Derek Chauvin: Ex-Police Officer Charged with George Floyd's Murder Found Guilty on All 3 Charges
- Derek Chauvin was accused of murdering George Floyd in the incident that took place on May 25, 2020
- The ex-police officer was found guilty on all three charges, two of murder and one of manslaughter
- The jury of five men and seven women are reported to have deliberated for 10 hours
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The former policeman from Minneapolis, Minnesota, who was recorded kneeling on George Floyd and leading to his death has been found guilty on all three counts.
Derek Chauvin's verdict was read today Wednesday, April 21, at the Hennepin County court, after the jurors deliberated for more than 10 hours.
The jury of five men and seven women deliberated for four hours on Monday, April `19, and resumed on Tuesday morning, according to CNN.
Source: Getty Images
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Chauvin was found guilty of all the three charges of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter.
The judge read out the verdict in front of the courtroom noting that the jurors had found him guilty on all three charges and each agreed to the ruling.
This is reported to have been one of the most closely watched cases in the Black Lives Matter era.
The maximum sentence for second-degree unintentional murder is 40 years in prison, for third-degree murder it is 25 years in prison, and for second-degree manslaughter is 10 years in prison or KSh 2.2 million.
He was out on bail but will now be remanded in prison and the judge, Peter Cahill, also revoked his bail as requested by the prosecution.
The judge also noted that the sentencing will be done in the next eight weeks.
George Floyd's family released a statement just minutes after the verdict noting that painful justice had been earned.
The president of the United States Joe Biden had earlier suggested that the evidence in the case was overwhelming.
The 46th US president added that he prayed the verdict would be the right one but refused to give his direct opinion in order to avoid influencing the decisions of the jury.
Biden said this while in a meeting with Hispanic lawmakers a day before the verdict.
Floyd, an African-American man, died in Minneapolis on Monday, May 25, when Derek Chauvin, a white Minneapolis police officer, knelt on his neck for roughly eight minutes.
An independent autopsy report has revealed Floyd died due to asphyxia - a condition arising when the body is deprived of oxygen, causing unconsciousness or death.
Legit.ng had earlier reported that Chauvin could receive more than $1 million (N387,550,000) in pension benefits during his retirement years even if he is convicted.
Various reports confirmed that the police officer could also receive $1.5 million (N581,325,000) in pension benefits.
Source: Legit.ng
Jerrywright Ukwu Jerrywright Ukwu is an Abuja-based senior political/defence correspondent. He is a graduate of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos and the International Institute of Journalism in Abuja. He is also a member of the Nigeria Union of Journalists. He spends his leisure-time reading history books. He can be reached via email at jerrywright39@yahoo.com.
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