George Floyd death: Girl who filmed fatal arrest takes stand

Summary

The teenager who made the viral video of his arrest gave emotional testimony
She told the trial she says sorry to Floyd at night for not doing more
Derek Chauvin was fired from the police after he was filmed with his knee on Floyd's neck
He denies murder and manslaughter
Another bystander earlier said he feared he was watching a murder
In opening statements, the defence said Floyd died from poor health and drug abuse
Floyd's death sparked a racial reckoning in the US and protests around the world

Live Reporting

Holly Honderich, Max Matza, Sam Cabral and Marianna Brady

How Floyd's death marked a citypublished at 14:09 British Summer Time 29 March 2021
Minneapolis, the mid-western US city where George Floyd died, has been marked by the fateful event with memorials remaining in place today.
Flowers and candles are being left ahead of the trial at a memorial set up near the place Floyd died.
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty Images
A small public square also stands near the site.
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
Rodney Floyd (L), brother of George Floyd, and Brandon Williams (R), nephew of George Floyd, pose for a photo at George Floyd Square
The trial is taking place at the Hennepin County Government Center, which is surrounded by security barriers as a precaution against potential unrest.
Image source, Star Tribune via Getty Images
Eyewitnesses recount death of George Floydpublished at 13:53 British Summer Time 29 March 2021
The death of George Floyd while in police custody sparked the biggest protest about racism in the US for a generation.
With the help of people in the neighbourhood, BBC's Panorama pieced together the brutal moments leading up to George Floyd's death.
Video journalist: Yasmine Djadoudi
Media caption,
George Floyd death: Eyewitness account
A landmark trial for court cameras in Minnesotapublished at 13:38 British Summer Time 29 March 2021
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
Camera crews at the OJ Simpson trial
The trial of Chauvin is a historic event for Minnesota.
Never before has a judge allowed cameras to film a full criminal trial in the state, which has restrictive policies on recording in courts.
Hennepin County District Judge Peter Cahill permitted filming of the trial in a landmark ruling last November. In that order, he cited intense public interest and Covid-19 limitations on courtroom access as his main reasons.
The move was welcomed by Court TV, the only US network with rights to film the trial live from inside the courtroom in Minneapolis.
“There are restrictions on how many people can go into a courtroom during a pandemic,” said Michael Ayala, a veteran anchor for Court TV. “We’re able to show people this process from A to Z. They’re able to see it for themselves.”
Read more.
Why is this such a high-profile case?published at 13:25 British Summer Time 29 March 2021
Image source, Getty Images
Video footage of Derek Chauvin kneeling on George Floyd's neck last May was replayed the world over.
To many, Floyd's death while in police custody became a vivid symbol of police brutality - particularly against people of colour - and it sparked worldwide demonstrations for racial justice.
But despite the global outcry this is not an open and shut case. In the US, police are rarely convicted for deaths that occur while they are on duty, if they are charged at all.
The verdict in this case will be widely seen as an indication of how the US legal system treats deaths that occur while in police custody.
What happened to George Floyd?published at 13:11 British Summer Time 29 March 2021
Image source, Getty Images
It began with a pack of cigarettes. George Floyd, 46, bought them at a convenience store in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on 25 May 2020.
A shop assistant believed he used a counterfeit bill and called the police after Floyd refused to give the cigarettes back.
Officers arrived and handcuffed him, but when they tried to put him into the squad car he resisted, and a struggle ended with Floyd face-down on the street.
Officer Derek Chauvin, then 44, placed his left knee between Floyd's head and neck, and kept it there for eight minutes and 46 seconds, according to prosecutors.
Two other officers helped pin him down, while another prevented witnesses from intervening.
Floyd told officers he could not breathe more than 20 times. Video of the incident shows him go limp and get carried away by police.
He was pronounced dead in hospital an hour later.
Read the full story.
What to expect todaypublished at 13:00 British Summer Time 29 March 2021
The prosecution will spend about two weeks presenting their case, followed by about two weeks by the defence.
Opening arguments on Monday will see the state’s team argue that Derek Chauvin used deadly force in subduing George Floyd during his arrest.
Many people across the world watched the video showing the police officer’s knee on the neck of Floyd for more than nine minutes.
That will be the key piece of evidence for the prosecution.
Welcome to our trial coveragepublished at 12:59 British Summer Time 29 March 2021
Image source, Getty Images
Welcome to our live coverage of the Derek Chauvin trial, the officer charged with killing George Floyd, a black man in Minnesota.
George Floyd's death sparked worldwide protests last June, with calls for police reform across the US.
Opening arguments begin at 09:30 local time (15:30 BST) and will be livestreamed.