Given the massive attention this story has garnered, including big protests in Denver yesterday, we wanted to make sure people saw this update from The Washington Post:
Fired Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin has been charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter in the death of George Floyd, Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman announced Friday afternoon.
Chauvin is the former police officer who was captured on video pressing his knee into George Floyd’s neck on Monday as Floyd repeatedly said, “I can’t breathe.” Floyd later died.
Certainly, this is not anywhere close to being the end of this story, but it is a development that is important to note for protestors and non-protestors alike.
Good. It’s a step towards justice. And maybe it will take some of the juice out of the protests. Not that that helps George Floyd or his family.
Now they need to charge the other officers who stood and watched the murder, or who helped hold the victim down, Or covered it up with a false report, with being accessories.
I saw reporting that Officer Chauvin had 18 previous complaints of excessive force on his record, and one death. And he was the chief supervising officer on that crew…
https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/28/us/minneapolis-officer-complaints-george-floyd/index.html
This was necessary, although it's only a feel-good move to calm things down in advance of the inevitable acquittal of the cop and the "He was no angel" trashing of George Floyd.
I'm not sure it will help. This is third-degree murder in Minnesota: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/609.195
“and evincing a depraved mind” is going to be an almost impossible hurdle to get past a unanimous jury in the case of an on-duty police officer acting in the line of duty.
I can’t decide if he was charged this way in a cynical calculus to placate the protesters (whereas lesser manslaughter probably wouldn’t), knowing the case won’t prevail, — or whether someone actually believes they can charge murder here and then plea bargain down to manslaughter?
I’m getting sick now, because it’s hard for me not to suspect the former . . .
The fact that Chauvin has 18 previous internal affairs complaints, means that Minneapolis will be forking over a huge settlement sum to Floyd’s immediate heirs in their civil suit against the Department. The final score looks likely to be: Floyd goes unconvicted, loses his job, Minneapolis pays big money to Floyd’s family and their attorneys, Minneapolis police will receive additional training, and perhaps a new Chief who will hold a big press conference and commit himself and his entire department to a new relationship between the PD and the public. American justice. We’ve all seen this movie before. SMH
That link appears to be getting carpet-bombed at the moment. The relevant statutory text:
Any chance of a murder conviction will likely hinge on the Minneapolis police training, regulations, and guidance surrounding the knee-neck restraint.
Hopefully the trial will occur after January 2021.
Jeez. DA says video not enough to charge. Then riots. DA charges. The criminal justice system in action. Systemic racism. Coverups. Lying cops. America 2020. Same as it ever was