Derek Chauvin murder trial (Police officer who arrested George Floyd)

Status
Not open for further replies.
Bit of detail on the appeal re: the third degree murder charge here:

https://apnews.com/article/derek-ch...ge-explained-5e7c935f560219caee61fcc0bef0a23d
WHY WAS THAT CHARGE DISMISSED TO BEGIN WITH?

Chauvin’s lawyer sought to dismiss the charge, arguing there was not probable cause to charge him with third-degree murder. A Minnesota judge ruled last October that third-degree murder under Minnesota law requires proof that someone’s conduct was “eminently dangerous to others,” plural, not just to Floyd. The judge said there was no evidence that Chauvin endangered anyone else and threw out the charge. Prosecutors appealed.
Click to expand...

Also they do allude to the risks re: this trial:
WHY PUSH TO HAVE IT ADDED AGAIN?

Very simply, reinstating the count could i ncrease the prosecution’s odds of getting a murder conviction in what will be one of the highest-profile police trials in the U.S.

CAN HE BE CONVICTED WITHOUT IT?

Yes. But it’s not going to be as easy as some might think. Even with the bystander video that showed Chauvin pressing his knee into George Floyd’s neck and ignoring the man’s pleas, legal experts say the case isn’t a slam dunk.

“It’s hard not to watch the video and conclude that the prosecutors will not have any trouble with this case,” said Susan Gaertner, the former head prosecutor in neighboring Ramsey County. “But it’s not that simple.”

The trial will come down to two key questions: Did Chauvin’s actions cause Floyd’s death, and were his actions reasonable?

The second-degree murder charge requires prosecutors to prove Chauvin caused Floyd’s death while committing or trying to commit a felony — in this case, third-degree assault. Prosecutors don’t have to prove that Chauvin was the sole cause of Floyd’s death — only that his conduct was a “substantial causal factor.” The manslaughter charge has a lower bar, requiring proof that Chauvin caused Floyd’s death through negligence that created an unreasonable risk, and consciously took the chance of causing severe injury or death.
Click to expand...

If they only have the second-degree murder charge and manslaughter then manslaughter (or indeed a not guilty verdict) looks to be far more likely than second-degree murder.

First few jurors have been selected too:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-56341895
The first juror selected, a chemist in his 20s or 30s, described himself as "logical" and passionate about his work. He had not seen the video of Floyd's death, he said.

The second juror, a biracial woman in her 20s, said she had seen the video only once and was eager to hear all the evidence as a juror.

The third juror, an auditor, said that he would also examine guilt or innocence only from what is presented in the trial. All three swore to keep an open mind and weigh all the proof presented in determining the outcome of the high-profile case.
Click to expand...
 
dowie said:
Bit of detail on the appeal re: the third degree murder charge here:

https://apnews.com/article/derek-ch...ge-explained-5e7c935f560219caee61fcc0bef0a23d


Also they do allude to the risks re: this trial:


If they only have the second-degree murder charge and manslaughter then manslaughter (or indeed a not guilty verdict) looks to be far more likely than second-degree murder.

First few jurors have been selected too:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-56341895
Click to expand...

Thanks for doing this, it’s a good way for me to keep up with what’s going on.
 
So they found white powder in the back of squad car 320 but it wasn't initially allowed into evidence due to it could've been anything. Turns out the defence had it tested and it's methamphetamine and fentanyl mixed with the DNA of old George himself, implying he did the exact same thing as he did in his previous arrests, i.e. attempting to swallow his drugs. Then the defence matched the drug residue from the squad car with tablets found in George's car and what do you know, exact same chemical composition. And then just for ***** and giggles, it's also the same chemical composition as those drugs found inside him during his autopsy.
 
Malevolence said:
So they found white powder in the back of squad car 320 but it wasn't initially allowed into evidence due to it could've been anything. Turns out the defence had it tested and it's methamphetamine and fentanyl mixed with the DNA of old George himself, implying he did the exact same thing as he did in his previous arrests, i.e. attempting to swallow his drugs. Then the defence matched the drug residue from the squad car with tablets found in George's car and what do you know, exact same chemical composition. And then just for ***** and giggles, it's also the same chemical composition as those drugs found inside him during his autopsy.
Click to expand...

Well there goes my hero...

Watch him as he goes
 
Malevolence said:
So they found white powder in the back of squad car 320 but it wasn't initially allowed into evidence due to it could've been anything. Turns out the defence had it tested and it's methamphetamine and fentanyl mixed with the DNA of old George himself, implying he did the exact same thing as he did in his previous arrests, i.e. attempting to swallow his drugs. Then the defence matched the drug residue from the squad car with tablets found in George's car and what do you know, exact same chemical composition. And then just for ***** and giggles, it's also the same chemical composition as those drugs found inside him during his autopsy.
Click to expand...

Well, he was already high when he tried passing the apparent fake $20 bill over in the shop - shop worked thought he was drunk/out of it... those existing drugs in his system will probably be pointed at by the defence but if they can argue he's swallowed more still in a panic at being stopped by the police then that's probs a good angle for them. Some websluth types seemed to think the video shows supports him swallowing something IIRC.

In other news though this is good for the prosecution - third-degree murder charge is permitted so they'll have a shot if the second-degree charge misses:

 
With all manner of companies like Netflix and Amazon churning out content, I’d be absolutely amazed if there wasn’t a series on this. It’s got every possible element, death, racism, riots, court case, politics. Nailed on for a series once its all over.
 
