After a wretched and withering year that didn’t so much pass by as scorch through, the guilty verdict in Derek Chauvin’s trial for the murder of George Floyd arrived as a relief. It’s been a long time since it felt as though Americans had the luxury of thinking about the future we want to live in, as opposed to putting out fires in an endless present. In so many respects, we were due for a little hope.

And yet, amid all that, a dissonant note: Something is still very wrong.

On Instagram, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez lamented that “this verdict is not justice. She added: “Frankly, I don’t even think we call it full accountability,” echoing Senator Bernie Sanders on Twitter, where the lodestar of the left said that “the jury’s verdict delivers accountability for Derek Chauvin, but not justice for George Floyd.” So many others — activists, organizers, politicians — shared similar thoughts. Something meaningful had occurred in the conviction of Mr. Chauvin, they agreed, but something incomplete, too.

In a sense, their unease with the outcome of Mr. Chauvin’s trial echoes responses to the conviction of Harvey Weinstein, whose downfall incited the #MeToo movement. At the time, commenters pointed out that Mr. Weinstein’s rape conviction was only “a partial victory” for the movement, “less significant” than it seemed. They were right — not only because in Mr. Weinstein’s case, as in Mr. Floyd’s, the trial had become a metonym for a wider movement with unfinished business, but also because the things he had done, like the things Mr. Chauvin has done, could not be reversed.

It’s a fact so obvious that it bears restating. Mr. Floyd is still dead, was still murdered, remains a person whose life ended abruptly and violently on a street in Minneapolis in broad daylight while bystanders looked on: None of that will ever change. Nor will Mr. Weinstein’s victims receive in recompense the lives, the confidence, the dispositions they had before he violated them. The trouble is that no crime — in fact, no &lt;em&gt;harm&lt;/em&gt; — is ever undone, and no loss affected by moral evil is ever entirely restored.

Agnes Callard, a philosopher at the University of Chicago, observed in a Boston Review forum last year that anger resulting from harm done likewise has no obvious terminus. “Eventually we should move on, we are told, or let it go, or transmute our desire for revenge into a healthier or more respectable feeling,” Ms. Callard wrote. But when do we let go, when do we know it’s time to move on, and what does that mean when emotions — which should not be dismissed as irrelevant to politics — are in play? Or can these feelings issuing from echoing loss be transmuted — and if so, into what, by whom? How do we ever know when it’s time to stop seeking restoration for harm, and do we stop because it’s the right thing to do, or because after a point it’s no use searching for, longing for things that aren’t going to come?

One tragedy of the criminal justice system is that it ought to provide answers to some of those questions. Because eternal retribution all but guarantees perpetual conflict, we have agreed, as a society, that an impartial and (aspirationally) fair system will generate and enforce consequences that exhaust claims to retribution, and close these matters as they arise. That the system is infamously prone to bias and capriciousness undermines its capacity to serve its critical purpose.

But even if it were entirely successful, its punishments would still be arbitrarily chosen (why 10 years for manslaughter, rather than 11 or nine?) and restoration would still be beyond its powers. Still: Despite its deficiencies, we allow it to tell us when a case is closed. It’s all we can do. But what can be done with the harm that these recent reckonings have revealed — not on behalf of institutions or ideologies, but between individual people in daily life?

One consequence of the justice movements of the last several years is that we see things differently now. Difficult interactions appear in a new, unflattering light. We pause to consider the meaning of slights we may have ignored before: Is &lt;em&gt;this &lt;/em&gt;(“No wonder they hired you! Look at you!”) a form of &lt;em&gt;that &lt;/em&gt;(sexism)&lt;em&gt;, &lt;/em&gt;one might wonder, &lt;em&gt;just in miniature? &lt;/em&gt;The answer is bound to be yes at least sometimes, and most likely often.

As we emerge from a string of calamities with the benefit of what we’ve learned, a question worth considering is what we can do about the fact of these interpersonal damages, the sort — a rude remark, a thoughtless comment in company, a revealing gesture — that can’t be adjudicated in court but aren’t meaningless, either; the kind we simply want never to have happened, and short of that, not to happen again. What can be done about all of that suffering?

In one sense, the answer is nothing. Pain lasts, grief lasts, anger lasts. The life you had before loss is never returned to you. There’s a hole in the world, one of the many regrettable results of our human tendency to hurt one another. I look inside myself, where all of those emotions bored holes through my soul. What did I do, when did it stop? In some cases, those feelings ran through the channels they carved in me until they flowed into other reservoirs: the stock of sentiments that drive and inform the work that I do, the stories I choose to tell, the subjects I try to understand. In others, time made me a stranger to the person who was once so wounded. But in others still, I know the feelings were simply pushed away “like a skiff at the shore,” as a poet once put it, “no longer useful.”

Forgiveness doesn’t feel particularly triumphant. It’s a gift no one wants to be in the position to give; it releases a wrongdoer from moral debt — for their own good and the common good, not for the sake of the wronged. And it provides a place for those emotions that circle, vulturelike, around one’s thoughts to finally come to rest, no longer nourished by attention. It’s a strange and wanting gift for a strange and wanting world, and I would never admonish anyone for declining to extend it. God knows, I’ve failed in the practice as often as I’ve succeeded.

But I want to live in a world where it is possible to forgive and to be forgiven. In fact, I think it’s necessary. And I think it emerges not from a place of moral victory, but from the realization of human brokenness, the recognition of things lost that can’t be regained, and the emptiness that holds their place. It’s from these gaps that beautiful things sometimes grow.

After a wretched and withering year that didn’t so much pass by as scorch through, the guilty verdict in Derek Chauvin’s trial for the murder of George Floyd arrived as a relief.

After a wretched and withering year that didn’t so much pass by as scorch through, the guilty verdict in Derek Chauvin’s trial for the murder of George Floyd arrived as a relief. It’s been a long time since it felt as though Americans had the luxury of thinking about the future we want to live in, as opposed to putting out fires in an endless present. In so many respects, we were due for a little hope. And yet, amid all that, a dissonant note: Something is still very wrong. On Instagram, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez lamented that “this verdict is not justice. She added: “Frankly, I don’t even think we call it full accountability,” echoing Senator Bernie Sanders on Twitter, where the lodestar of the left said that “the jury’s verdict delivers accountability for Derek Chauvin, but not justice for George Floyd.” So many others — activists, organizers, politicians — shared similar thoughts. Something meaningful had occurred in the conviction of Mr. Chauvin, they agreed, but something incomplete, too. In a sense, their unease with the outcome of Mr. Chauvin’s trial echoes responses to the conviction of Harvey Weinstein, whose downfall incited the #MeToo movement. At the time, commenters pointed out that Mr. Weinstein’s rape conviction was only “a partial victory” for the movement, “less significant” than it seemed. They were right — not only because in Mr. Weinstein’s case, as in Mr. Floyd’s, the trial had become a metonym for a wider movement with unfinished business, but also because the things he had done, like the things Mr. Chauvin has done, could not be reversed. It’s a fact so obvious that it bears restating. Mr. Floyd is still dead, was still murdered, remains a person whose life ended abruptly and violently on a street in Minneapolis in broad daylight while bystanders looked on: None of that will ever change. Nor will Mr. Weinstein’s victims receive in recompense the lives, the confidence, the dispositions they had before he violated them. The trouble is that no crime — in fact, no harm — is ever undone, and no loss affected by moral evil is ever entirely restored. Agnes Callard, a philosopher at the University of Chicago, observed in a Boston Review forum last year that anger resulting from harm done likewise has no obvious terminus. “Eventually we should move on, we are told, or let it go, or transmute our desire for revenge into a healthier or more respectable feeling,” Ms. Callard wrote. But when do we let go, when do we know it’s time to move on, and what does that mean when emotions — which should not be dismissed as irrelevant to politics — are in play? Or can these feelings issuing from echoing loss be transmuted — and if so, into what, by whom? How do we ever know when it’s time to stop seeking restoration for harm, and do we stop because it’s the right thing to do, or because after a point it’s no use searching for, longing for things that aren’t going to come? One tragedy of the criminal justice system is that it ought to provide answers to some of those questions. Because eternal retribution all but guarantees perpetual conflict, we have agreed, as a society, that an impartial and (aspirationally) fair system will generate and enforce consequences that exhaust claims to retribution, and close these matters as they arise. That the system is infamously prone to bias and capriciousness undermines its capacity to serve its critical purpose. But even if it were entirely successful, its punishments would still be arbitrarily chosen (why 10 years for manslaughter, rather than 11 or nine?) and restoration would still be beyond its powers. Still: Despite its deficiencies, we allow it to tell us when a case is closed. It’s all we can do. But what can be done with the harm that these recent reckonings have revealed — not on behalf of institutions or ideologies, but between individual people in daily life? One consequence of the justice movements of the last several years is that we see things differently now. Difficult interactions appear in a new, unflattering light. We pause to consider the meaning of slights we may have ignored before: Is this (“No wonder they hired you! Look at you!”) a form of that (sexism), one might wonder, just in miniature? The answer is bound to be yes at least sometimes, and most likely often. As we emerge from a string of calamities with the benefit of what we’ve learned, a question worth considering is what we can do about the fact of these interpersonal damages, the sort — a rude remark, a thoughtless comment in company, a revealing gesture — that can’t be adjudicated in court but aren’t meaningless, either; the kind we simply want never to have happened, and short of that, not to happen again. What can be done about all of that suffering? In one sense, the answer is nothing. Pain lasts, grief lasts, anger lasts. The life you had before loss is never returned to you. There’s a hole in the world, one of the many regrettable results of our human tendency to hurt one another. I look inside myself, where all of those emotions bored holes through my soul. What did I do, when did it stop? In some cases, those feelings ran through the channels they carved in me until they flowed into other reservoirs: the stock of sentiments that drive and inform the work that I do, the stories I choose to tell, the subjects I try to understand. In others, time made me a stranger to the person who was once so wounded. But in others still, I know the feelings were simply pushed away “like a skiff at the shore,” as a poet once put it, “no longer useful.” Forgiveness doesn’t feel particularly triumphant. It’s a gift no one wants to be in the position to give; it releases a wrongdoer from moral debt — for their own good and the common good, not for the sake of the wronged. And it provides a place for those emotions that circle, vulturelike, around one’s thoughts to finally come to rest, no longer nourished by attention. It’s a strange and wanting gift for a strange and wanting world, and I would never admonish anyone for declining to extend it. God knows, I’ve failed in the practice as often as I’ve succeeded. But I want to live in a world where it is possible to forgive and to be forgiven. In fact, I think it’s necessary. And I think it emerges not from a place of moral victory, but from the realization of human brokenness, the recognition of things lost that can’t be regained, and the emptiness that holds their place. It’s from these gaps that beautiful things sometimes grow.

Chauvin was convicted. Something is still very wrong

After Chauvin trial, what is the future of George Floyd Square?

Sacked US police officer Derek Chauvin will be sentenced on June 16 for the murder of African American George Floyd in a case that sparked nationwide anti-racism protests.

The Hennepin County District Court in the Midwestern city of Minneapolis, where handcuffed Floyd died last May, said in its online schedule that the white ex-cop will be sentenced at 1:30 pm(1830 GMT). The 45-year-old ex-officer -- who knelt on Floyd's neck for more than nine minutes -- faces up to 40 years in prison after being found guilty of all charges Tuesday over the death of the unarmed man.

The crime was recorded by a bystander whose video shocked the world, triggering mass protests across the United States and beyond, while also prompting a national reckoning on racial injustice and police brutality. Floyd, 46, was killed as he lay face down and handcuffed, saying repeatedly "I can't breathe."The case prompted some police reforms, but advocates including President Joe Biden say more is needed.

While the Chauvin trial progressed in Minneapolis, the city was rocked by the fatal police shooting of yet another African American, 20-year-old Daunte Wright.

On Wednesday US Attorney General Merrick Garland announced a civil investigation to determine whether the Minneapolis Police Department systematically uses excessive force and "engages in a pattern or practice of unconstitutional or unlawful policing," including during legal protests.

'We needed a victory'

The jury deliberated less than 11 hours before finding Chauvin guilty of all three charges against him: second-degree murder, third-degree murder and manslaughter. A crowd gathered outside the heavily guarded downtown Minneapolis courtroom erupted in cheers, and some wept tears of relief when the verdicts were announced after a three-week trial that had an entire nation on edge. Chauvin, who had been free on bail, was put in handcuffs after Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill read out the unanimous verdicts reached by the racially diverse, seven-woman, five-man jury. Ahead of the verdict, cities across the United States had been braced for potential unrest and National Guard troops were deployed in Minneapolis.

Floyd was initially arrested on suspicion of a non-violent crime-- trying to pass off a counterfeit $20 bill. His brother Rodney told AFP that Black people had been victims of deadly injustice at the hands of US authorities for hundreds of years. "We needed a victory, in this case, it's very important, and we got it and hey, we might actually breathe a little bit better now," he said.

Three other former police officers involved in Floyd's arrest are to go on trial later this year.

Sacked US police officer Derek Chauvin will be sentenced on June 16 for the murder of African American George Floyd in a case that sparked nationwide anti-racism protests.

