Prospective juror has 'favourable' view of Blue Lives Matter
We've heard a variety of opinions from prospective jurors on this first day of selection.
Just ahead of the break, one possible juror said he holds a favourable view of Blue Lives Matter, a movement that backs police officers.
He disagreed that the criminal justice system is racist, but said individual officers may be. He said that the media exaggerates the problem.
When asked by the defence team what he would do if he had infinite money to fix the system, he said he would give it to Floyd's family. He added that money should also be spent on police training and reform.
He also said he is capable of putting aside his personal opinions if he is called to serve on the jury.
Prosecutors will get their chance to question the possible juror after the recess.
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
File photo of Blue Lives Matter flagImage caption: File photo of Blue Lives Matter flag
Eyewitnesses recount Floyd's death
"I'm looking at him and I'm like, man, he's not resisting," says Donald Williams, who watched Chauvin put his knee on Floyd's back and neck in a confrontation later viewed by people around the world.
"So I asked the officer, 'what's going on? Why is he not getting up?' And the officer proceeded to say 'this is what drugs do to you," Williams says.
With the help of witnesses, BBC Panorama has pieced together the moments leading up to George Floyd's death. Watch the full story below.
Video content
Video caption: George Floyd death: Eyewitness accountGeorge Floyd death: Eyewitness account
Trial in recess for lunch
The court is now taking an hour break for lunch, and questioning of the latest possible juror will resume after the recess.
Prospective jurors still waiting their turn will also be provided a meal.
So far, just one juror has been selected for the Chauvin trial. Three others have been dismissed.
'I think I'm fair'
"I'm kind. I think that I'm fair. I'm a family man. I'm a Christian," says the next prospective juror.
He says that he has concerns about the possible length of the trial, security at the courthouse and his "personal safety" too.
The man says he works in management and has never served on a jury before.
Chauvin's defence lawyer Nelson asks about any disagreements he has been forced to moderate before, and how he has decided which of his employees is right or wrong.
The possible juror says he tries to "have a discussion...about where the differences are" and to "seek out more information".
NeIson asks: In the absence of information, "would you just agree with someone to get it over with?"
"No," the man responds.
Nelson next asks if he still holds an "extremely negative opinion" of Chauvin, as he stated in his questionnaire.
"I would say yes," the man says. Asked if he is capable of changing his mind, the possible juror again says yes.
What do we know about the first confirmed juror?
The man who was chosen as the first juror was very relaxed in the witness box, according to courtroom reporters. He is described as a white man between 20- to 30-years-old.
A chemist who said he was "logical" in his daily life and passionate about his work, he maintained eye contact with attorney Eric Nelson during his questioning, not looking at Chauvin at all.
According to journalists in the room, the juror was animated and smiling when recalling a road rage incident he put in the jury
questionnaire.
He leaned back in his chair
when considering how to explain his position on whether police encounters
with black Americans are more violent than with other race groups.
His most shocking claim was that he had not seen the video of Floyd's death, telling Nelson: "There's a still image that was pretty common. That's the most I've seen."
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
The Hennepin County Government CenterImage caption: The Hennepin County Government Center
Juror Four is dismissed - and sparks a challenge
The fourth prospective juror spoke candidly about his encounters with police.
A man who identifies as Hispanic, he said he "would have no problem" deciding the case based on the facts and evidence, but noted instances in which he was treated "like a punk" by officers, especially when he was younger.
The defence called for his dismissal, but prosecutors challenged the dismissal for being based on the possible juror's race.
"When asked to provide a race-neutral explanation, the defence articulated a sort of generalised concern that this particular prospective juror expressed strong opinions, but there's really no objective evidence of that," said an attorney for the prosecution. "He was unequivocally willing to set those opinions aside."
The prosecution pointed out that the other dismissed prospective juror was also Hispanic.
But defence attorney Eric Nelson pushed back, arguing that the man "formed an opinion that this officer took the law into his own hands" and the opinion would only be re-examined "upon essentially providing him evidence and proof contrary to his opinions".
The judge sided with the defence in this case, saying they did provide a race-neutral reason.
Juror Four: An 'outgoing' guy
Our fourth possible juror moved up north from sunny Southern California to "chase the Minnesota dream".
