Schleicher made "very clear" that the state was prosecuting Derek Chauvin, not the Minneapolis Police Department, calling policing a "most noble profession."

"This case is called the State of Minnesota versus Derek Chauvin," Schleicher said. "This case isn’t called the State of Minnesota versus the police."

Schleicher also said that Chauvin is not on trial for who he was, a police officer, but for "what he did," pointing to the multiple witnesses on the scene who felt compelled to call the police on the police."

He accused Chauvin of abandoning his values and training.

"He did not follow the department's use of force rules," Schleicher said. "He did not perform CPR. He knew better. He just didn't do better."

Schleicher emphasized to the jury that Floyd’s last words were to plead with Chauvin.

"Floyd’s final words were, 'Please. I can’t breathe,'" Schleicher said. "He said those words to the defendant. He asked for help with his very last breathe."

Rather than help, Chauvin "continued to push him down, to grind his knees, to twist his hand and twist his fingers into the handcuffs that bound him," Schleicher said.

Hennepin County Prosecutor Steve Schleicher began the state’s closing arguments by describing Floyd’s relationship with his mother, Larcenia Jones Floyd, the matriarch of the family.

"And you heard about the special bond that she and George Floyd shared during his life." Schleicher said. "You heard about their relationship, how he would always take time, special attention to be with his mother, how he would still cuddle with her in the fetal position."

Floyd could be heard in cellphone video calling out for his mother as Chauvin kneeled on top of him.

Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill read instructions to the jury before closing arguments began.

Cahill also gave the jury definitions for reasonable doubt and reminded the jury to consider all the evidence they have heard or seen in court.