Sacked US police officer Derek Chauvin will be sentenced on June 16 for the murder of African American George Floyd in a case that sparked nationwide anti-racism protests. The Hennepin County District Court in the Midwestern city of Minneapolis, where handcuffed Floyd died last May, said in its online schedule that the white ex-cop will be sentenced at 1:30 pm(1830 GMT). The 45-year-old ex-officer -- who knelt on Floyd's neck for more than nine minutes -- faces up to 40 years in prison after being found guilty of all charges Tuesday over the death of the unarmed man. The crime was recorded by a bystander whose video shocked the world, triggering mass protests across the United States and beyond, while also prompting a national reckoning on racial injustice and police brutality. Floyd, 46, was killed as he lay face down and handcuffed, saying repeatedly "I can't breathe."The case prompted some police reforms, but advocates including President Joe Biden say more is needed. While the Chauvin trial progressed in Minneapolis, the city was rocked by the fatal police shooting of yet another African American, 20-year-old Daunte Wright. On Wednesday US Attorney General Merrick Garland announced a civil investigation to determine whether the Minneapolis Police Department systematically uses excessive force and "engages in a pattern or practice of unconstitutional or unlawful policing," including during legal protests. 'We needed a victory' The jury deliberated less than 11 hours before finding Chauvin guilty of all three charges against him: second-degree murder, third-degree murder and manslaughter. A crowd gathered outside the heavily guarded downtown Minneapolis courtroom erupted in cheers, and some wept tears of relief when the verdicts were announced after a three-week trial that had an entire nation on edge. Chauvin, who had been free on bail, was put in handcuffs after Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill read out the unanimous verdicts reached by the racially diverse, seven-woman, five-man jury. Ahead of the verdict, cities across the United States had been braced for potential unrest and National Guard troops were deployed in Minneapolis. Floyd was initially arrested on suspicion of a non-violent crime-- trying to pass off a counterfeit $20 bill. His brother Rodney told AFP that Black people had been victims of deadly injustice at the hands of US authorities for hundreds of years. "We needed a victory, in this case, it's very important, and we got it and hey, we might actually breathe a little bit better now," he said. Three other former police officers involved in Floyd's arrest are to go on trial later this year.

George Floyd murder case: US ex-cop Chauvin to be sentenced on June 16

20-year-old Daunte Wright who died in a police shooting on 21 April, has been laid to rest. Hundreds of mourners including relatives of George Floyd and top politicians of Minnesota attended the young black man's funeral.

Daunte Wright laid to rest after Minnesota police shooting

Derek Chauvin, the white police officer, has been proven guilty for the murder of George Floyd.&nbsp;

It's a watershed moment not just for Americans, but for millions around the world.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-americas-virus-of-racism-yet-to-be-eradicated-379126/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

All the people who were mobilised after seeing the video of Floyd's death now celebrate this 'historic' verdict.

However, there are some questions that need answers.&nbsp;

What does the verdict really change? Does it put an end to racism? Does it eradicate the disproportionate use of force?

As the verdict was being announced, the US felt the sting of another killing, a Black teenage girl who was shot dead by white cops in Columbus, Ohio.

She was just 15-years-old.

It tells you that the US's pandemic of racism is far from being over.&nbsp;

Let's first look at some reactions to the verdict of Floyd's murder.&nbsp;

"This is a stunning moment in history", Eliza Orlins, candidate for Manhattan district attorney said.&nbsp;

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-president-joe-biden-slams-systemic-racism-calls-floyd-verdict-a-relief-378899">US President Joe Biden slams 'systemic racism'; calls Floyd verdict a 'relief'</a> 
&nbsp;

"With the verdict today, I feel like a weight lifted off my shoulders," Semhra Solomon, Minneapolis area resident, said.&nbsp;

London Williams, a DC resident said: "Thank god, thank you Jesus."

"No one should be above the law. And today's verdict sends that message," US President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/joe-biden">Joe Biden </a>said.&nbsp;

US Vice President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/kamala-harris">Kamala Harris </a>said: "Today we feel a sigh of relief. Still, it cannot take away the pain."

The US is breathing a sigh of relief and the world can't help but discuss it.

The news is truly worthy of global coverage because it's rare for a white American cop to be convicted for the murder of a Black man.

However, when Chauvin was being pronounced guilty, 764 miles away in Columbus, Ohio, a Black teenager was shot dead by white cops.

Makiyah Bryant was trying to fend off a physical assault by a group of adult women.

She called the police and picked a knife to defend herself.

When the cops arrived, they shot Bryant instead, assuming her to be the assailant.

Let's listen to the conversation during her killing.&nbsp;

Officer's voice: "Hey, what's going on? Hey, hey, get down! Get down!"

(sound of four gunshots, voices screaming)

Officer's voice: "She had a knife. She just went at her."

Man's voice: "She's just a (expletive) kid. A (expletive) kid."

(sound of people screaming)

Officer's voice: "She came at her with a knife."

Another black life has been lost and another hashtag has been born: #JusticeForMakiyahBryant.

Yet another protest has begun.

Will Bryant get justice just as Floyd did?

There's no guarantee and the figures tell us the reason.&nbsp;

Since 2005, 139 police officers have been arrested for murder, of these only 44 have been convicted.&nbsp;Also, out of these 44, only 7 have been convicted for murder.&nbsp;The rest got away with prison sentences for a few months.

The rate of police shooting between 2015 and 2021 also shows a disparity based on ethnicity.

Among Black Americans, the figure stands at 35 police shootings per million of the population and for Hispanics, it is 26 per million of the population.

And for White Americans, the figure is just 14 police shootings per million of the population.

The conviction of Chauvin is indeed a pivotal moment and undoubtedly calls for a celebration.

But, it will take far more than one conviction to eradicate the virus of racism in America.

Derek Chauvin, the white police officer, has been proven guilty for the murder of George Floyd. It's a watershed moment not just for Americans, but for millions around the world.

Derek Chauvin, the white police officer, has been proven guilty for the murder of George Floyd. It's a watershed moment not just for Americans, but for millions around the world. All the people who were mobilised after seeing the video of Floyd's death now celebrate this 'historic' verdict. However, there are some questions that need answers. What does the verdict really change? Does it put an end to racism? Does it eradicate the disproportionate use of force? As the verdict was being announced, the US felt the sting of another killing, a Black teenage girl who was shot dead by white cops in Columbus, Ohio. She was just 15-years-old. It tells you that the US's pandemic of racism is far from being over. Let's first look at some reactions to the verdict of Floyd's murder. "This is a stunning moment in history", Eliza Orlins, candidate for Manhattan district attorney said. Also read | US President Joe Biden slams 'systemic racism'; calls Floyd verdict a 'relief' "With the verdict today, I feel like a weight lifted off my shoulders," Semhra Solomon, Minneapolis area resident, said. London Williams, a DC resident said: "Thank god, thank you Jesus." "No one should be above the law. And today's verdict sends that message," US President Joe Biden said. US Vice President Kamala Harris said: "Today we feel a sigh of relief. Still, it cannot take away the pain." The US is breathing a sigh of relief and the world can't help but discuss it. The news is truly worthy of global coverage because it's rare for a white American cop to be convicted for the murder of a Black man. However, when Chauvin was being pronounced guilty, 764 miles away in Columbus, Ohio, a Black teenager was shot dead by white cops. Makiyah Bryant was trying to fend off a physical assault by a group of adult women. She called the police and picked a knife to defend herself. When the cops arrived, they shot Bryant instead, assuming her to be the assailant. Let's listen to the conversation during her killing. Officer's voice: "Hey, what's going on? Hey, hey, get down! Get down!" (sound of four gunshots, voices screaming) Officer's voice: "She had a knife. She just went at her." Man's voice: "She's just a (expletive) kid. A (expletive) kid." (sound of people screaming) Officer's voice: "She came at her with a knife." Another black life has been lost and another hashtag has been born: #JusticeForMakiyahBryant. Yet another protest has begun. Will Bryant get justice just as Floyd did? There's no guarantee and the figures tell us the reason. Since 2005, 139 police officers have been arrested for murder, of these only 44 have been convicted. Also, out of these 44, only 7 have been convicted for murder. The rest got away with prison sentences for a few months. The rate of police shooting between 2015 and 2021 also shows a disparity based on ethnicity. Among Black Americans, the figure stands at 35 police shootings per million of the population and for Hispanics, it is 26 per million of the population. And for White Americans, the figure is just 14 police shootings per million of the population. The conviction of Chauvin is indeed a pivotal moment and undoubtedly calls for a celebration. But, it will take far more than one conviction to eradicate the virus of racism in America.

Despite George Floyd verdict, US still needs to fight hard the 'racism virus'

Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton says the conviction of a white former police officer for the killing of George Floyd "marks a new dawn in the fight for racial justice".

But the British racing driver warned it was just "one step" on the path towards a more equal society.

Derek Chauvin was found guilty on Tuesday of murdering African-American Floyd following a racially charged trial.

The 19-year veteran of the Minneapolis police force was seen on video kneeling on the neck of Floyd for more than nine minutes as he lay face down and handcuffed on the ground saying repeatedly "I can't breathe" in an incident last May.

Hamilton, who said he had been left furious by Floyd's death, last year equalled Michael Schumacher's record of seven world championships against the backdrop of his personal fight against racism.

The 36-year-old, the sole black driver on the F1 grid, wrote on Instagram: "JUSTICE for George! The emotions I feel right now are hard to describe. Derek Chauvin has been found guilty.&nbsp;

"This is the first time that a white officer has been convicted for killing a black man in Minnesota. This is monumental, George's death is not in vain.

"The result of the Derek Chauvin trial today is the right one. Convicting him of all three charges marks a new dawn in the fight for racial justice."

Hamilton, who continues to kneel ahead of races in a sign of his support for the campaign against racial injustice, said much work still needed to be done.

"This is just one step on the path towards a more equal society," he said. "Since George's death, so many other black people have died at the hands of the police and we must ensure the momentum of today continues. The fight isn't over."

Hamilton is top of the drivers' standings ahead of the third race of the season in Portugal on May 2.

Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton says the conviction of a white former police officer for the killing of George Floyd "marks a new dawn in the fight for racial justice".

Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton says the conviction of a white former police officer for the killing of George Floyd "marks a new dawn in the fight for racial justice". But the British racing driver warned it was just "one step" on the path towards a more equal society. Derek Chauvin was found guilty on Tuesday of murdering African-American Floyd following a racially charged trial. The 19-year veteran of the Minneapolis police force was seen on video kneeling on the neck of Floyd for more than nine minutes as he lay face down and handcuffed on the ground saying repeatedly "I can't breathe" in an incident last May. Hamilton, who said he had been left furious by Floyd's death, last year equalled Michael Schumacher's record of seven world championships against the backdrop of his personal fight against racism. The 36-year-old, the sole black driver on the F1 grid, wrote on Instagram: "JUSTICE for George! The emotions I feel right now are hard to describe. Derek Chauvin has been found guilty. "This is the first time that a white officer has been convicted for killing a black man in Minnesota. This is monumental, George's death is not in vain. "The result of the Derek Chauvin trial today is the right one. Convicting him of all three charges marks a new dawn in the fight for racial justice." Hamilton, who continues to kneel ahead of races in a sign of his support for the campaign against racial injustice, said much work still needed to be done. "This is just one step on the path towards a more equal society," he said. "Since George's death, so many other black people have died at the hands of the police and we must ensure the momentum of today continues. The fight isn't over." Hamilton is top of the drivers' standings ahead of the third race of the season in Portugal on May 2.

F1 champion Lewis Hamilton hails 'justice' of Floyd murder verdict

The United States Department of Justice on Wednesday announced a probe into the police practices in Minneapolis after Derek Chauvin, a white police officer&nbsp;was convicted of all three charges in relation to the murder of George Floyd, a black man who died after the officer knelt on his neck.

The announcement was made by US Attorney General Merrick Garland. Now, a civil investigation will take place in the workings of Minneapolis police department.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/former-cop-derek-chauvin-convicted-of-george-floyds-murder-378907/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"Today, I am announcing that the Justice Department has opened a civil investigation to determine whether the Minneapolis Police Department engages in a pattern or practice of unconstitutional or unlawful policing," AFP cited Garland as saying.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/us-ex-cop-derek-chauvin-found-guilty-of-murder-manslaughter-in-the-death-of-george-floyd-378898" hreflang="en">US ex-cop Derek Chauvin found guilty of murder, manslaughter in the death of George Floyd</a>

The civil probe will be different from the ongoing criminal investigation into the death of George Floyd. The new investigation will examine whether the police used excessive force on purpose, even during legal protests.

The probe will also take into account whether the police force exhibited a pattern of discrimination. In addition, it will look at whether the force indulged in unlawful treatment of people with health disabilities.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/entertainment/chris-evans-ellen-degeneres-cher-and-others-react-to-derek-chauvins-verdict-378982" hreflang="en">Chris Evans, Ellen DeGeneres, Cher and others react to Derek Chauvin's verdict</a>

If unlawful practices are found during the investigation, a civil lawsuit could be filed against the police force, compelling them to make sweeping reforms in the police department.

