Chauvin delivering the death kneel. Photo: YouTube screenshot.
[Killer Cop Chauvin Trial]
Prosecutor Steve Schleicher has delivered a resounding closing argument in the ongoing trial of Derek Chauvin, a former Minneapolis police officer for the murder of George Floyd.
Schleicher told jurors in his closing argument that this wasn’t an “anti-police” but rather a “pro-police” trial. He said Chauvin didn’t represent the ideals of a police department and that was why several police commanders had testified against him during trial.
Kneeling on someone’s neck for nine minutes and 20 seconds until the person is dead wasn’t part of police training and could never be acceptable, Schleicher said.
The prosecutor said Chauvin simply didn’t care and ignored every appeal made by George Floyd from the minute he came in contact with police officers on May 25. First, the police ignored Floyd when he said his wrists hurt after he was handcuffed; they then ignored him when Floyd, a towering man, said he was claustrophobic when the officers attempted to shove him into the back of a police car.
The last time police ignored Floyd was once he’d been placed, handcuffed and face down on the pavement, with Chauvin’s knee locked on his neck, depriving him of oxygen. Referring to Chauvin as “mister officer,” Floyd began pleading for air. He said he couldn’t breathe at least 28 times. Instead of releasing his knees and allowing Floyd to rise, or to at least turn sideways, to breathe in life-sustaining oxygen, Chauvin actually adjusted his own body in order to press down maximum weight on Floyd.
Even after Floyd had become motionless, Chauvin still pressed his knee into his neck. It was only after an EMS worker tapped Chauvin on his shoulder that he awoke from his intense murderous fixation and he finally unlocked his knee from Floyd’s neck. The cold-blooded murder lasted for 9 minutes and 29 seconds.
The prosecution called 38 witnesses and the defense called in seven witnesses.
Chauvin faces three charges: Second degree murder; third degree murder; and, second degree manslaughter.
The aggressive police action was initiated after officers were called after Floyd had allegedly used a counterfeit $20 bill.
The defense will lay out its closing argument this afternoon after which the prosecution will deliver a rebuttal.
[More To Come]