An enthusiastic man who claims to work "pretty much day and night", he mentions he does not know many people.
He also dabbles in martial arts and boxing in his free time, leading defence attorney Eric Nelson to question him further about his comments on Chauvin's arrest tactics.
The prospective juror states he believed Floyd's detention was "illegal" based on his understanding of police standards.
Nelson asks whether he was capable of changing his mind on the issue, and he replies in the affirmative.
The man notes he has had negative experiences with officers in California but none in Minnesota.
In his opinion, "there are good cops and bad cops" and the criminal justice system is "broken".
The unintended consequences of a high-profile trial
Tara McKelvey
BBC News, Minneapolis
BBCCopyright: BBC
Laurine LewisImage caption: Laurine Lewis
Here in downtown Minneapolis, shopkeepers and small business people are watching the trial unfold with apprehension.
Authorities have set up tight security measures in the area and people are staying away.
Laurine Lewis, a tailor and the owner of a shop, Sew Biz, says her business has already been hit hard by the pandemic. Today, their revenue is less than half of what it was before the virus hit the city.
In the past week or so, business started to pick up, as people started getting vaccinated and felt more optimistic.
Then the trial started, with extensive security, and, she tells me: "Nobody’s downtown."
Her business has plummeted again - from $500 (£359) worth of work last Monday to $80 yesterday.
Regarding the trial, she says: "I’m glad to see that somebody’s calling him to account."
But like other business people in the area, she worries about the unintended consequences of the legal process and the impact on her shop.
Cameras aren’t allowed in Minnesota courts, but because Covid-19 restrictions are keeping the public out, and the public is very interested, the judge decided to broadcast the proceedings live.
The prospective jurors can be heard but not seen, to protect their identities in this sensitive and high-profile case.
Finding impartial candidates will be difficult, because almost everyone’s seen the disturbing video of Derek Chauvin kneeling on George Floyd’s neck.
And it may be difficult to get a conviction despite that powerful image.
In the US, police officers are rarely held to account for how they use force on the job.
To improve the chances of a guilty verdict, prosecutors are trying to bring an additional charge of third-degree murder, which has a lower standard of proof than second degree.
Activists see this as a test case in their campaign against police brutality and racism in the criminal justice system.
Another dismissal
After a few more questions from attorneys, possible Juror Three is excused from duty by the judge.
As he did with the first dismissal earlier this morning, Judge Cahill says it's not meant to be an offence to her.
The prosecution also thanks her for her "candour".
With that, it's now time for juror four - who Cahill says has a nice, loud voice (helpful for the court reporter!).
'I don't know that I can promise impartiality'
The short break has ended and a third prospective juror - a woman - is in the hot seat.
She tells Judge Cahill that she falls "into the bucket of strong opinion".
"I can try to be impartial but I don't know that I can promise impartiality based on my opinions and personal experiences," says Juror Three.
She adds that she cannot pretend she is not hoping "for a specific outcome" even before the case has begun because there is "nothing novel" to learn.
"There is too much that has happened, too much that is cold, hard fact that cannot be ignored," she says.
A timeline of Floyd's arrest
Twenty-eight minutes are at the heart of this trial.
As we await the next potential juror, let's break down what happened when police arrested George Floyd on 25 May 2020.
20:01 - A convenience store’s teenage employee calls 911, after believing Floyd used a counterfeit bill to purchase cigarettes. He says Floyd appears "drunk" and "not in control of himself".
20:08 - Two police officers arrive. Floyd is sitting in a car parked around the corner with two other people. Officer Thomas Lane approaches the car. Floyd appears to be co-operative at first.
Lane asks Floyd to show his hands at least 10 times before ordering him out of the vehicle. Lane, gun drawn, then pulls Floyd out of the car, according to prosecutors.
A struggle between officers and Floyd ensues when they try to move him into a squad car.
20:14 - Floyd falls to the ground, telling the police he is "claustrophobic". This is when Officer Derek Chauvin arrives.20:19 - Chauvin pulls Floyd away from the car, and Floyd falls down. As Floyd lies face down, in handcuffs, Chauvin places his left knee between Floyd’s head and neck. For the next seven minutes and 46 seconds, he keeps it there, even as Floyd says he cannot breathe. Six minutes in, Floyd becomes non-responsive.