"The Justice department will be unwavering in its pursuit of equal justice under law," Garland added.

(With inputs from agencies)

The United States Department of Justice on Wednesday announced a probe into the police practices in Minneapolis after Derek Chauvin, a white police officer was convicted of all three charges in relation to the murder of George Floyd, a black man who died after the officer knelt on his neck.

The United States Department of Justice on Wednesday announced a probe into the police practices in Minneapolis after Derek Chauvin, a white police officer was convicted of all three charges in relation to the murder of George Floyd, a black man who died after the officer knelt on his neck. The announcement was made by US Attorney General Merrick Garland. Now, a civil investigation will take place in the workings of Minneapolis police department. "Today, I am announcing that the Justice Department has opened a civil investigation to determine whether the Minneapolis Police Department engages in a pattern or practice of unconstitutional or unlawful policing," AFP cited Garland as saying. Also read: US ex-cop Derek Chauvin found guilty of murder, manslaughter in the death of George Floyd The civil probe will be different from the ongoing criminal investigation into the death of George Floyd. The new investigation will examine whether the police used excessive force on purpose, even during legal protests. The probe will also take into account whether the police force exhibited a pattern of discrimination. In addition, it will look at whether the force indulged in unlawful treatment of people with health disabilities. Also read: Chris Evans, Ellen DeGeneres, Cher and others react to Derek Chauvin's verdict If unlawful practices are found during the investigation, a civil lawsuit could be filed against the police force, compelling them to make sweeping reforms in the police department. "The Justice department will be unwavering in its pursuit of equal justice under law," Garland added. (With inputs from agencies)

US Justice Department to probe police practices in Minneapolis after George Floyd verdict

Twelve jurors found Chauvin guilty of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter

Former cop Derek Chauvin convicted of George Floyd’s murder

As the court declared former <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-ex-cop-derek-chauvin-found-guilty-of-murder-manslaughter-in-the-death-of-george-floyd-378898">Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin </a>was guilty for May 2020 death of George Floyd, several celebrities took to social media to welcome the &nbsp;court's verdict.&nbsp; 
 
Chauvin was charged with second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.&nbsp; 
 
Celebrities like Cher, Ellen DeGeneres, Alyssa Milano and others expressed their opinion post the verdict.&nbsp; 
 
"THANK GOD," Cher tweeted. "OH HAPPY DAY."

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THANK GOD🙏🏻🙏🏽🙏🏾 
OH HAPPY DAY
— Cher (@cher) <a href="https://twitter.com/cher/status/1384615654775431171?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 20, 2021</a></blockquote>
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"Justice," tweeted Ellen DeGeneres.&nbsp;

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Justice.
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"FOUND GUILTY ON ALL THREE CHARGES," actress Alyssa Milano said. "Rest In Peace, George Floyd. You have changed the world."

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FOUND GUILTY ON ALL THREE CHARGES. 
 
Rest In Peace, George Floyd. You have changed the world. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/verdict?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#verdict</a>
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) <a href="https://twitter.com/Alyssa_Milano/status/1384615267053948934?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 20, 2021</a></blockquote>
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"Guilty on all counts!!!!!" said Padma Lakshmi. She later shared a photo of Chauvin being escorted out of the courtroom in handcuffs and wrote alongside it, "Guilty."

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Guilty on all counts!!!!!
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Guilty <a href="https://t.co/vOAGmV9MpR">pic.twitter.com/vOAGmV9MpR</a>
— Padma Lakshmi (@PadmaLakshmi) <a href="https://twitter.com/PadmaLakshmi/status/1384617348355788802?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 20, 2021</a></blockquote>
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"Justice. Sending love to George Floyd’s family and friends," Chris Evans wrote.&nbsp;

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Justice. Sending love to George Floyd’s family and friends.
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"Thank you God! Thank you jurors," she tweeted. "Thank you witnesses for the prosecution. Love to the Floyd family," tweeted Patricia Arquette.

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Thank you God! Thank you jurors. Thank you witnesses for the prosecution. Love to the Floyd family.
— Patricia Arquette (@PattyArquette) <a href="https://twitter.com/PattyArquette/status/1384617350750683143?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 20, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Whoopi Goldberg wrote, "Guilty Guilty Guilty... No one wins.. George Floyd is still gone..and finally someone was responsible... Derek Chauvin."

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Guilty Guilty Guilty... No one wins.. George Floyd is still gone..and finally someone was responsible... Derek Chauvin
— Whoopi Goldberg (@WhoopiGoldberg) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhoopiGoldberg/status/1384616052504543238?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 20, 2021</a></blockquote>
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"A guilty #verdict. But this fight for justice is not over. We have a lot of work to do. There is more fight ahead of us. But RIGHT NOW please take CARE of yourself. And let’s take care of each other. Prayers and love to the family of #GeorgeFloyd," said Kerry Washington.&nbsp;

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A guilty <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/verdict?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#verdict</a>. But this fight for justice is not over. We have a lot of work to do. There is more fight ahead of us. But RIGHT NOW please take CARE of yourself. And let’s take care of each other. Prayers and love to the family of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GeorgeFloyd?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GeorgeFloyd</a>.
— kerry washington (@kerrywashington) <a href="https://twitter.com/kerrywashington/status/1384617685649035266?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 20, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Chauvin faces up to 40 years in prison on the most serious charge -- second-degree murder. Sentencing will be at a later date.

The 19-year veteran of the Minneapolis police force was seen on video kneeling on the neck of Floyd for more than nine minutes as he lay face down and handcuffed on the ground saying repeatedly "I can't breathe."

The 46-year-old Floyd's death during his May 25, 2020 arrest for allegedly passing a counterfeit $20 bill sparked protests against racial injustice and police brutality around the world.

As the court declared former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was guilty for May 2020 death of George Floyd, several celebrities took to social media to welcome the court's verdict.

As the court declared former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was guilty for May 2020 death of George Floyd, several celebrities took to social media to welcome the court's verdict. Chauvin was charged with second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. Celebrities like Cher, Ellen DeGeneres, Alyssa Milano and others expressed their opinion post the verdict. "THANK GOD," Cher tweeted. "OH HAPPY DAY." THANK GOD🙏🏻🙏🏽🙏🏾 OH HAPPY DAY — Cher (@cher) April 20, 2021 × "Justice," tweeted Ellen DeGeneres. Justice. — Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) April 20, 2021 × "FOUND GUILTY ON ALL THREE CHARGES," actress Alyssa Milano said. "Rest In Peace, George Floyd. You have changed the world." FOUND GUILTY ON ALL THREE CHARGES. Rest In Peace, George Floyd. You have changed the world. #verdict — Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) April 20, 2021 × "Guilty on all counts!!!!!" said Padma Lakshmi. She later shared a photo of Chauvin being escorted out of the courtroom in handcuffs and wrote alongside it, "Guilty." Guilty on all counts!!!!! — Padma Lakshmi (@PadmaLakshmi) April 20, 2021 × Guilty pic.twitter.com/vOAGmV9MpR — Padma Lakshmi (@PadmaLakshmi) April 20, 2021 × "Justice. Sending love to George Floyd’s family and friends," Chris Evans wrote. Justice. Sending love to George Floyd’s family and friends. — Chris Evans (@ChrisEvans) April 20, 2021 × "Thank you God! Thank you jurors," she tweeted. "Thank you witnesses for the prosecution. Love to the Floyd family," tweeted Patricia Arquette. Thank you God! Thank you jurors. Thank you witnesses for the prosecution. Love to the Floyd family. — Patricia Arquette (@PattyArquette) April 20, 2021 × Whoopi Goldberg wrote, "Guilty Guilty Guilty... No one wins.. George Floyd is still gone..and finally someone was responsible... Derek Chauvin." Guilty Guilty Guilty... No one wins.. George Floyd is still gone..and finally someone was responsible... Derek Chauvin — Whoopi Goldberg (@WhoopiGoldberg) April 20, 2021 × "A guilty #verdict. But this fight for justice is not over. We have a lot of work to do. There is more fight ahead of us. But RIGHT NOW please take CARE of yourself. And let’s take care of each other. Prayers and love to the family of #GeorgeFloyd," said Kerry Washington. A guilty #verdict. But this fight for justice is not over. We have a lot of work to do. There is more fight ahead of us. But RIGHT NOW please take CARE of yourself. And let’s take care of each other. Prayers and love to the family of #GeorgeFloyd. — kerry washington (@kerrywashington) April 20, 2021 × Chauvin faces up to 40 years in prison on the most serious charge -- second-degree murder. Sentencing will be at a later date. The 19-year veteran of the Minneapolis police force was seen on video kneeling on the neck of Floyd for more than nine minutes as he lay face down and handcuffed on the ground saying repeatedly "I can't breathe." The 46-year-old Floyd's death during his May 25, 2020 arrest for allegedly passing a counterfeit $20 bill sparked protests against racial injustice and police brutality around the world.

Chris Evans, Ellen DeGeneres, Cher and others react to Derek Chauvin's verdict

Derek Chauvin, Former Minneapolis Officer, was convicted of murder and manslaughter for pinning George Floyd to the pavement with his knee on the Black man’s neck in a case that touched off worldwide protests, violence and a furious reexamination of racism and policing in the US.

Chauvin, 45, could be sent to prison for decades. The jury of six white people and six Black or multiracial ones came back with its verdict after about 10 hours of deliberations over two days. 
 
Chauvin was found guilty on all charges: second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pics-george-floyd-whose-fall-fuelled-a-complete-movement-368697">In Pics: George Floyd, whose fall, fuelled a complete movement</a> 
 
A crowd gathered outside the heavily guarded downtown Minneapolis courtroom erupted in cheers, and some wept tears of relief when the verdicts were announced after a three-week trial that had an entire nation on edge.

Chauvin, who had been free on bail, was put in handcuffs after Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill read out the unanimous verdicts reached by the racially diverse, seven-woman five-man jury.

Wearing a facemask and displaying no visible emotion, Chauvin was escorted out of the courtroom by a deputy as one of Floyd's brothers, Philonise Floyd, embraced prosecutors.

Chauvin faces up to 40 years in prison on the most serious charge -- second-degree murder. Sentencing will be at a later date.

The 19-year veteran of the Minneapolis police force was seen on video kneeling on the neck of Floyd for more than nine minutes as he lay face down and handcuffed on the ground saying repeatedly "I can't breathe."

The 46-year-old Floyd's death during his May 25, 2020 arrest for allegedly passing a counterfeit $20 bill sparked protests against racial injustice and police brutality around the world.

Ahead of the verdict, cities across the United States had been braced for potential unrest and National Guard troops have been deployed in Minneapolis.

George Floyd's brother Rodney told AFP that Black people in America had been victims of deadly injustice at the hands of the authorities for hundreds of years.

"We needed a victory, in this case, it's very important, and we got it and hey, we might breathe a little bit better now," he added.

President Joe Biden called members of the Floyd family to say he was "relieved" by the verdicts, then later he and Vice President Kamala Harris addressed the nation in televised remarks.

"This can be a giant step forward in the march towards justice in America," Biden said, as he called on citizens to "unite" against racism and violence.

Harris, America's first female and first Black vice president, told the family it was "a day of justice in America," and that "history will look back at this moment."

- 'Turning point' -

Floyd family lawyer Ben Crump hailed the conviction as a landmark victory for civil rights and a springboard to legislation currently before Congress to reform police forces in their dealings with minorities.&nbsp;

"This verdict is a turning point in history and sends a clear message on the need for accountability of law enforcement," Crump tweeted.

"Justice for Black America is justice for all of America!"

Barack Obama, the nation's first Black president, said "a jury did the right thing" but "true justice requires much more."

Three other former police officers involved in Floyd's arrest are to go on trial later this year.

Minneapolis has been tensely awaiting the Chauvin verdict and the city has seen nightly protests since Daunte Wright, a 20-year-old Black man, was shot dead in a suburb of the Minnesota city on April 11 by a white policewoman.

In Washington, the National Guard said some 250 troops were being deployed "to support local law enforcement" in response to potential demonstrations.

Prosecutors, in closing arguments Monday, showed excerpts from the harrowing bystander video of Floyd's death that was seen by millions around the world.

"This case is exactly what you thought when you saw it first when you saw that video," prosecutor Steve Schleicher told the jury.&nbsp;

"You can believe your eyes," Schleicher said. "It's exactly what you knew, it's what you felt in your gut, it's what you now know in your heart."

"This wasn't policing, this was murder," Schleicher added. "Nine minutes and 29 seconds of shocking abuse of authority."

Much of the evidence phase of the trial involved testimony from medical experts about Floyd's cause of death.

A retired forensic pathologist called by the defence said Floyd died of cardiac arrest brought on by heart disease and the illegal drugs fentanyl and methamphetamine.

Medical experts for the prosecution said Floyd died from a lack of oxygen from Chauvin's knee on his neck and that drugs were not a factor.

Among the 38 witnesses who testified for the prosecution were some of the bystanders who watched Floyd's arrest and pleaded with Chauvin to get off him.

