Derek Chauvin found guilty on all counts in death of George Floyd
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.
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'Common sense' that Floyd died because Chauvin pressed down on his lungs, state says
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."
Putting Floyd in the prone position was 'completely unnecessary,' prosecutor says
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.
George Floyd is not the one on trial, state says
Schleicher reminded the jury that Floyd is not the defendant in the case, pointing to the testimony that characterized Floyd as having a drug addiction and the accusation that he used a fake $20 bill in the Cup Foods, which prompted the 911 call that brought Chauvin to the scene.
"But he is not on trial," Schleicher. "He didn't get a trial when he was alive, and he is not on trial here."
Schleicher also dismissed claims the defense made that Floyd was noncompliant and resisting arrest, stating that Floyd followed commands to put his hands on the steering wheel upon his first encounter with Minnesota Police officers.
"That is not resistance," Schleicher said. "That is compliance."