20:27 - Chauvin removes his knee from Floyd’s neck. Floyd is motionless and moved onto a gurney.
One of the questions being asked of prospective jurors today is - Did you participate in marches against police brutality, and, if so, did you carry a sign?
I've been asking local people some of the same questions.
David Lee, a heavy equipment operator in Minneapolis, says he does not usually attend street demonstrations, especially during the pandemic.
But he and his wife joined a protest, National Mothers March Against Police Violence, in nearby St Paul last year.
He says he did not carry a sign, but found the experience moving: "You know, mothers losing their children to police brutality is pretty terrible, in any circumstance," he says, describing the event as "eye-opening".
BBCCopyright: BBC
David LeeImage caption: David Lee
BreakingThe trial's first juror has been selected
Prospective Juror Two has been selected as the first official member of the jury.
The man, who said he is a chemist, expressed clear intent to participate in the trial, adding he had done research on racial disparities in the US criminal justice system.
The court is now taking a brief recess.
Juror Two says he has not seen the Floyd video
The graphic video of George Floyd's death is in part why this case became such a talking point even outside the US. But the second prospective juror says he hasn't seen this footage.
"I don't go out of my way to watch visual things," he explains.
He adds that as the video will likely be played during the trial, he was willing to place the "importance of that duty over my personal comfort".
Defence attorney Nelson has also been pushing the juror on his answers to the pre-trial questionnaire - specifically, his apparent support for Black Lives Matter.
The prospective juror clarifies that he supports the Black Lives Matter movement but believes the Black Lives Matter organisation is "too extreme".
Derek Chauvin is currently the only former officer in the courtroom.
So what about the others who were involved?
J Alexander Kueng, Tou Thao and Thomas Lane all face two charges each of aiding and abetting second-degree unintentional murder and manslaughter.
Their fate in part rests with Chauvin’s, as if prosecutors can’t convict Chauvin, the case against the other officers becomes harder to prove as well.
They are due to go on trial in August. Derek Chauvin is standing trial separately due to Covid restrictions on space.
Read more about the officers involved in George Floyd's death here.
How George Floyd protests went global
The video of George Floyd's death is a key part of today's questioning. Let's take a step back to look at just how influential that footage was.
The video went viral last summer and led to tens of thousands of people around the world taking to the streets in protest.
For many, the incident reminded them of the issues they faced in their own countries, including their own personal experiences of racism.
Our colleagues at BBC Minute spoke to demonstrators from New Zealand to France to find out why they got involved.
Here's what they said:
Video content
Video caption: George Floyd: Black Lives Matter protests go globalGeorge Floyd: Black Lives Matter protests go global
Waiting for justice
Tara McKelvey
BBC News, Minneapolis
BBCCopyright: BBC
Activist Joe NixonImage caption: Activist Joe Nixon
A half dozen or so activists are sitting on a bench on South Third Avenue, outside the courthouse where Derek Chauvin is on trial.
One of the activists, Joe Nixon, 55, who does volunteer work at a local church, says he hopes the jury will be diverse.
"I think it should be a mix of all people - black, white, Mexican, all kinds. And I want a jury that will look at everything."
He was critical of the defendant and his lawyers, but others in Minneapolis see the issue differently.
As Nixon spoke with me, a flatbed truck sped past, and the driver leaned his head out the window and shouted: "Not guilty!" Then roared off.
Nixon and the driver of the truck both want an outcome that they view as fair, and, within a few weeks, a jury will decide the matter.
Juror Two is up
The trial's second prospective juror is a chemist who likes to stay active.
He tells defence attorney Nelson he felt "trepidation" when he received a jury summons for the trial in the mail.
"I wouldn't say I was scared to take on a trial of this magnitude," he says.
"It's more just the recognition of the gravity of being at a trial this important."
He says he has not mentioned his possible participation in the trial to anybody except his fiancé and his boss.
He also claims to have "avoided as much news as possible".
Plexiglass problems
We previously reported that large plastic dividers are set up to separate the judge from jurors, and the defence from the prosecution as a part of Covid-19 safety measures.
But the court has now realised that those plexiglass shields are catching reflections of the potential jurors - a snag in the plans to keep them as anonymous as possible.
