Criminal Charges in George Floyd's Death Set Up Legal Battle

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Prosecutors will face a challenging legal battle in pursuing criminal charges against at least one of the Minneapolis police officers involved in the death of an unarmed black man, George Floyd.

With remarkable swiftness amid violent unrest, prosecutors in Hennepin County announced charges on Friday against one of the white officers involved, accusing Derek Chauvin of third-degree murder and manslaughter. Mr. Chauvin was arrested and taken into custody. He hadn’t been arraigned or entered a plea on Friday.

Video footage showed Mr. Floyd passing out while pinned on the pavement under Mr. Chauvin’s knee during an arrest, touching off waves of protests, looting and rioting.

To support a third-degree murder charge, prosecutors don’t have to show the killing was intentional. But they need to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the officer caused the death by acting with a “depraved mind without regard for human life,” according to Minnesota law. The video alone may not be enough evidence to secure a conviction, said Richard Frase, a criminal-law professor at Minnesota Law School in Minneapolis.

He said prosecutors will have to argue that Mr. Chauvin, who has been fired from his job, knew that pressing his knee against Mr. Floyd’s neck could have deadly consequences but didn’t care.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/criminal-charges-in-george-floyds-death-set-up-legal-battle/ar-BB14Ml5D?li=BBnb7Kz

[mcar]

1. Look at his fcking face while he murders the man

He knew. He kept his knee on Floyd's neck even after he stopped moving/breathing - for nearly 3 minutes. How is that not depraved?

[qazplm135]

2. in a vacuum sure

but in this situation, he kept his knee on his neck for two minutes after learning he had no pulse.

That's going to fill in that evidentiary gap that the law professor is concerned about. And it's in the police report.

Furthermore, once they charge the other three, I'd be surprised if one of them doesn't cut a deal, if not all three, to testify against him.

[Cha]

3. KR