Former Minneapolis Police officer, Derek Chauvin’s trial over the death of George Floyd has commenced.
Chauvin, 45, has pleaded not guilty to second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter charges.
The long-awaited criminal trial came 10 months after Floyd’s death launched a summer of protest, unrest and a societal reckoning with America’s past and present of anti-Black racism and aggressive policing.
On the first day of trial, the trending video showing the daylight murder of George Floyd, which was shot by a bystander was played for jurors in its entirety.
Prosecuting Attorney, Jerry Blackwell emphasized that Chauvin was on Floyd’s neck for 9 minutes and 29 seconds, which is an update on the initially reported 8 minutes and 46 seconds.
Blackwell added that “Mr. Derek Chauvin betrayed this badge when he used excessive and unreasonable force upon the body of Mr. George Floyd.”
Three witnesses, including a 911 dispatcher and two bystanders took to the stand for the prosecution on Monday to lay the groundwork for Floyd’s final moments.
One of the testifiers on Monday, a professional mixed martial arts fighter who stumbled upon the scene of Floyd’s arrest and was one of the most vocal bystanders, Donald Wynn Williams II, said:
“I had to call the police on the police because I believe I witnessed a murder… didn’t feel connection with the officers there.”
Day 2 of the trial which commenced few hours ago had two minors as testifiers, including a bystander who filmed the scene.
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The underaged witness who filmed the scene was simply identified as Danielle.
Danielle why stating how the scene has affected her till date said, “George Floyd could have been my dad, could have been my brother,… because they are all black… I stay up at nights apologising for not doing more for George Floyd.”
The second witness who is the cousin of Danielle and also a minor narrated how she and her cousin had gone to the store to get snacks when they witnessed the scene.
She added that the paramedics had to “push Chauvin off Floyd’s neck” because “they initially asked him to get off nicely but he stayed.”
The ongoing Day 2 trial is expected to have more witnesses.
The witness testimony phase of the trial is expected to take about a month.
© ControlTV 2021.