So are they trying him for 2nd and 3rd degree murder? Or if the 2nd degree charge fails they can try to get a guilty verdict on the 3rd etc?

Sorry not really up on American legal system outside of Suits.
 
Malevolence said:
So they found white powder in the back of squad car 320 but it wasn't initially allowed into evidence due to it could've been anything. Turns out the defence had it tested and it's methamphetamine and fentanyl mixed with the DNA of old George himself, implying he did the exact same thing as he did in his previous arrests, i.e. attempting to swallow his drugs. Then the defence matched the drug residue from the squad car with tablets found in George's car and what do you know, exact same chemical composition. And then just for ***** and giggles, it's also the same chemical composition as those drugs found inside him during his autopsy.
Click to expand...
Case closed next.....
 
I personally don't think that he'll be found not guilty. The jury will be influenced by the knowledge that a not guilty verdict will incite more riots. Well they weren't riots really, they were an excuse to loot and steal from innocents that had nothing to do with the incident.

"Let's prove we're not all violent theiving thugs with no respect for the law by being violent theiving thugs with no respect for the law" - Great idea.

It was a similar case for the peado trial of Michael Jackson. We all know he was guilty but with thousands of almost militant fans outside the courts in that small town, a guilty verdict would seen the city destroyed in "protests".
 
Remember there was an autopsy conducted for the family which came to a different conclusion - looks like it won't be used in the trial:


I guess it was perhaps more useful for a civil case by the family against the city - get a nice 7 figure pay out etc... This guy would presumably not do well under cross-examination if they actually called him as a witness as it seems that his contradictory conclusion vs the official autopsy was based on the video footage... and some dubious reasoning re: causality whereby because Floyd stopped breathing then the death was due to asphyxia... which is a bit backwards.

This is the same guy who contributed to the Epstein conspiracies - though the press were generally a bit more critical of his findings there.

https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2019/10/why-to-be-skeptical-of-michael-baden-on-epsteins-death.html
The October 30 opinion of Michael Baden, the forensic pathologist hired by Epstein’s brother, that the manner of death “points to homicide rather than suicide,” contradicting the conclusion of the Office of Chief Medical Examiner
Click to expand...

I guess if you have a family member die in the US with the possible involvement of the authorities then maybe this is the guy to go to for an opinion to contradict an official autopsy.
 
Last edited:
It's a show trial.
Unless he gets a harsh sentence, even with the stacked drugs evidence, #blm will smash up millions of dollars more property.

Looking forward to another week of America looking like a 3rd world drug cartel hole.
 
I think there's an element who would want a not guilty verdict just for that, more bitterness, more division, more violence. America's (and the west in general) enemies will be laughing their heads off as they destroy themselves from within. He's already guilty in the minds of most people thanks to BLM and the corporate media coverage at the time, it doesn't matter how good the evidence is a not guilty verdict will be pushed as white privilege/racism etc.
 
Last edited:
I'm going to go way out on left field here and say that if Chauvin does any serious time, I'd be surprised.

This was an awful case of trial by media, they published out of context a scenario which on first glance looks absolutely brutal and people have every right to find appalling. But on more detailed inspection has a lot of mitigating circumstances. If you look into the autopsy reports, the police conduct, the health problems of Floyd, the drugs and his behaviour and history, you start to realize it was more of a tragic accident than a premeditated murder brought on by racism.

I predict that whatever happens, the BLM crowd wont be happy and it'll result in more riots. The last wave of riots killed about 25 people and inured thousands, they destroyed thousands of businesses and cost the country millions of dollars in damages. That should all be a way greater concern to us. If anything the bigger lesson here has more to do with mainstream media and irresponsibility of reporting, and how a lot of the social justice movements in America are abusing these incidents to push ideological agendas about racism.

I'll have my popcorn ready that's for sure.
 
PrincessFrosty said:
I'm going to go way out on left field here and say that if Chauvin does any serious time, I'd be surprised.
Click to expand...

i wonder if it'll be a case of send him to jail now, then quietly let him go at the first parole hearing after public memory has faded.

it's a tricky one, the impression i'm getting is that chauvin's actions were "normal" by the standards of the job he was doing (eg that the other officers didn't try to stop him indicating that they too thought this was normal practice for how that department deals with that situation), and whilst yes you can absolutely argue that such methods are dangerous, a factor for floyd's death and shouldn't be allowed, it's the police department as a whole that needs to be taken to account and made to reform rather than an individual officer.

of course that's based on much less information than presumably the court is going to hear, i've not seen the video nor do i know chauvin's character to establish if he was just doing his job or being gung-ho and overly aggressive.

thing is, as is being mentioned it's quite possible this trial is going to be more about the media political storm than the specifics of the case.
 
Efour said:
It's a show trial.
Unless he gets a harsh sentence, even with the stacked drugs evidence, #blm will smash up millions of dollars more property.

Looking forward to another week of America looking like a 3rd world drug cartel hole.
Click to expand...
Sadly agree. The officer might well indeed be scum but I find it very hard to see how they are going to prove second degree murder. Will be interesting to see what Biden does once it kicks off, I assume behind the scenes they are already working on a game plan.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top Bottom