In response to a texted complaint, Judge Cahill says: "It's gonna be my order that when we have a chance, we will remove the plexiglass, but it's not so clear that it has to be removed immediately."
Live Reporting
Edited by Boer Deng
All times stated are UK
Prospective juror has 'favourable' view of Blue Lives Matter
We've heard a variety of opinions from prospective jurors on this first day of selection.
Just ahead of the break, one possible juror said he holds a favourable view of Blue Lives Matter, a movement that backs police officers.
He disagreed that the criminal justice system is racist, but said individual officers may be. He said that the media exaggerates the problem.
When asked by the defence team what he would do if he had infinite money to fix the system, he said he would give it to Floyd's family. He added that money should also be spent on police training and reform.
He also said he is capable of putting aside his personal opinions if he is called to serve on the jury.
Prosecutors will get their chance to question the possible juror after the recess.
Eyewitnesses recount Floyd's death
"I'm looking at him and I'm like, man, he's not resisting," says Donald Williams, who watched Chauvin put his knee on Floyd's back and neck in a confrontation later viewed by people around the world.
"So I asked the officer, 'what's going on? Why is he not getting up?' And the officer proceeded to say 'this is what drugs do to you," Williams says.
With the help of witnesses, BBC Panorama has pieced together the moments leading up to George Floyd's death. Watch the full story below.
Video content
Trial in recess for lunch
The court is now taking an hour break for lunch, and questioning of the latest possible juror will resume after the recess.
Prospective jurors still waiting their turn will also be provided a meal.
So far, just one juror has been selected for the Chauvin trial. Three others have been dismissed.
'I think I'm fair'
"I'm kind. I think that I'm fair. I'm a family man. I'm a Christian," says the next prospective juror.
He says that he has concerns about the possible length of the trial, security at the courthouse and his "personal safety" too.
The man says he works in management and has never served on a jury before.
Chauvin's defence lawyer Nelson asks about any disagreements he has been forced to moderate before, and how he has decided which of his employees is right or wrong.
The possible juror says he tries to "have a discussion...about where the differences are" and to "seek out more information".
NeIson asks: In the absence of information, "would you just agree with someone to get it over with?"
"No," the man responds.
Nelson next asks if he still holds an "extremely negative opinion" of Chauvin, as he stated in his questionnaire.
"I would say yes," the man says. Asked if he is capable of changing his mind, the possible juror again says yes.
What do we know about the first confirmed juror?
The man who was chosen as the first juror was very relaxed in the witness box, according to courtroom reporters. He is described as a white man between 20- to 30-years-old.
A chemist who said he was "logical" in his daily life and passionate about his work, he maintained eye contact with attorney Eric Nelson during his questioning, not looking at Chauvin at all.
According to journalists in the room, the juror was animated and smiling when recalling a road rage incident he put in the jury questionnaire.
He leaned back in his chair when considering how to explain his position on whether police encounters with black Americans are more violent than with other race groups.
His most shocking claim was that he had not seen the video of Floyd's death, telling Nelson: "There's a still image that was pretty common. That's the most I've seen."
Juror Four is dismissed - and sparks a challenge
The fourth prospective juror spoke candidly about his encounters with police.
A man who identifies as Hispanic, he said he "would have no problem" deciding the case based on the facts and evidence, but noted instances in which he was treated "like a punk" by officers, especially when he was younger.
The defence called for his dismissal, but prosecutors challenged the dismissal for being based on the possible juror's race.
"When asked to provide a race-neutral explanation, the defence articulated a sort of generalised concern that this particular prospective juror expressed strong opinions, but there's really no objective evidence of that," said an attorney for the prosecution. "He was unequivocally willing to set those opinions aside."
The prosecution pointed out that the other dismissed prospective juror was also Hispanic.
But defence attorney Eric Nelson pushed back, arguing that the man "formed an opinion that this officer took the law into his own hands" and the opinion would only be re-examined "upon essentially providing him evidence and proof contrary to his opinions".
The judge sided with the defence in this case, saying they did provide a race-neutral reason.
Juror Four: An 'outgoing' guy
Our fourth possible juror moved up north from sunny Southern California to "chase the Minnesota dream".
An enthusiastic man who claims to work "pretty much day and night", he mentions he does not know many people.