Darnella Frazier, the teenager who took the video that went viral, said Floyd was "scared" and "begging for his life."

"It wasn't right. He was suffering," Frazier said.

US Senator Tim Scott, one of just three Black Republicans in Congress, said there was "no question" that the jury rendered the right decision.

"While this outcome should give us renewed confidence in the integrity of our justice system, we know there is more work to be done to ensure the bad apples do not define all officers," he said.

(With inputs from agencies)

Derek Chauvin, Former Minneapolis Officer, was convicted of murder and manslaughter for pinning George Floyd to the pavement with his knee on the Black man’s neck in a case that touched off worldwide protests, violence and a furious reexamination of racism and policing in the US.

Derek Chauvin, Former Minneapolis Officer, was convicted of murder and manslaughter for pinning George Floyd to the pavement with his knee on the Black man’s neck in a case that touched off worldwide protests, violence and a furious reexamination of racism and policing in the US. Chauvin, 45, could be sent to prison for decades. The jury of six white people and six Black or multiracial ones came back with its verdict after about 10 hours of deliberations over two days. Chauvin was found guilty on all charges: second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. In Pics: George Floyd, whose fall, fuelled a complete movement A crowd gathered outside the heavily guarded downtown Minneapolis courtroom erupted in cheers, and some wept tears of relief when the verdicts were announced after a three-week trial that had an entire nation on edge. Chauvin, who had been free on bail, was put in handcuffs after Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill read out the unanimous verdicts reached by the racially diverse, seven-woman five-man jury. Wearing a facemask and displaying no visible emotion, Chauvin was escorted out of the courtroom by a deputy as one of Floyd's brothers, Philonise Floyd, embraced prosecutors. Chauvin faces up to 40 years in prison on the most serious charge -- second-degree murder. Sentencing will be at a later date. The 19-year veteran of the Minneapolis police force was seen on video kneeling on the neck of Floyd for more than nine minutes as he lay face down and handcuffed on the ground saying repeatedly "I can't breathe." The 46-year-old Floyd's death during his May 25, 2020 arrest for allegedly passing a counterfeit $20 bill sparked protests against racial injustice and police brutality around the world. Ahead of the verdict, cities across the United States had been braced for potential unrest and National Guard troops have been deployed in Minneapolis. George Floyd's brother Rodney told AFP that Black people in America had been victims of deadly injustice at the hands of the authorities for hundreds of years. "We needed a victory, in this case, it's very important, and we got it and hey, we might breathe a little bit better now," he added. President Joe Biden called members of the Floyd family to say he was "relieved" by the verdicts, then later he and Vice President Kamala Harris addressed the nation in televised remarks. "This can be a giant step forward in the march towards justice in America," Biden said, as he called on citizens to "unite" against racism and violence. Harris, America's first female and first Black vice president, told the family it was "a day of justice in America," and that "history will look back at this moment." - 'Turning point' - Floyd family lawyer Ben Crump hailed the conviction as a landmark victory for civil rights and a springboard to legislation currently before Congress to reform police forces in their dealings with minorities. "This verdict is a turning point in history and sends a clear message on the need for accountability of law enforcement," Crump tweeted. "Justice for Black America is justice for all of America!" Barack Obama, the nation's first Black president, said "a jury did the right thing" but "true justice requires much more." Three other former police officers involved in Floyd's arrest are to go on trial later this year. Minneapolis has been tensely awaiting the Chauvin verdict and the city has seen nightly protests since Daunte Wright, a 20-year-old Black man, was shot dead in a suburb of the Minnesota city on April 11 by a white policewoman. In Washington, the National Guard said some 250 troops were being deployed "to support local law enforcement" in response to potential demonstrations. Prosecutors, in closing arguments Monday, showed excerpts from the harrowing bystander video of Floyd's death that was seen by millions around the world. "This case is exactly what you thought when you saw it first when you saw that video," prosecutor Steve Schleicher told the jury. "You can believe your eyes," Schleicher said. "It's exactly what you knew, it's what you felt in your gut, it's what you now know in your heart." "This wasn't policing, this was murder," Schleicher added. "Nine minutes and 29 seconds of shocking abuse of authority." Much of the evidence phase of the trial involved testimony from medical experts about Floyd's cause of death. A retired forensic pathologist called by the defence said Floyd died of cardiac arrest brought on by heart disease and the illegal drugs fentanyl and methamphetamine. Medical experts for the prosecution said Floyd died from a lack of oxygen from Chauvin's knee on his neck and that drugs were not a factor. Among the 38 witnesses who testified for the prosecution were some of the bystanders who watched Floyd's arrest and pleaded with Chauvin to get off him. Darnella Frazier, the teenager who took the video that went viral, said Floyd was "scared" and "begging for his life." "It wasn't right. He was suffering," Frazier said. US Senator Tim Scott, one of just three Black Republicans in Congress, said there was "no question" that the jury rendered the right decision. "While this outcome should give us renewed confidence in the integrity of our justice system, we know there is more work to be done to ensure the bad apples do not define all officers," he said. (With inputs from agencies)

US ex-cop Derek Chauvin found guilty of murder, manslaughter in the death of George Floyd

US President Joe Biden called systemic racism a "stain on our nation's soul" in a televised address to the nation on Tuesday after a white former police officer was convicted of murdering a Black man during an arrest.

Biden spoke out after a jury in the Midwestern city of Minneapolis found Derek Chauvin guilty of intentionally suffocating handcuffed George Floyd as he lay defenceless, with the officer's knee pressing on his neck for more than nine minutes.

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The president called for "confronting head on systemic racism and the racial disparities that exist in policing and our criminal justice system" but pleaded for protesters to steer clear of violence.

"There are those who will seek to exploit the raw emotions in the moment -- agitators and extremists who have no interest in social justice," he warned. "We can't let them succeed."

A jury deliberated less than 11 hours before finding the 45-year-old Chauvin guilty of all three charges against him -- second-degree murder, third-degree murder and manslaughter.

The unanimous verdict came after a racially charged three-week trial that was seen as a pivotal test of police accountability in the United States.

Appearing alongside Biden, Kamala Harris, America's first Black vice president, spoke first to articulate the "relief" the nation was feeling over justice being served but acknowledged that the result couldn't "take away the pain" of Floyd's murder.

"A measure of justice is not the same as equal justice. This verdict brings us a step closer. We still have work to do. We still have to reform the system," she said.

She vowed to work with Biden to urge the Senate to pass "long overdue" legislation on police accountability, saying Black men had been treated as "less than humans" throughout US history.&nbsp;

"Here is the truth about racial injustice: It is not just a Black America problem or a 'people of color' problem. It is a problem for every American," she said.

US President Joe Biden called systemic racism a "stain on our nation's soul" in a televised address to the nation on Tuesday after a white former police officer was convicted of murdering a Black man during an arrest.

US President Joe Biden called systemic racism a "stain on our nation's soul" in a televised address to the nation on Tuesday after a white former police officer was convicted of murdering a Black man during an arrest. Biden spoke out after a jury in the Midwestern city of Minneapolis found Derek Chauvin guilty of intentionally suffocating handcuffed George Floyd as he lay defenceless, with the officer's knee pressing on his neck for more than nine minutes. The president called for "confronting head on systemic racism and the racial disparities that exist in policing and our criminal justice system" but pleaded for protesters to steer clear of violence. "There are those who will seek to exploit the raw emotions in the moment -- agitators and extremists who have no interest in social justice," he warned. "We can't let them succeed." A jury deliberated less than 11 hours before finding the 45-year-old Chauvin guilty of all three charges against him -- second-degree murder, third-degree murder and manslaughter. The unanimous verdict came after a racially charged three-week trial that was seen as a pivotal test of police accountability in the United States. Appearing alongside Biden, Kamala Harris, America's first Black vice president, spoke first to articulate the "relief" the nation was feeling over justice being served but acknowledged that the result couldn't "take away the pain" of Floyd's murder. "A measure of justice is not the same as equal justice. This verdict brings us a step closer. We still have work to do. We still have to reform the system," she said. She vowed to work with Biden to urge the Senate to pass "long overdue" legislation on police accountability, saying Black men had been treated as "less than humans" throughout US history. "Here is the truth about racial injustice: It is not just a Black America problem or a 'people of color' problem. It is a problem for every American," she said.

US President Joe Biden slams 'systemic racism'; calls Floyd verdict a 'relief'

NBA chief Adam Silver applauded the outcome of the Derek Chauvin murder trial on Tuesday, saying justice had been served against the former police officer found guilty of killing unarmed Black man George Floyd.

In a joint statement with the National Basketball Players Association executive director Michele Roberts, the NBA chief said the league would continue to campaign for criminal justice and police reforms.

"George Floyd's murder was a flash point for how we look at race and justice in our country, and we are pleased that justice appears to have beens served," Silver and Roberts said.

"But we also recognize that there is much work to be done with the National Basketball Association and the National Basketball Players Association, together with our newly formed Social Justice Coalition, will redouble our efforts to advocate for meaningful change in the areas of criminal justice and policing," they added.

NBA players joined nationwide protests against Floyd's killing in Minneapolis in May last year, and the league later encouraged players to share social justice messages when the pandemic-interrupted season resumed.

The words "Black Lives Matter" were painted prominently on courts at games staged in the NBA's bubble in Orlando.

Meanwhile, the Minnesota Timberwolves and Minnesota Lynx WNBA teams both praised Tuesday's verdict in a joint statement.

"One year ago, George Floyd was murdered, causing unimaginable pain and trauma for his family, the Minneapolis community, and communities across the nation," the teams said.

"We are hopeful that today's decision will serve as a step forward, but it does not ease the physical and emotional pain that continues in an environment where systemic racism exists."

NBA chief Adam Silver applauded the outcome of the Derek Chauvin murder trial on Tuesday, saying justice had been served against the former police officer found guilty of killing unarmed Black man George Floyd.

NBA chief Adam Silver applauded the outcome of the Derek Chauvin murder trial on Tuesday, saying justice had been served against the former police officer found guilty of killing unarmed Black man George Floyd. In a joint statement with the National Basketball Players Association executive director Michele Roberts, the NBA chief said the league would continue to campaign for criminal justice and police reforms. "George Floyd's murder was a flash point for how we look at race and justice in our country, and we are pleased that justice appears to have beens served," Silver and Roberts said. "But we also recognize that there is much work to be done with the National Basketball Association and the National Basketball Players Association, together with our newly formed Social Justice Coalition, will redouble our efforts to advocate for meaningful change in the areas of criminal justice and policing," they added. NBA players joined nationwide protests against Floyd's killing in Minneapolis in May last year, and the league later encouraged players to share social justice messages when the pandemic-interrupted season resumed. The words "Black Lives Matter" were painted prominently on courts at games staged in the NBA's bubble in Orlando. Meanwhile, the Minnesota Timberwolves and Minnesota Lynx WNBA teams both praised Tuesday's verdict in a joint statement. "One year ago, George Floyd was murdered, causing unimaginable pain and trauma for his family, the Minneapolis community, and communities across the nation," the teams said. "We are hopeful that today's decision will serve as a step forward, but it does not ease the physical and emotional pain that continues in an environment where systemic racism exists."

'Justice served': NBA, players praise Chauvin guilty verdict

Prosecutors and defence attorneys have ended closing arguments Monday in the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin after making their cases to jurors in the death case of George Floyd. After several weeks of testimony amid nationwide concerns over potential unrest that could follow once a verdict is reached.&nbsp;

The jury of six white people and six people who are Black or multiracial began deliberating after nearly a full day of closing arguments in which prosecutors argued that Chauvin squeezed the life out of Floyd last May in a way that even a child knew was wrong.

The defence contended that the now-fired white officer acted reasonably and that the 46-year-old Floyd died of a heart condition and illegal drug use.

After closing arguments were done, Judge Peter Cahill rejected a defence request for a mistrial based in part on comments from California Rep. Maxine Waters that protesters could get more confrontational if there is no guilty verdict.

&nbsp;The judge told Chauvin's attorney: Congresswoman Waters may have given you something on appeal that may result in this whole trial being overturned.

He added: I wish elected officials would stop talking about this case, especially in a manner that is disrespectful to the rule of law and the judicial branch.

Chauvin (45), is charged with second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter, all of which require the jury to conclude that Chauvin's actions were a substantial causal factor in Floyd's death and that his use of force was unreasonable.

The most serious charge carries up to 40 years in prison.

Use your common sense. Believe your eyes. What you saw, you saw, prosecutor Steve Schleicher said in closing arguments, referring to the excruciating bystander video of Floyd pinned down on the pavement with Chauvin's knee on or close to his neck for up to 9 minutes, 29 seconds, as bystanders yelled at the officer to get off.

Chauvin attorney Eric Nelson countered by arguing that Chauvin did what any reasonable police officer would have done after finding himself in a dynamic and fluid situation involving a large man struggling with three officers.

As Nelson began speaking, the now-fired Chauvin removed his COVID-19 mask in front of the jury for one of the very few times during the trial.

The duelling arguments got underway with some stores boarded up in Minneapolis, the courthouse ringed with concrete barriers and razor wire, and National Guard members on patrol. Floyd's death last spring set off protests in the city and across the US that sometimes turned violent.

