Closing arguments begin in Derek Chauvin murder trial

The jury will begin deliberations soon to determine whether former officer Chauvin is guilty of murdering George Floyd.

Minneapolis, Minnesota  – Closing arguments on Monday marked the final stage of the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd as Minneapolis sits on edge ahead of a verdict. Prosecutor Steve Schleicher summarised the state’s succinct argument that Chauvin used excessive force when he kept his knee on Floyd’s neck for nine minutes and 29 seconds last May, which was not part of his training. Schleicher told the jury it was Floyd being pressed against the “unyielding pavement … as unyielding as the men who held him down”, that killed Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man, who was accused of using a counterfeit $20 bill to buy cigarettes.