He also dabbles in martial arts and boxing in his free time, leading defence attorney Eric Nelson to question him further about his comments on Chauvin's arrest tactics.
The prospective juror states he believed Floyd's detention was "illegal" based on his understanding of police standards.
Nelson asks whether he was capable of changing his mind on the issue, and he replies in the affirmative.
The man notes he has had negative experiences with officers in California but none in Minnesota.
In his opinion, "there are good cops and bad cops" and the criminal justice system is "broken".
The unintended consequences of a high-profile trial
Tara McKelvey
BBC News, Minneapolis
Here in downtown Minneapolis, shopkeepers and small business people are watching the trial unfold with apprehension.
Authorities have set up tight security measures in the area and people are staying away.
Laurine Lewis, a tailor and the owner of a shop, Sew Biz, says her business has already been hit hard by the pandemic. Today, their revenue is less than half of what it was before the virus hit the city.
In the past week or so, business started to pick up, as people started getting vaccinated and felt more optimistic.
Then the trial started, with extensive security, and, she tells me: "Nobody’s downtown."
Her business has plummeted again - from $500 (£359) worth of work last Monday to $80 yesterday.
Regarding the trial, she says: "I’m glad to see that somebody’s calling him to account."
But like other business people in the area, she worries about the unintended consequences of the legal process and the impact on her shop.
A 'test case' against US police brutality
Barbara Plett Usher
BBC News, Minneapolis
Cameras aren’t allowed in Minnesota courts, but because Covid-19 restrictions are keeping the public out, and the public is very interested, the judge decided to broadcast the proceedings live.
The prospective jurors can be heard but not seen, to protect their identities in this sensitive and high-profile case.
Finding impartial candidates will be difficult, because almost everyone’s seen the disturbing video of Derek Chauvin kneeling on George Floyd’s neck.
And it may be difficult to get a conviction despite that powerful image.
In the US, police officers are rarely held to account for how they use force on the job.
To improve the chances of a guilty verdict, prosecutors are trying to bring an additional charge of third-degree murder, which has a lower standard of proof than second degree.
Activists see this as a test case in their campaign against police brutality and racism in the criminal justice system.
Another dismissal
After a few more questions from attorneys, possible Juror Three is excused from duty by the judge.
As he did with the first dismissal earlier this morning, Judge Cahill says it's not meant to be an offence to her.
The prosecution also thanks her for her "candour".
With that, it's now time for juror four - who Cahill says has a nice, loud voice (helpful for the court reporter!).
'I don't know that I can promise impartiality'
The short break has ended and a third prospective juror - a woman - is in the hot seat.
She tells Judge Cahill that she falls "into the bucket of strong opinion".
"I can try to be impartial but I don't know that I can promise impartiality based on my opinions and personal experiences," says Juror Three.
She adds that she cannot pretend she is not hoping "for a specific outcome" even before the case has begun because there is "nothing novel" to learn.
"There is too much that has happened, too much that is cold, hard fact that cannot be ignored," she says.
A timeline of Floyd's arrest
Twenty-eight minutes are at the heart of this trial.
As we await the next potential juror, let's break down what happened when police arrested George Floyd on 25 May 2020.
20:01 - A convenience store’s teenage employee calls 911, after believing Floyd used a counterfeit bill to purchase cigarettes. He says Floyd appears "drunk" and "not in control of himself".
20:08 - Two police officers arrive. Floyd is sitting in a car parked around the corner with two other people. Officer Thomas Lane approaches the car. Floyd appears to be co-operative at first.
Lane asks Floyd to show his hands at least 10 times before ordering him out of the vehicle. Lane, gun drawn, then pulls Floyd out of the car, according to prosecutors.
A struggle between officers and Floyd ensues when they try to move him into a squad car.
20:14 - Floyd falls to the ground, telling the police he is "claustrophobic". This is when Officer Derek Chauvin arrives.20:19 - Chauvin pulls Floyd away from the car, and Floyd falls down. As Floyd lies face down, in handcuffs, Chauvin places his left knee between Floyd’s head and neck. For the next seven minutes and 46 seconds, he keeps it there, even as Floyd says he cannot breathe. Six minutes in, Floyd becomes non-responsive.
20:27 - Chauvin removes his knee from Floyd’s neck. Floyd is motionless and moved onto a gurney.