&nbsp;The city has also been on edge in recent days over the police killing of a 20-year-old Black man in a nearby suburb on April 11.

Prosecutor Jerry Blackwell had the final word, offering the state's rebuttal argument. The prosecutor, who is Black, said the questions about the use of force and cause of death are so simple that a child can understand it.

A child did understand it, when the 9-year-old girl said, Get off of him,' Blackwell said, referring to a young witness who objected to what she saw. "That's how simple it was. 'Get off of him.' Common sense.

Under the law, police have a certain latitude to use force, and their actions are supposed to be judged according to what a reasonable officer in the same situation would have done.

Nelson noted that officers who first went to the corner store where Floyd allegedly tried to pass a counterfeit USD 20 bill were struggling with Floyd when Chauvin arrived as backup. The attorney also noted that the first two officers on the scene were rookies and that police had been told that Floyd might be on drugs.

A reasonable police officer understands the intensity of the struggle, Nelson said, saying that Chauvin's body-worn camera and his police badge were knocked off his chest.

Nelson also showed the jury pictures of pills found in Floyd's SUV and pill remnants discovered in the squad car. Fentanyl and methamphetamine were found in Floyd's system.

The defence attorney said the failure of the prosecution to acknowledge that medical problems or drugs played a role defies medical science and it defies common sense and reason.

During the prosecution's argument, Schleicher replayed portions of the bystander video and other footage as he dismissed certain defence theories about Floyd's death as nonsense." He said Chauvin killed Floyd by constricting his breathing.

Schleicher rejected the drug overdose argument, as well as the contention that police were distracted by hostile onlookers, that Floyd had superhuman strength from a state of agitation known as excited delirium, and that he suffered possible carbon monoxide poisoning from auto exhaust.

The prosecutor sarcastically referred to the idea that it was heart disease that killed Floyd as an amazing coincidence.

"Is that common sense or is that nonsense? Schleicher asked the jury.

&nbsp;Blackwell, his fellow prosecutor, likewise rejected the defence theory that Floyd died because of an enlarged heart: The truth of the matter is that the reason George Floyd is dead is that Mr Chauvin's heart was too small.

Earlier, Schleicher described how Chauvin ignored Floyd's cries and continued to kneel on him well after he stopped breathing and had no pulse. Chauvin was on top of him for 9 minutes and 29 seconds and he had to know, Schleicher said. He had to know.

He said Chauvin heard Floyd but he just didn't listen.

The prosecutor said Floyd was "not a threat to anyone" and was not trying to escape when he struggled with officers but instead was terrified of being put into the tiny backseat of the squad car. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

Prosecutors and defence attorneys have ended closing arguments Monday in the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin after making their cases to jurors in the death case of George Floyd.

Prosecutors and defence attorneys have ended closing arguments Monday in the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin after making their cases to jurors in the death case of George Floyd. After several weeks of testimony amid nationwide concerns over potential unrest that could follow once a verdict is reached. The jury of six white people and six people who are Black or multiracial began deliberating after nearly a full day of closing arguments in which prosecutors argued that Chauvin squeezed the life out of Floyd last May in a way that even a child knew was wrong. The defence contended that the now-fired white officer acted reasonably and that the 46-year-old Floyd died of a heart condition and illegal drug use. After closing arguments were done, Judge Peter Cahill rejected a defence request for a mistrial based in part on comments from California Rep. Maxine Waters that protesters could get more confrontational if there is no guilty verdict. The judge told Chauvin's attorney: Congresswoman Waters may have given you something on appeal that may result in this whole trial being overturned. He added: I wish elected officials would stop talking about this case, especially in a manner that is disrespectful to the rule of law and the judicial branch. Chauvin (45), is charged with second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter, all of which require the jury to conclude that Chauvin's actions were a substantial causal factor in Floyd's death and that his use of force was unreasonable. The most serious charge carries up to 40 years in prison. Use your common sense. Believe your eyes. What you saw, you saw, prosecutor Steve Schleicher said in closing arguments, referring to the excruciating bystander video of Floyd pinned down on the pavement with Chauvin's knee on or close to his neck for up to 9 minutes, 29 seconds, as bystanders yelled at the officer to get off. Chauvin attorney Eric Nelson countered by arguing that Chauvin did what any reasonable police officer would have done after finding himself in a dynamic and fluid situation involving a large man struggling with three officers. As Nelson began speaking, the now-fired Chauvin removed his COVID-19 mask in front of the jury for one of the very few times during the trial. The duelling arguments got underway with some stores boarded up in Minneapolis, the courthouse ringed with concrete barriers and razor wire, and National Guard members on patrol. Floyd's death last spring set off protests in the city and across the US that sometimes turned violent. The city has also been on edge in recent days over the police killing of a 20-year-old Black man in a nearby suburb on April 11. Prosecutor Jerry Blackwell had the final word, offering the state's rebuttal argument. The prosecutor, who is Black, said the questions about the use of force and cause of death are so simple that a child can understand it. A child did understand it, when the 9-year-old girl said, Get off of him,' Blackwell said, referring to a young witness who objected to what she saw. "That's how simple it was. 'Get off of him.' Common sense. Under the law, police have a certain latitude to use force, and their actions are supposed to be judged according to what a reasonable officer in the same situation would have done. Nelson noted that officers who first went to the corner store where Floyd allegedly tried to pass a counterfeit USD 20 bill were struggling with Floyd when Chauvin arrived as backup. The attorney also noted that the first two officers on the scene were rookies and that police had been told that Floyd might be on drugs. A reasonable police officer understands the intensity of the struggle, Nelson said, saying that Chauvin's body-worn camera and his police badge were knocked off his chest. Nelson also showed the jury pictures of pills found in Floyd's SUV and pill remnants discovered in the squad car. Fentanyl and methamphetamine were found in Floyd's system. The defence attorney said the failure of the prosecution to acknowledge that medical problems or drugs played a role defies medical science and it defies common sense and reason. During the prosecution's argument, Schleicher replayed portions of the bystander video and other footage as he dismissed certain defence theories about Floyd's death as nonsense." He said Chauvin killed Floyd by constricting his breathing. Schleicher rejected the drug overdose argument, as well as the contention that police were distracted by hostile onlookers, that Floyd had superhuman strength from a state of agitation known as excited delirium, and that he suffered possible carbon monoxide poisoning from auto exhaust. The prosecutor sarcastically referred to the idea that it was heart disease that killed Floyd as an amazing coincidence. "Is that common sense or is that nonsense? Schleicher asked the jury. Blackwell, his fellow prosecutor, likewise rejected the defence theory that Floyd died because of an enlarged heart: The truth of the matter is that the reason George Floyd is dead is that Mr Chauvin's heart was too small. Earlier, Schleicher described how Chauvin ignored Floyd's cries and continued to kneel on him well after he stopped breathing and had no pulse. Chauvin was on top of him for 9 minutes and 29 seconds and he had to know, Schleicher said. He had to know. He said Chauvin heard Floyd but he just didn't listen. The prosecutor said Floyd was "not a threat to anyone" and was not trying to escape when he struggled with officers but instead was terrified of being put into the tiny backseat of the squad car. (With inputs from agencies)

Derek Chauvin trial: Murder case against ex-cop in George Floyd's death goes to jury

Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin declined to testify in his murder trial over the killing of George Floyd as the defence wrapped up its case after just two days of testimony.

Prosecution, Defence rests case in Floyd's murder trial

Derek Chauvin, former Minneapolis police officer said on Thursday that he would not testify at George Floyd death trial. He invoked Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination and told judge Peter Cahill that he would not take the witness stand.

"I will invoke my Fifth Amendment privilege today," Chauvin said. He is facing murder and manslaughter charges.

Derek Chauvin was seen in a video pinning 46-year-old black man George Floyd down on the ground with his knee on his neck for more than nine minutes. Floyd could be seen saying "I can't breathe" in the video. He died soon afterward. The horrific incident took place on May 25, 2020.

George Floyd's death led to massive protests across US that sought to highlight police brutality targetted at African-Americans in the country. It was said that had George Floyd been a white man, he would not have received the unimaginable treatment resulting into his death.

(With inputs from agencies)

Derek Chauvin, former Minneapolis police officer said on Thursday that he would not testify at George Floyd death trial. He invoked Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination and told judge Peter Cahill that he would not take the witness stand.

Derek Chauvin, former Minneapolis police officer said on Thursday that he would not testify at George Floyd death trial. He invoked Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination and told judge Peter Cahill that he would not take the witness stand. "I will invoke my Fifth Amendment privilege today," Chauvin said. He is facing murder and manslaughter charges. Derek Chauvin was seen in a video pinning 46-year-old black man George Floyd down on the ground with his knee on his neck for more than nine minutes. Floyd could be seen saying "I can't breathe" in the video. He died soon afterward. The horrific incident took place on May 25, 2020. George Floyd's death led to massive protests across US that sought to highlight police brutality targetted at African-Americans in the country. It was said that had George Floyd been a white man, he would not have received the unimaginable treatment resulting into his death. (With inputs from agencies)

George Floyd trial: Derek Chauvin chooses not to testify

A medical expert testifying for the defence in the murder trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin told jurors that the manner of George Floyd's death should be classified as "undetermined" rather than "homicide."

Derek Chauvin trial: Medical expert from defence testifies before jury

The police officer who shot dead Black 20-year-old Daunte Wright in a Minneapolis suburb after appearing to mistake her gun for&nbsp;a taser was arrested Wednesday on&nbsp;manslaughter&nbsp;charges and will appear in court on Thursday.

Minneapolis has been roiled by nightly violent protests after Kim Potter, who is white, opened fire on Wright in his car on Sunday.

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Racial tensions were already high in the Midwestern US city as it hosts the trial of the white policeman charged with murdering George Floyd, whose death touched off a national reckoning over racial injustice.

Potter, a 26-year police veteran who resigned after Wright's death, faces a maximum of 10 years in jail if convicted of second-degree&nbsp;manslaughter.

"While we appreciate that the district attorney is pursuing justice for Daunte, no conviction can give the Wright family their loved one back," said the Wrights' family lawyer Ben Crump after the arrest.

"This was no accident. This was an intentional, deliberate, and unlawful use of force."

"We will keep fighting for justice for Daunte, for his family, and for all marginalized people of color."

Protesters faced off with police for a fourth night of violent clashes on Wednesday evening.

Riot police used tear gas to disperse demonstrators outside the fortified police station in Brooklyn Center, the suburb where Sunday's shooting took place.

About nine miles&nbsp;away, the judge presiding over the trial of Derek Chauvin denied a defense motion earlier Wednesday to acquit him of murder and&nbsp;manslaughter&nbsp;charges for the death of Floyd.

Chauvin, who is white, was seen in a video taken by a bystander kneeling on Floyd's neck for more than nine minutes as the handcuffed 46-year-old complained repeatedly that he "can't breathe."

Defence attorney Eric Nelson said prosecutors had failed to prove their case against the 45-year-old Chauvin beyond a reasonable doubt and he should be acquitted.

The video of Floyd's May 25, 2020 arrest sparked protests against racial injustice and police brutality in the United States and around the world.

A forensic pathologist called by the defence on Wednesday said Floyd died from cardiac arrest brought on by heart disease, illegal drug use and other factors.

The testimony of David Fowler contradicted that of several medical experts put on the witness stand by the prosecution who said Floyd died of lack of oxygen while being held facedown on the ground.

On Tuesday the families of Wright and Floyd demanded an end to police brutality and the killing of unarmed African Americans by white officers.

"The world is traumatised watching another African American man being slain," Floyd's brother Philonise Floyd said, as he stood with Wright's relatives outside the trial courthouse.

(With inputs from agencies)

The police officer who shot dead Black 20-year-old Daunte Wright in a Minneapolis suburb after appearing to mistake her gun for a taser was arrested Wednesday on manslaughter charges and will appear in court on Thursday.

