Prosecutor Steve Schleicher delivered the state s closing statement in Derek Chauvin s trial on Monday
He asked the jury to consider one question: Would George Floyd have died were it not for Chauvin s restraint?
He discounted the myriad of factors the defense presented as contributing causes of Floyd s death, including his drug use and heart problems
Schleicher also refuted the defense suggestion that Floyd had superhuman strength during his arrest because he was suffering from excited delirium There is no such thing as super human, that exists in comic books, the prosecutor said
He also showed new photos of the injuries Floyd suffered when he was pinned down
George Floyd is dead is because Mr Chauvin’s heart was too small : Prosecution rebuttal blasts defense s closing statement that kneeling on his neck WAS the reasonable action for a cop as jury retires and Minneapolis braces for protests
Trial attorney Jerry Blackwell concluded the state s case against Derek Chauvin on Monday by telling the jury: The reason George Floyd is dead is because Mr Chauvin s heart was too small
The jury was dismissed for deliberation before Chauvin s attorney Eric Nelson called for a mistrial
Nelson took issue with Blackwell s characterization of the defense s case as nonsense and a story - as well as the possibility that media attention could bias the jury
Derek Chauvin s defense attorney Eric Nelson called for a mistrial after the jury retired on Monday
He cited Rep Maxine Waters comments on the case as he argued that there was no way the jury could be unbiased given constant media coverage Now that we have US representatives threatening acts of violence in relation to this trial it’s frankly mind-blowing, Nelson said
Judge Peter Cahill replied: I grant you Congresswoman Waters may have handed you grounds for appeal and the turning over of this trial
But Cahill refused to grant a mistrial and adjourned the court until the jury comes back with a verdict
REVEALED: AG Bill Barr rejected plea deal for Derek Chauvin to plead guilty to third-degree murder days after George Floyd died because he feared protesters would say it was too lenient
Derek Chauvin agreed to a plea deal three days after George Floyd s death on May 25, three law enforcement officials told the New York Times
Under the deal Chauvin would plead guilty to third-degree murder, serve no more than 10 years in prison and avoid federal civil rights charges
Then-Attorney General Bill Barr reportedly rejected the deal at the last minute
One official said Barr feared the deal would be perceived as too lenient and premature, potentially exacerbating protests gripping Minneapolis and the US