Washington: A US jury in the state of Minnesota on Tuesday found former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin guilty in the African-American George Floyd murder case.
The Jury found him guilty on three charges: second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.
On May 25, 2020, while trying to arrest Floyd, the cop knelt on Floyd’s neck for more than nine minutes. In the video, Floyd could be heard saying: “I can’t breathe” when Chauvin’s knee was on his neck. Subsequently, Floyd became unconscious and died at a hospital.
The incident happened when the police responded to a call from a convenience store where Floyd was accused of passing a counterfeit $20 bill.
The incident triggered mass protest across the world.
Chauvin, 45, could be sent behind the bar for many decades.
The judge after reading Tuesday’s verdicts said Chauvin will be sentenced in eight weeks, will remain in custody, and bail revoked.
The Floyd family’s lawyer, Ben Crump welcomed the verdict.
“Painfully earned justice has finally arrived for George Floyd’s family. This verdict is a turning point in history and sends a clear message on the need for accountability of law enforcement. Justice for Black America is justice for all of America,” Mr Crump tweeted after the verdict.
Ahead of the verdict, National Guard troops were deployed in Minneapolis to maintain law and order.