The police officer who shot dead Black 20-year-old Daunte Wright in a Minneapolis suburb after appearing to mistake her gun for a taser was arrested Wednesday on manslaughter charges and will appear in court on Thursday. Minneapolis has been roiled by nightly violent protests after Kim Potter, who is white, opened fire on Wright in his car on Sunday. Racial tensions were already high in the Midwestern US city as it hosts the trial of the white policeman charged with murdering George Floyd, whose death touched off a national reckoning over racial injustice. Potter, a 26-year police veteran who resigned after Wright's death, faces a maximum of 10 years in jail if convicted of second-degree manslaughter. "While we appreciate that the district attorney is pursuing justice for Daunte, no conviction can give the Wright family their loved one back," said the Wrights' family lawyer Ben Crump after the arrest. "This was no accident. This was an intentional, deliberate, and unlawful use of force." "We will keep fighting for justice for Daunte, for his family, and for all marginalized people of color." Protesters faced off with police for a fourth night of violent clashes on Wednesday evening. Riot police used tear gas to disperse demonstrators outside the fortified police station in Brooklyn Center, the suburb where Sunday's shooting took place. About nine miles away, the judge presiding over the trial of Derek Chauvin denied a defense motion earlier Wednesday to acquit him of murder and manslaughter charges for the death of Floyd. Chauvin, who is white, was seen in a video taken by a bystander kneeling on Floyd's neck for more than nine minutes as the handcuffed 46-year-old complained repeatedly that he "can't breathe." Defence attorney Eric Nelson said prosecutors had failed to prove their case against the 45-year-old Chauvin beyond a reasonable doubt and he should be acquitted. The video of Floyd's May 25, 2020 arrest sparked protests against racial injustice and police brutality in the United States and around the world. A forensic pathologist called by the defence on Wednesday said Floyd died from cardiac arrest brought on by heart disease, illegal drug use and other factors. The testimony of David Fowler contradicted that of several medical experts put on the witness stand by the prosecution who said Floyd died of lack of oxygen while being held facedown on the ground. On Tuesday the families of Wright and Floyd demanded an end to police brutality and the killing of unarmed African Americans by white officers. "The world is traumatised watching another African American man being slain," Floyd's brother Philonise Floyd said, as he stood with Wright's relatives outside the trial courthouse. (With inputs from agencies)

Officer who shot Black man near Minneapolis to appear in court today

The Minneapolis cop who shot Daunte Wright has said that she mistook her gun for her taser. How plausible is this version of events? What does it say about police training in the U.S.? WION's Palki Sharma tells you.

Gravitas: US cop 'mistook' gun for teaser

A police officer approached a car with George Floyd in the front seat, and Floyd started to panic. While officers ordered him to spit out a pill he was trying to swallow, he repeatedly begged them not to shoot him.

Within seconds, one of the officers had his gun drawn and Floyd was being pulled out of the car and handcuffed.

The body-worn camera video of that scene was shown for the first time Tuesday to jurors in the trial of Derek Chauvin, the former police officer charged with murdering Floyd. The episode was strikingly similar to the day Floyd died. But it had been taken a year before.

As the defense began its case after 11 days of testimony against Chauvin, the video was the first exhibit introduced and signaled a key strategy: shifting the jurors’ focus to Floyd’s use of illicit drugs.

Chauvin’s lawyer, Eric J. Nelson, presented the video of the May 2019 arrest and questioned the paramedic who treated Floyd that day. He asked a woman who was with him the day he died about how Floyd fell asleep in the car and was difficult to rouse. He reviewed the signs of excited delirium, a condition often attributed to using stimulants.

Other planks of the defense emerged as well, including suggestions that the bystanders who tried to intervene were threatening and that Chauvin’s behavior was reasonable in the circumstances.

A Minneapolis Park Police officer who responded to the scene on May 25, 2020, the day Floyd died, testified that the bystanders were aggressive enough to make him fear for the other officers’ safety. A policing expert said the period of time when Chauvin knelt on Floyd’s neck was not only justified but did not even qualify as force. Each line of questioning was designed not so much to persuade the jury, but to sow the seeds of reasonable doubt.

The judge, Peter A. Cahill, has tried to bar a common defense tactic, blaming the victim. He has strictly limited testimony about Floyd, saying that his past acts and state of mind were not relevant to the case.

But the defense has tried to expose jurors to Floyd’s history of involvement with the police, and arguments over how much of the May 2019 arrest jurors would see began well before the trial.

Nelson said that arrest showed a pattern of behavior in which Floyd responded to the police by panicking, implying that he faked his response.

“This goes to the very nature of this case and why public perception is what it is,” Nelson said in court a few weeks ago. “The things that he is saying. ‘I can’t breathe.’ ‘I’m claustrophobic.’ Calling out for his Mama.”

The judge did not buy that argument, and initially barred any mention of the incident. He changed his mind after a second search, in January, of the squad car used on the day Floyd died turned up half-chewed pills of methamphetamine with Floyd’s DNA and saliva on them. He said that showed similarities between the two arrests, but he allowed the jury to see only about 90 seconds of the 2019 video.

“This evidence is being admitted solely for the limited purpose of showing what effects the ingestion of opioids may or may not have had on the physical well-being of George Floyd,” Cahill told the jury Tuesday before the video was shown. “This evidence is not to be used as evidence of the character of George Floyd.”

The video showed Floyd being slow to respond to commands from the police, and the officer who wore the body camera reaching to put Floyd’s hand on the dashboard. “It escalated real quick,” said the officer, Scott Creighton, who is now retired and who was the day’s first witness.

The prosecution has tried to engender empathy for Floyd’s struggle with opioid addiction, presenting testimony that he had tried to stop using. On Tuesday, the paramedic who was called to the precinct to treat Floyd in 2019 said he told her that not only had he taken an opioid painkiller as the officer approached the car, but that he had been taking them every 20 minutes.

Dan Herbert, a defense lawyer in Chicago who specializes in representing police officers, said the defense accomplished its goals in presenting the 2019 arrest. “What Nelson needs to do is show a side of George Floyd that is different from the poor individual that suffocated before everyone’s eyes on video,” he said. “He was lucky and didn’t die in that incident in 2019 — he wasn’t as lucky in 2020, that’s the strategy there.”

But the evidence could backfire because it showed an aggressive, profanity-laden approach by the police officers, and because unlike in 2020, Floyd was given medical assistance and survived the encounter.

“I don’t think Nelson scored a point at all,” said Albert Goins, a retired Minneapolis defense lawyer who represented the family of Jamar Clark, a Black man killed by the Minneapolis police in 2015. “Not only did Nelson’s use of the 2019 incident not land any blows, it raised the issue of the arbitrary practice and history of the Minneapolis Police Department in stopping its Black citizens.”

The defense spent the most time Tuesday on testimony from Barry Brodd, the first witness to explicitly defend Chauvin’s actions.

Brodd, a former police officer and expert on self-defense, said that putting Floyd handcuffed in the prone position on the street did not qualify as force because no pain was inflicted.

(BEGIN OPTIONAL TRIM.)

“I felt that Derek Chauvin was justified, and was acting with objective reasonableness, following Minneapolis Police Department policy and current standards of law enforcement, in his interactions with Mr. Floyd,” he said.

Brodd made statements that have been used before to defend officers accused of killing a Black man. He mentioned Floyd’s size and muscular build, and said that some suspects who are high on drugs “don’t feel pain” and can exhibit “superhuman strength,” said to be a sign of a condition called excited delirium that is often used to explain deaths in police custody.

On cross-examination, Steve Schleicher, one of the prosecutors, got Brodd to acknowledge that under Minneapolis Police Department policy a restraint is considered a use of force, and that a reasonable officer would abide by department policies.

Brodd acknowledged that he had listened to the videos in which Floyd expressed pain, saying, “Everything hurts.” But, Brodd said, he didn’t “note it.”

While Brodd challenged days of testimony on accepted police practices presented by the prosecution, not all the witnesses Tuesday were friendly to the defense. Shawanda Hill, another witness, made it plain through her facial expressions that it was not her choice to testify.

Hill ran into Floyd at Cup Foods, the convenience store where he spent the $20 bill that was reported to the police as counterfeit, and he offered her a ride. Once they were in the parked car, she said, Floyd kept falling asleep and was difficult to rouse. When police officers approached the car, she said, she woke him.

“He instantly grabbed the wheel and he said, ‘Please, please don’t kill me,’ ” she said.

Another witness was Peter Chang, a Minneapolis Park Police officer who responded to the scene and was asked to watch Floyd’s car. As he did that, he said, he became concerned for the safety of the officers who were interacting with Floyd. “The crowd was becoming more loud and aggressive,” he said.

Chang’s body camera video showed long minutes during which Hill and another of Floyd’s associates, Morries Lester Hall, waited on the sidewalk, unable to see what was happening to Floyd. When the ambulance carrying Floyd began to pull away, they asked if they could retrieve his phone from the car.

“He’s already gone,” Chang told them. “He doesn’t need his phone.”

A police officer approached a car with George Floyd in the front seat, and Floyd started to panic. While officers ordered him to spit out a pill he was trying to swallow, he repeatedly begged them not to shoot him.

A police officer approached a car with George Floyd in the front seat, and Floyd started to panic. While officers ordered him to spit out a pill he was trying to swallow, he repeatedly begged them not to shoot him. Within seconds, one of the officers had his gun drawn and Floyd was being pulled out of the car and handcuffed. The body-worn camera video of that scene was shown for the first time Tuesday to jurors in the trial of Derek Chauvin, the former police officer charged with murdering Floyd. The episode was strikingly similar to the day Floyd died. But it had been taken a year before. As the defense began its case after 11 days of testimony against Chauvin, the video was the first exhibit introduced and signaled a key strategy: shifting the jurors’ focus to Floyd’s use of illicit drugs. Chauvin’s lawyer, Eric J. Nelson, presented the video of the May 2019 arrest and questioned the paramedic who treated Floyd that day. He asked a woman who was with him the day he died about how Floyd fell asleep in the car and was difficult to rouse. He reviewed the signs of excited delirium, a condition often attributed to using stimulants. Other planks of the defense emerged as well, including suggestions that the bystanders who tried to intervene were threatening and that Chauvin’s behavior was reasonable in the circumstances. A Minneapolis Park Police officer who responded to the scene on May 25, 2020, the day Floyd died, testified that the bystanders were aggressive enough to make him fear for the other officers’ safety. A policing expert said the period of time when Chauvin knelt on Floyd’s neck was not only justified but did not even qualify as force. Each line of questioning was designed not so much to persuade the jury, but to sow the seeds of reasonable doubt. The judge, Peter A. Cahill, has tried to bar a common defense tactic, blaming the victim. He has strictly limited testimony about Floyd, saying that his past acts and state of mind were not relevant to the case. But the defense has tried to expose jurors to Floyd’s history of involvement with the police, and arguments over how much of the May 2019 arrest jurors would see began well before the trial. Nelson said that arrest showed a pattern of behavior in which Floyd responded to the police by panicking, implying that he faked his response. “This goes to the very nature of this case and why public perception is what it is,” Nelson said in court a few weeks ago. “The things that he is saying. ‘I can’t breathe.’ ‘I’m claustrophobic.’ Calling out for his Mama.” The judge did not buy that argument, and initially barred any mention of the incident. He changed his mind after a second search, in January, of the squad car used on the day Floyd died turned up half-chewed pills of methamphetamine with Floyd’s DNA and saliva on them. He said that showed similarities between the two arrests, but he allowed the jury to see only about 90 seconds of the 2019 video. “This evidence is being admitted solely for the limited purpose of showing what effects the ingestion of opioids may or may not have had on the physical well-being of George Floyd,” Cahill told the jury Tuesday before the video was shown. “This evidence is not to be used as evidence of the character of George Floyd.” The video showed Floyd being slow to respond to commands from the police, and the officer who wore the body camera reaching to put Floyd’s hand on the dashboard. “It escalated real quick,” said the officer, Scott Creighton, who is now retired and who was the day’s first witness. The prosecution has tried to engender empathy for Floyd’s struggle with opioid addiction, presenting testimony that he had tried to stop using. On Tuesday, the paramedic who was called to the precinct to treat Floyd in 2019 said he told her that not only had he taken an opioid painkiller as the officer approached the car, but that he had been taking them every 20 minutes. Dan Herbert, a defense lawyer in Chicago who specializes in representing police officers, said the defense accomplished its goals in presenting the 2019 arrest. “What Nelson needs to do is show a side of George Floyd that is different from the poor individual that suffocated before everyone’s eyes on video,” he said. “He was lucky and didn’t die in that incident in 2019 — he wasn’t as lucky in 2020, that’s the strategy there.” But the evidence could backfire because it showed an aggressive, profanity-laden approach by the police officers, and because unlike in 2020, Floyd was given medical assistance and survived the encounter. “I don’t think Nelson scored a point at all,” said Albert Goins, a retired Minneapolis defense lawyer who represented the family of Jamar Clark, a Black man killed by the Minneapolis police in 2015. “Not only did Nelson’s use of the 2019 incident not land any blows, it raised the issue of the arbitrary practice and history of the Minneapolis Police Department in stopping its Black citizens.” The defense spent the most time Tuesday on testimony from Barry Brodd, the first witness to explicitly defend Chauvin’s actions. Brodd, a former police officer and expert on self-defense, said that putting Floyd handcuffed in the prone position on the street did not qualify as force because no pain was inflicted. (BEGIN OPTIONAL TRIM.) “I felt that Derek Chauvin was justified, and was acting with objective reasonableness, following Minneapolis Police Department policy and current standards of law enforcement, in his interactions with Mr. Floyd,” he said. Brodd made statements that have been used before to defend officers accused of killing a Black man. He mentioned Floyd’s size and muscular build, and said that some suspects who are high on drugs “don’t feel pain” and can exhibit “superhuman strength,” said to be a sign of a condition called excited delirium that is often used to explain deaths in police custody. On cross-examination, Steve Schleicher, one of the prosecutors, got Brodd to acknowledge that under Minneapolis Police Department policy a restraint is considered a use of force, and that a reasonable officer would abide by department policies. Brodd acknowledged that he had listened to the videos in which Floyd expressed pain, saying, “Everything hurts.” But, Brodd said, he didn’t “note it.” While Brodd challenged days of testimony on accepted police practices presented by the prosecution, not all the witnesses Tuesday were friendly to the defense. Shawanda Hill, another witness, made it plain through her facial expressions that it was not her choice to testify. Hill ran into Floyd at Cup Foods, the convenience store where he spent the $20 bill that was reported to the police as counterfeit, and he offered her a ride. Once they were in the parked car, she said, Floyd kept falling asleep and was difficult to rouse. When police officers approached the car, she said, she woke him. “He instantly grabbed the wheel and he said, ‘Please, please don’t kill me,’ ” she said. Another witness was Peter Chang, a Minneapolis Park Police officer who responded to the scene and was asked to watch Floyd’s car. As he did that, he said, he became concerned for the safety of the officers who were interacting with Floyd. “The crowd was becoming more loud and aggressive,” he said. Chang’s body camera video showed long minutes during which Hill and another of Floyd’s associates, Morries Lester Hall, waited on the sidewalk, unable to see what was happening to Floyd. When the ambulance carrying Floyd began to pull away, they asked if they could retrieve his phone from the car. “He’s already gone,” Chang told them. “He doesn’t need his phone.”

