drilling home their concise argument that Floyd’s death on May 25, 2020, was exactly what it appeared to be on bystander video. What looked to the naked eye like an uncaring police officer using his knees to suffocate a non-resisting Black man really was just that, they have argued.
Prosecution: Chauvin did what he did on purpose, and it killed George Floyd
Prosecuting attorney Steve Schleicher used his closing arguments to once again outline why ex-Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin s actions on May 25, 2020, were a felony level of assault. As you know, in the laws in this state, if you commit a certain level of assault, a felony level of assault, and the person dies as a result of your assault, you are guilty of murder. It s as simple as that, the attorney said. And what the defendant did here was a straight-up felony assault, this was not policing. It was unnecessary, it was gratuitous, it was disproportionate. And he did it on purpose. No question. This was not an accident, Schleicher told the jury.
Prosecution: Floyd told officers thank you when they initially pulled him out of the car
Prosecutor Steve Schleicher delivers the state s closing arguments on April 19. Pool
Prosecuting attorney Steve Schleicher played footage from Derek Chauvin s body camera and told the jury that as officers pulled George Floyd out of the car and put him on the ground, he said thank you.
Schleicher told the jury that once Floyd was on the ground he did not resist. A reasonable officer in the defendants position at that time should have recognized and understood, he wasn t trying to escape. He wasn t trying to punch anyone, stab anyone. The problem was the back of the car. Just like George Floyd tried to explain over and over. The problem was the back of the car.
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