Read the full story here.
Did you protest? Did you carry a sign?
Tara McKelvey
BBC News, Minneapolis
One of the questions being asked of prospective jurors today is - Did you participate in marches against police brutality, and, if so, did you carry a sign?
I've been asking local people some of the same questions.
David Lee, a heavy equipment operator in Minneapolis, says he does not usually attend street demonstrations, especially during the pandemic.
But he and his wife joined a protest, National Mothers March Against Police Violence, in nearby St Paul last year.
He says he did not carry a sign, but found the experience moving: "You know, mothers losing their children to police brutality is pretty terrible, in any circumstance," he says, describing the event as "eye-opening".
BreakingThe trial's first juror has been selected
Prospective Juror Two has been selected as the first official member of the jury.
The man, who said he is a chemist, expressed clear intent to participate in the trial, adding he had done research on racial disparities in the US criminal justice system.
The court is now taking a brief recess.
Juror Two says he has not seen the Floyd video
The graphic video of George Floyd's death is in part why this case became such a talking point even outside the US. But the second prospective juror says he hasn't seen this footage.
"I don't go out of my way to watch visual things," he explains.
He adds that as the video will likely be played during the trial, he was willing to place the "importance of that duty over my personal comfort".
Defence attorney Nelson has also been pushing the juror on his answers to the pre-trial questionnaire - specifically, his apparent support for Black Lives Matter.
The prospective juror clarifies that he supports the Black Lives Matter movement but believes the Black Lives Matter organisation is "too extreme".
Our colleague Aleem Maqbool breaks down that disconnect and how the movement has evolved.
What about the other officers involved?
Derek Chauvin is currently the only former officer in the courtroom.
So what about the others who were involved?
J Alexander Kueng, Tou Thao and Thomas Lane all face two charges each of aiding and abetting second-degree unintentional murder and manslaughter.
Their fate in part rests with Chauvin’s, as if prosecutors can’t convict Chauvin, the case against the other officers becomes harder to prove as well.
They are due to go on trial in August. Derek Chauvin is standing trial separately due to Covid restrictions on space.
Read more about the officers involved in George Floyd's death here.
How George Floyd protests went global
The video of George Floyd's death is a key part of today's questioning. Let's take a step back to look at just how influential that footage was.
The video went viral last summer and led to tens of thousands of people around the world taking to the streets in protest.
For many, the incident reminded them of the issues they faced in their own countries, including their own personal experiences of racism.
Our colleagues at BBC Minute spoke to demonstrators from New Zealand to France to find out why they got involved.
Here's what they said:
Video content
Waiting for justice
Tara McKelvey
BBC News, Minneapolis
A half dozen or so activists are sitting on a bench on South Third Avenue, outside the courthouse where Derek Chauvin is on trial.
One of the activists, Joe Nixon, 55, who does volunteer work at a local church, says he hopes the jury will be diverse.
"I think it should be a mix of all people - black, white, Mexican, all kinds. And I want a jury that will look at everything."
He was critical of the defendant and his lawyers, but others in Minneapolis see the issue differently.
As Nixon spoke with me, a flatbed truck sped past, and the driver leaned his head out the window and shouted: "Not guilty!" Then roared off.
Nixon and the driver of the truck both want an outcome that they view as fair, and, within a few weeks, a jury will decide the matter.
Juror Two is up
The trial's second prospective juror is a chemist who likes to stay active.
He tells defence attorney Nelson he felt "trepidation" when he received a jury summons for the trial in the mail.
"I wouldn't say I was scared to take on a trial of this magnitude," he says.
"It's more just the recognition of the gravity of being at a trial this important."
He says he has not mentioned his possible participation in the trial to anybody except his fiancé and his boss.
He also claims to have "avoided as much news as possible".
Plexiglass problems
We previously reported that large plastic dividers are set up to separate the judge from jurors, and the defence from the prosecution as a part of Covid-19 safety measures.
But the court has now realised that those plexiglass shields are catching reflections of the potential jurors - a snag in the plans to keep them as anonymous as possible.
In response to a texted complaint, Judge Cahill says: "It's gonna be my order that when we have a chance, we will remove the plexiglass, but it's not so clear that it has to be removed immediately."