Early testimony for defence: Derek Chauvin’s use of force on George Floyd was ‘justified’

The attorney for Derek Chauvin began his defence of the former Minneapolis police officer on Tuesday. A use of force expert called by Chauvin's defence team said that former police officer was justified in kneeling on George Floyd's neck.

Chauvin's defence begins case: Expert says use of force on Floyd was justified

US&nbsp;President Joe&nbsp;Biden&nbsp;on Tuesday&nbsp;described the most recent shooting death of a Black man in Minnesota by a police officer as "God awful" and said he and members of the Congressional Black Caucus were meeting to deliver "real change."

The mayor of Brooklyn Center, Minnesota announced the resignation of that town's police chief and of the officer who fatally shot at Daunte Wright, a 20-year old Black man who had struggled with police after a traffic stop.

Mayor Mike Elliott told reporters they resigned after the Brooklyn Center city council passed a resolution to dismiss both the chief, Tim Gannon, and the officer who shot Wright, Kim Potter, a 26-year veteran of the police force.

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The moves followed two nights of protests in the city of 30,000 people just miles from Minneapolis, a city already on edge with the trial of Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer charged with murdering George Floyd.

Brooklyn Center Mayor Mike Elliott said he was "appreciative" that Potter submitted her resignation but that he had not asked for it nor accepted it. It wasn't immediately clear what that would mean.

Gannon has said he believed Potter mistakenly grabbed her gun when she was going for her Taser. She can be heard on her body camera video shouting "Taser! Taser!"

However, protesters and Wright's family members say there's no excuse for the shooting and it shows how the justice system is tilted against Blacks, noting Wright was stopped for expired car registration and ended up dead.

Elliott said the city had been moving toward firing Potter when she resigned. He said he hoped her resignation would "bring some calm to the community," but that he would keep working towards "full accountability under the law".

"We have to make sure that justice is served, justice is done. Daunte Wright deserves that, his family deserves that," Elliott said.

Activists who attended the news conference called for sweeping changes to the Brooklyn Center Police Department and sharply criticized the acting police chief, Tony Gruenig, for not yet having a plan.

Elliott said the department has about 49 police officers, none of whom live in Brooklyn Center. He said he didn't have information on racial diversity at hand but that "we have very few people of colour in our department".

The modest suburb just north of Minneapolis has seen its demographics shift dramatically in recent years. In 2000, more than 70 per cent of the city was white. Today, a majority of residents are Black, Asian or Latino.

Wright was stopped for having expired license plates. Police then tried to arrest him on an outstanding warrant after failing to appear in court on charges that he fled from officers and possessed a gun without a permit during an encounter with Minneapolis police in June.

Former US&nbsp;President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama issued a statement on Tuesday calling for a "full and transparent investigation" following "yet another shooting of a Black man."

Body camera footage released Monday shows Wright struggling with police when an officer shouts, "I'll Tase you! I'll Tase you! Taser! Taser! Taser!" She draws her weapon after the man breaks free from police outside his car and gets back behind the wheel.

After firing a single shot from her handgun, the car speeds away, and the officer is heard saying, "Holy (expletive)! I shot him." Wright died of a gunshot wound to the chest, according to the medical examiner. Protests began within hours.

In her one-paragraph letter of resignation, Potter, a 26-year veteran,&nbsp;said, "I have loved every minute of being a police officer and serving this community to the best of my ability, but I believe it is in the best interest of the community, the department, and my fellow officers if I resign immediately."

Wright's father, Aubrey Wright, told ABC's "Good Morning America" on Tuesday that he rejects the explanation that Potter mistook her gun for her Taser.

"I lost my son. He's never coming back. I can't accept that. A mistake? That doesn't even sound right. This officer has been on the force for 26 years. I can't accept that," he said.

Chyna Whitaker, mother of Daunte's son, said at a news conference that she felt police "stole my son's dad from him."

The Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association, the police union, said in a statement Tuesday that "no conclusions should be made until the investigation is complete."

Prosecutors in Hennepin County, where the shooting occurred, said they have referred the case to nearby Washington County -- a practice county attorneys in the Minneapolis area adopted last year in handling police deadly force cases. The Washington County Attorney's office did not immediately return a request for comment.

Elliott, the mayor, called for the governor to move the case to the attorney general to prosecute.

Asked to comment, John Stiles, spokesman for the attorney general's office, said the attorney general has confidence in Washington County Attorney Pete Orput's review of the case.

Ben Crump, the Wright family's attorney, spoke outside the Minneapolis courthouse where a fired police officer is on trial in Floyd's death. Crump compared Wright's death to Floyd's, who was pinned down by police when they tried to arrest him for allegedly passing a counterfeit $20 at a neighbourhood market last May.

Daunte Wright "was not a threat to them," Crump said. "Was it the best decision? No. But young people don't always make the best decisions. As his mother said, he was scared."

Potter has experience with investigations into police shootings. She was the police union president and one of the first officers to respond after Brooklyn Center police fatally shot a man who allegedly tried to stab an officer with a knife in 2019, according to a report from the Hennepin County Attorney's Office.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

US President Joe Biden on Tuesday described the most recent shooting death of a Black man in Minnesota by a police officer as "God awful" and said he and members of the Congressional Black Caucus were meeting to deliver "real change.

US President Joe Biden on Tuesday described the most recent shooting death of a Black man in Minnesota by a police officer as "God awful" and said he and members of the Congressional Black Caucus were meeting to deliver "real change." The mayor of Brooklyn Center, Minnesota announced the resignation of that town's police chief and of the officer who fatally shot at Daunte Wright, a 20-year old Black man who had struggled with police after a traffic stop. Mayor Mike Elliott told reporters they resigned after the Brooklyn Center city council passed a resolution to dismiss both the chief, Tim Gannon, and the officer who shot Wright, Kim Potter, a 26-year veteran of the police force. The moves followed two nights of protests in the city of 30,000 people just miles from Minneapolis, a city already on edge with the trial of Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer charged with murdering George Floyd. Brooklyn Center Mayor Mike Elliott said he was "appreciative" that Potter submitted her resignation but that he had not asked for it nor accepted it. It wasn't immediately clear what that would mean. Gannon has said he believed Potter mistakenly grabbed her gun when she was going for her Taser. She can be heard on her body camera video shouting "Taser! Taser!" However, protesters and Wright's family members say there's no excuse for the shooting and it shows how the justice system is tilted against Blacks, noting Wright was stopped for expired car registration and ended up dead. Elliott said the city had been moving toward firing Potter when she resigned. He said he hoped her resignation would "bring some calm to the community," but that he would keep working towards "full accountability under the law". "We have to make sure that justice is served, justice is done. Daunte Wright deserves that, his family deserves that," Elliott said. Activists who attended the news conference called for sweeping changes to the Brooklyn Center Police Department and sharply criticized the acting police chief, Tony Gruenig, for not yet having a plan. Elliott said the department has about 49 police officers, none of whom live in Brooklyn Center. He said he didn't have information on racial diversity at hand but that "we have very few people of colour in our department". The modest suburb just north of Minneapolis has seen its demographics shift dramatically in recent years. In 2000, more than 70 per cent of the city was white. Today, a majority of residents are Black, Asian or Latino. Wright was stopped for having expired license plates. Police then tried to arrest him on an outstanding warrant after failing to appear in court on charges that he fled from officers and possessed a gun without a permit during an encounter with Minneapolis police in June. Former US President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama issued a statement on Tuesday calling for a "full and transparent investigation" following "yet another shooting of a Black man." Body camera footage released Monday shows Wright struggling with police when an officer shouts, "I'll Tase you! I'll Tase you! Taser! Taser! Taser!" She draws her weapon after the man breaks free from police outside his car and gets back behind the wheel. After firing a single shot from her handgun, the car speeds away, and the officer is heard saying, "Holy (expletive)! I shot him." Wright died of a gunshot wound to the chest, according to the medical examiner. Protests began within hours. In her one-paragraph letter of resignation, Potter, a 26-year veteran, said, "I have loved every minute of being a police officer and serving this community to the best of my ability, but I believe it is in the best interest of the community, the department, and my fellow officers if I resign immediately." Wright's father, Aubrey Wright, told ABC's "Good Morning America" on Tuesday that he rejects the explanation that Potter mistook her gun for her Taser. "I lost my son. He's never coming back. I can't accept that. A mistake? That doesn't even sound right. This officer has been on the force for 26 years. I can't accept that," he said. Chyna Whitaker, mother of Daunte's son, said at a news conference that she felt police "stole my son's dad from him." The Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association, the police union, said in a statement Tuesday that "no conclusions should be made until the investigation is complete." Prosecutors in Hennepin County, where the shooting occurred, said they have referred the case to nearby Washington County -- a practice county attorneys in the Minneapolis area adopted last year in handling police deadly force cases. The Washington County Attorney's office did not immediately return a request for comment. Elliott, the mayor, called for the governor to move the case to the attorney general to prosecute. Asked to comment, John Stiles, spokesman for the attorney general's office, said the attorney general has confidence in Washington County Attorney Pete Orput's review of the case. Ben Crump, the Wright family's attorney, spoke outside the Minneapolis courthouse where a fired police officer is on trial in Floyd's death. Crump compared Wright's death to Floyd's, who was pinned down by police when they tried to arrest him for allegedly passing a counterfeit $20 at a neighbourhood market last May. Daunte Wright "was not a threat to them," Crump said. "Was it the best decision? No. But young people don't always make the best decisions. As his mother said, he was scared." Potter has experience with investigations into police shootings. She was the police union president and one of the first officers to respond after Brooklyn Center police fatally shot a man who allegedly tried to stab an officer with a knife in 2019, according to a report from the Hennepin County Attorney's Office. (With inputs from agencies)

'God awful': Biden condemns latest police shooting of Black man in Minnesota

16 kilometres away from where George Floyd was killed, another Black-American has been shot dead for a 'traffic violation'. WION's Palki Sharma tells you how America's virus of racism is yet to be eradicated.

Gravitas: Black-American killed by cops in Minnesota

Philonise Floyd took the stand as part of an effort by prosecutors to humanize his brother in front of the jury and make him more than a crime statistic.

Philonise Floyd sheds tears on the stand, says 'He was a big mama's boy'

A pulmonary expert has revealed that George Floyd was killed by lack of oxygen which was caused by the pressing of the knee into his neck while he was held down by the police officer.

On the ninth day of the Derek Chauvin murder trial, Dr Martin Tobin told the jury that the Black man struggled with lack of oxygen as his face was pressed between the street and Chauvin.

"Mr Floyd died from a low level of oxygen and this caused damage to his brain,"&nbsp;Dr Tobin said.

The lack of oxygen is what caused Floyd's heart to stop, leading to his death. He also reported that the oxygen deprivation happened as Floyd's breathing became shallow due to the position he was held by Chauvin and other police officers for nearly ten minutes.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/pulmonary-expert-floyd-died-of-low-oxygen-level-prone-position-contributed-376200">Watch |</a>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/pulmonary-expert-floyd-died-of-low-oxygen-level-prone-position-contributed-376200/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"He's turned prone on the street, that he has the handcuffs in place combined with the street, and then that he has a knee on his neck, and that he has a knee on his back," the doctor said.

"It was almost to the effect that if a surgeon had gone in and removed the lung, Dr Tobin explained through a graphic testimony.

Dr Tobin also added that one of the most dangerous things other than the knee was the positions in which the other officers held his handcuffs. He explained that one officer pushed Floyd’s left hand against his chest while Chauvin's knee "really rammed" into his back, while Floyd was forcibly glued to the hard pavement of the street. Chauvin had also loaded a lot of his own body weight on Floyd, making him struggle to breathe.

Meanwhile, the 45-year-old officer has denied charges of second and third-degree murder and manslaughter. Chauvin faces up to 40 years in prison if convicted for the allegations.

A pulmonary expert has revealed that George Floyd was killed by lack of oxygen which was caused by the pressing of the knee into his neck while he was held down by the police officer.

