The former officer was found responsible for the May 2020 death of Floyd.
Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was found guilty on all three counts in the death of George Floyd.
Chauvin’s actions were intentional because he knew that kneeling on Floyd’s neck was dangerous and an unlawful use of force, Schleicher said.
"We don't have to show that the Defendant intended to kill him," he said. "The only thing about the defendant's intent that we have to prove is that he applied force to George Floyd on purpose, that this wasn't an accident."
Floyd died because of a low level of oxygen, not because of a drug overdose or a preexisting heart condition, as the defense attempted to portray, Schleicher said.
"'Die of a drug overdose,' that's not common sense, that's nonsense," Schleicher said.
The prosecutor continued, "Believe your eyes. What you saw happened, happened. It happened. The defendant pressed down on George Floyd so his lungs did not have the room to breathe."
Floyd was already handcuffed on the ground, positioned on his side, when he was then put in the prone position, on his stomach, Schleicher said.
While a subject is on his side, known as the "prone recovery position," it provides room for the chest to expand so he can breathe, Schleicher said.
Putting Floyd on his stomach after he was already in the recovery position was "completely unnecessary," Schleicher said.
"That is when the excessive force began," he said.
