Derek Chauvin found guilty on all three charges

This afternoon the jury in the Derek Chauvin trial found him guilty on all three charges in relation to the murder of George Floyd on May 25, 2020.

Chauvin was stone-faced when the judge read the verdicts and he was handcuffed and taken into custody immediately.

Crowds in the Minneapolis area were seen crying and applauding and shouting after the verdict was announced. It is the conclusion of an almost-year long process that sparked the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Chauvin faces up to 40 years on the first count -- second degree murder -- and 25 years for the second and 10 years for the third.

He will be sentenced in two months.

I had the chance to talk with law professor and former Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Michael Schwartz this morning on what the three charges mean. At the time of the interview this morning, I thought maybe the jury deliberations would take a few days, but it came quickly this afternoon. I’m still going to show you the video so we all can understand the charges a little bit better.

Alex: Do you mind summarizing what the three charges are?

Michael: Sure. The three charges are: second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter. The first one, second-degree murder, is a felony murder meaning Chauvin did not intend to murder Floyd but he assaulted him by kneeling on his neck for 9 and a half minutes. Clearly he showed intent to assault him and did assault him and that resulted in death. That’s called a felony murder, murder committed during another felony. Now, the third-degree murder charge… It’s called depraved mind, meaning showing disregard for Floyd’s life and health by kneeling on him for 9 and a half minutes. The third charge, second-degree manslaughter… That involves culpable negligence. He knew he was creating a risk by kneeling on him for that long. These are the three charges.

Alex: Thank you for explaining. It’s 40, 25, and 10 years in prison for the charges.

Attorney Ben Crump and George Floyd’s family released a statement that said the verdict today has significant implications for the country and even the world. They said “Justice for Black America is justice for all of America. This case is a turning point in American history for accountability of law enforcement and sends a clear message we hope is heard clearly in every city and every state.” The statement also pointed out that there are three other officers that still must be held accountable.

Judge Peter Cahill thanked the jurors for their “heavy duty” service and sent the jury out.