A pulmonary expert has revealed that George Floyd was killed by lack of oxygen which was caused by the pressing of the knee into his neck while he was held down by the police officer. On the ninth day of the Derek Chauvin murder trial, Dr Martin Tobin told the jury that the Black man struggled with lack of oxygen as his face was pressed between the street and Chauvin. "Mr Floyd died from a low level of oxygen and this caused damage to his brain," Dr Tobin said. The lack of oxygen is what caused Floyd's heart to stop, leading to his death. He also reported that the oxygen deprivation happened as Floyd's breathing became shallow due to the position he was held by Chauvin and other police officers for nearly ten minutes. Watch | "He's turned prone on the street, that he has the handcuffs in place combined with the street, and then that he has a knee on his neck, and that he has a knee on his back," the doctor said. "It was almost to the effect that if a surgeon had gone in and removed the lung, Dr Tobin explained through a graphic testimony. Dr Tobin also added that one of the most dangerous things other than the knee was the positions in which the other officers held his handcuffs. He explained that one officer pushed Floyd’s left hand against his chest while Chauvin's knee "really rammed" into his back, while Floyd was forcibly glued to the hard pavement of the street. Chauvin had also loaded a lot of his own body weight on Floyd, making him struggle to breathe. Meanwhile, the 45-year-old officer has denied charges of second and third-degree murder and manslaughter. Chauvin faces up to 40 years in prison if convicted for the allegations.

George Floyd died by lack of oxygen, Pulmonary expert rules in Derek Chauvin murder trial

Doctors testified that Floyd died of a lack of oxygen after he was pinned to the ground with his hands cuffed behind him and Chauvin's knee on his neck.

High stakes trial of Derek Chauvin continues

Dr. Martin Tobin, a pulmonary expert testified George Floyd died from a lack of oxygen. He listed up four reasons as to why Floyd was unable to get enough oxygen.

Pulmonary expert: Floyd died of low oxygen level, prone position contributed

Use-of-force expert has testified that former Minneapolis officer Derek Chauvin had no need to kneel on the neck of George Floyd once he was handcuffed and prone. Floyd's drug use history also came under scrutiny.

Use-of-force expert testifies in Floyd murder trial says 'no force was reasonable'

A national expert in the proper use of force by police testified on Wednesday that former Minneapolis officer Derek Chauvin had no need to kneel on the neck of George Floyd once he was handcuffed and prone.

Los Angeles Police Department Sergeant Jody Stiger appeared as a prosecution witness at Chauvin's murder trial, offering testimony intended to show that the defendant disregarded his training during his deadly arrest of the 46-year-old Black man last May.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/use-of-force-expert-testifies-in-floyd-murder-trial-says-no-force-was-reasonable-375986/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Stiger told jurors that Floyd posed no immediate threat and was not actively resisting when Chauvin used deadly force on him by pinning his neck to the ground for more than nine minutes.

"My opinion was that no force was reasonable in that position," Stiger testified. "The pressure ... caused by the body weight could cause positional asphyxia and could cause death."

Floyd's death, captured on video widely viewed on social media, prompted protests against racism and police brutality in many cities across the United States and around the world.

Chauvin, who is white, has pleaded not guilty to murder and manslaughter charges, arguing that he was following the training he had received in his 19 years on the police force. Three other officers on the scene have been charged with aiding and abetting murder and will stand trial later this year.

Chauvin and the three other officers were attempting to arrest Floyd on suspicion of using a fake $20 bill to buy cigarettes at a food store. They were fired the day after the incident.

Stiger, who has reviewed 2,500 cases in which police used force, resumed his testimony after first appearing on Tuesday.

Prosecutor Steve Schleicher asked him to describe several photographs showing officers restraining Floyd. Stiger testified that it appeared Chauvin's use of force was excessive.

"He was handcuffed, not attempting to resist, not attempting to assault officers, kick, punch of that nature," Stiger said of Floyd.

Stiger testified that Chauvin squeezed Floyd's hand to get him to comply with the officer's orders while he was handcuffed in the prone position and that Floyd did not appear to have an opportunity to comply.

"At that point, it was just pain," Stiger said.

'Has to be proportional'

Questioned by defense lawyer Eric Nelson, Stiger agreed that a police officer needed to take into account various factors during a fluid situation when considering using force.

"It has to be proportional," Stiger said. "You are constantly reassessing during the time frame."

Stiger also agreed with Nelson that Chauvin came upon a situation in which a suspect was actively resisting officers who were trying to put him into a police squad car as people in a crowd yelled insults at them, posing a "potential threat."

Nelson showed Stiger photographs taken at different times of the incident showing Chauvin with his knee on Floyd. Nelson asked Stiger whether he agreed that Chauvin's knee was on Floyd's shoulder blades rather than his neck.

"It appears to be more above the shoulder blades than on the shoulder blades," Stiger testified, not agreeing with Nelson.

Prosecutors then called three Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension investigators, including Senior Special Agent James Reyerson, an expert on the use of force and the lead investigator in the case.

Part of Reyerson's testimony involved the investigation of the police squad car and Floyd's Mercedes Benz vehicle.

Reyerson testified that six months after the incident, Chauvin's lawyers re-examined the police car and found what was later determined to be pills that had Floyd's DNA on them. During its opening statement in the trial, Chauvin's defense team said the pills contained methamphetamine with fentanyl.

Reyerson agreed with Nelson that it sounded on one video of the incident as if Floyd said he "ate too many drugs." But during more questioning later from the prosecution, Reyerson agreed that it sounded as if Floyd said: "I ain't do no drugs."

Later in the day, McKenzie Anderson, a forensic scientist with the bureau, took the stand to describe collecting pills from the vehicles over the course of the investigation, including whole and partial tablets from the police squad car.

She testified that Floyd's blood was found in the back of the squad car and that pills found in the vehicle had saliva that matched Floyd's DNA.

(With inputs from Agencies)

A national expert in the proper use of force by police testified on Wednesday that former Minneapolis officer Derek Chauvin had no need to kneel on the neck of George Floyd once he was handcuffed and prone.

A national expert in the proper use of force by police testified on Wednesday that former Minneapolis officer Derek Chauvin had no need to kneel on the neck of George Floyd once he was handcuffed and prone. Los Angeles Police Department Sergeant Jody Stiger appeared as a prosecution witness at Chauvin's murder trial, offering testimony intended to show that the defendant disregarded his training during his deadly arrest of the 46-year-old Black man last May. Stiger told jurors that Floyd posed no immediate threat and was not actively resisting when Chauvin used deadly force on him by pinning his neck to the ground for more than nine minutes. "My opinion was that no force was reasonable in that position," Stiger testified. "The pressure ... caused by the body weight could cause positional asphyxia and could cause death." Floyd's death, captured on video widely viewed on social media, prompted protests against racism and police brutality in many cities across the United States and around the world. Chauvin, who is white, has pleaded not guilty to murder and manslaughter charges, arguing that he was following the training he had received in his 19 years on the police force. Three other officers on the scene have been charged with aiding and abetting murder and will stand trial later this year. Chauvin and the three other officers were attempting to arrest Floyd on suspicion of using a fake $20 bill to buy cigarettes at a food store. They were fired the day after the incident. Stiger, who has reviewed 2,500 cases in which police used force, resumed his testimony after first appearing on Tuesday. Prosecutor Steve Schleicher asked him to describe several photographs showing officers restraining Floyd. Stiger testified that it appeared Chauvin's use of force was excessive. "He was handcuffed, not attempting to resist, not attempting to assault officers, kick, punch of that nature," Stiger said of Floyd. Stiger testified that Chauvin squeezed Floyd's hand to get him to comply with the officer's orders while he was handcuffed in the prone position and that Floyd did not appear to have an opportunity to comply. "At that point, it was just pain," Stiger said. 'Has to be proportional' Questioned by defense lawyer Eric Nelson, Stiger agreed that a police officer needed to take into account various factors during a fluid situation when considering using force. "It has to be proportional," Stiger said. "You are constantly reassessing during the time frame." Stiger also agreed with Nelson that Chauvin came upon a situation in which a suspect was actively resisting officers who were trying to put him into a police squad car as people in a crowd yelled insults at them, posing a "potential threat." Nelson showed Stiger photographs taken at different times of the incident showing Chauvin with his knee on Floyd. Nelson asked Stiger whether he agreed that Chauvin's knee was on Floyd's shoulder blades rather than his neck. "It appears to be more above the shoulder blades than on the shoulder blades," Stiger testified, not agreeing with Nelson. Prosecutors then called three Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension investigators, including Senior Special Agent James Reyerson, an expert on the use of force and the lead investigator in the case. Part of Reyerson's testimony involved the investigation of the police squad car and Floyd's Mercedes Benz vehicle. Reyerson testified that six months after the incident, Chauvin's lawyers re-examined the police car and found what was later determined to be pills that had Floyd's DNA on them. During its opening statement in the trial, Chauvin's defense team said the pills contained methamphetamine with fentanyl. Reyerson agreed with Nelson that it sounded on one video of the incident as if Floyd said he "ate too many drugs." But during more questioning later from the prosecution, Reyerson agreed that it sounded as if Floyd said: "I ain't do no drugs." Later in the day, McKenzie Anderson, a forensic scientist with the bureau, took the stand to describe collecting pills from the vehicles over the course of the investigation, including whole and partial tablets from the police squad car. She testified that Floyd's blood was found in the back of the squad car and that pills found in the vehicle had saliva that matched Floyd's DNA. (With inputs from Agencies)

George Floyd trial: Expert testifies Chauvin had no need to use force

Lawyers for both the prosecution and the defense continued to argue on Tuesday over whether Derek Chauvin violated police policy when he knelt on George Floyd.

George Floyd Murder Trial: What happened in the Derek Chauvin trial on Day 7?

The police chief of Minneapolis testified at Derek Chauvin’s murder trial&nbsp;on Monday.&nbsp;Chief Medaria Arradondo said that Chauvin violated police department rules and ethics on respecting the “sanctity of life” while arresting George Floyd last May.

Chauvin, a former white police officer knelt on the neck of George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man for over nine minutes, killing him. A bystander filmed the incident, causing uproar on social media and triggering a series of global protests against racism.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/george-floyd-murder-trial-day-3-new-footage-from-inside-a-convenience-store-played-374631/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"It's not part of our training, and it is certainly not part of our ethics and our values," said Chief Medaria Arradondo.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/george-floyds-girlfriend-testifies-at-chauvin-murder-trial-374890" hreflang="en">George Floyd's girlfriend testifies at Chauvin murder trial</a>

Arradondo testified for over 3.5 hours, and attempted to refute the claims by defence that Chauvin was merely acting out based on the training he had received in the force. Chauvin has pleaded not guilty to murder and manslaughter charges.

It is highly unusual for a police chief to testify against their former subordinates. Soon after the incident, Chauvin was fired by Arradondo, along with other officers involved in the incident.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/witnesses-to-george-floyds-deadly-arrest-tell-jury-of-their-shock-horror-374391" hreflang="en">Witnesses to George Floyd's deadly arrest tell jury of their shock, horror</a>

Last year, the chief put out a statement calling it murder - "This was murder — it wasn't a lack of training."

"I vehemently disagree that that was appropriate use of force for that situation on May 25," Arradondo testified.

"It's contrary to our training to indefinitely place your knee on a prone, handcuffed individual for an indefinite period of time," he said.

&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

The police chief of Minneapolis testified at Derek Chauvin’s murder trial on Monday. Chief Medaria Arradondo said that Chauvin violated police department rules and ethics on respecting the “sanctity of life” while arresting George Floyd last May.

The police chief of Minneapolis testified at Derek Chauvin’s murder trial on Monday. Chief Medaria Arradondo said that Chauvin violated police department rules and ethics on respecting the “sanctity of life” while arresting George Floyd last May. Chauvin, a former white police officer knelt on the neck of George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man for over nine minutes, killing him. A bystander filmed the incident, causing uproar on social media and triggering a series of global protests against racism. "It's not part of our training, and it is certainly not part of our ethics and our values," said Chief Medaria Arradondo. Also read: George Floyd's girlfriend testifies at Chauvin murder trial Arradondo testified for over 3.5 hours, and attempted to refute the claims by defence that Chauvin was merely acting out based on the training he had received in the force. Chauvin has pleaded not guilty to murder and manslaughter charges. It is highly unusual for a police chief to testify against their former subordinates. Soon after the incident, Chauvin was fired by Arradondo, along with other officers involved in the incident. Also read: Witnesses to George Floyd's deadly arrest tell jury of their shock, horror Last year, the chief put out a statement calling it murder - "This was murder — it wasn't a lack of training." "I vehemently disagree that that was appropriate use of force for that situation on May 25," Arradondo testified. "It's contrary to our training to indefinitely place your knee on a prone, handcuffed individual for an indefinite period of time," he said. (With inputs from agencies)

Minneapolis police chief says Chauvin violated policy while arresting George Floyd

An emergency room doctor who tried to save George Floyd's life for nearly half an hour before declaring him dead believed Mr Floyd died likely due to lack of oxygen. Watch this report

Doctor who pronounced George Floyd dead says 'Asphyxia' was likely cause

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