Prosecutors didn’t have to prove Chauvin’s restraint was the sole cause of Floyd’s death,but only that his conduct was a “substantial causal factor”.
Biden appeared with Vice-President Kamala Harris,America’s first black vice-president,who said:“A measure of justice isn’t the same as equal justice”.
The US President says that he is “praying the verdict is the right verdict” in the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin and that he believes the case to be “overwhelming”.
There’s broad agreement that anything other than a murder conviction for Derek Chauvin will result in an enormous eruption of rage across the States.
The verdict will be one of the most closely watched and consequential in recent American history given the trial’s high-profile,emotionally charged nature.
Derek Chauvin removed his mask to inform the judge that he would not testify,saying he would invoke his Fifth Amendment right not to take the stand.
Barry Brodd likened the police handling of Floyd to a situation in which officers use a Taser on someone fighting with officers,and the suspect falls,hits his head and dies.
A medical expert has testified that George Floyd died of a lack of oxygen from being pinned on his stomach with his hands cuffed behind him and his face jammed against the pavement.
Officer Derek Chauvin failed to render first aid before the ambulance arrived and violated policy requiring officers to de-escalate tense situations,his ex-boss said.
“If your knee is on a person’s neck,that can kill him,” said Lieutenant Richard Zimmerman,the head of the Minneapolis Police Department’s homicide division.
George Floyd’s girlfriend wept on the witness stand and two paramedics told the court they believed he was dead when they arrived as he had no pulse.