Summary

  • After less than a day of deliberation, jurors found Derek Chauvin guilty of all charges over George Floyd's death

  • The jury returned guilty verdicts of second degree murder, third degree murder and manslaughter

  • President Joe Biden addressed the nation, saying racism is a 'stain on the nation's soul'

  • Barack and Michelle Obama welcomed the verdict but warned 'true justice' is more than one trial

  • The former police officer was filmed kneeling on Floyd for over nine minutes during his arrest last May

  1. Nine minutes, 29 seconds - the length of time critical to this trialpublished at 20:52 British Summer Time 12 April 2021

    Former Minnesota police officer Derek ChauvinImage source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    The amount of time prosecutors say Chauvin knelt on Floyd's neck has changed

    The length of time Chauvin knelt on the neck of Floyd is a key part of this trial.

    An initial complaint against Chauvin by the Hennepin County Attorney's office counted eight minutes and 46 seconds.

    That's the time protesters have associated with Floyd's death, often kneeling for that period of time in observance of his passing.

    The black stand-up comic Dave Chappelle even titled his first special after Floyd's death 8:46.

    Timestamps from the complaint document later corrected the time to seven minutes and 46 seconds.

    But during this trial, prosecutors have said the actual time Floyd spent under Chauvin's neck was actually more than a minute longer than the initial complaint.

    Police bodycam footage of the incident confirms that Chauvin was on Floyd for over nine minutes.

  2. Floyd 'was not a threat of harm to the officers'published at 20:49 British Summer Time 12 April 2021

    Prosecutors continue to play clips from the arrest to get Stoughton's analysis, moment by moment.

    Stoughton notes that Floyd had described himself as claustrophobic and that he did not appear to be fighting against officers as he tussled with them before being placed in a prone position on the ground.

    He says Floyd did not appear to be resisting staying in custody, but was "objecting to being placed in the back of the vehicle".

    This, he says, "does not appear to be active aggression" - that is, Floyd did not seem to have any intention of assaulting or harming the officers.

    The use-of-force expert was asked again by the prosecutor whether Floyd was a "threat".

    "I don't see him presenting a threat of anything. He was not a threat of harm to the officers," he said, adding that Floyd "didn't have much in the way of opportunity to assault or harm the officers".

    "There are no specific facts that a reasonable officer in the defendant's position could use to conclude he was intending to cause harm."

    He said that Floyd did not present a credible threat of obstructing the investigation either.

    "With four officers in the immediate area and one more, parked officer maybe half a block away, there are ample resources to maintain custody and control of Mr Floyd."

  3. What would a 'reasonable' officer have done?published at 20:44 British Summer Time 12 April 2021

    More footage of the arrest is shown, this time of the officers struggling to put a handcuffed Floyd into the squad car.

    Stoughton is asked what a "reasonable" officer should have done in this circumstance.

    "A reasonable officer would have realised that Floyd was in handcuffs," he says. "He would have realised there were already two officers already on the scene."

    Stoughton, who is a former officer himself, goes on to say a reasonable officer would have "seen that this appears to be a point of conflict".

  4. ‘There are parts to use of force'published at 20:36 British Summer Time 12 April 2021

    Prosecuting lawyer Steve Schleicher shows witness Seth Stoughton a screen grab of the video that has Chauvin with his knee on Floyd’s neck.

    He asks Stoughton, a professor of law from the University of South Carolina, to describe the use of force he sees in the image.

    “There are two components to the use of force here: the knee on his neck and Mr Floyd in that prone position while restrained,” he says.

  5. Biden comments on Daunte Wright police shootingpublished at 20:30 British Summer Time 12 April 2021

    Joe BidenImage source, Getty Images

    President Joe Biden has commented from the White House on the latest police shooting just outside Minneapolis. Earlier today, local police said that a "senior" officer had fired her pistol rather than Taser when trying to detain Daunte Wright on Sunday.

    Biden began by saying that he had watched the "fairly graphic" footage of the officer's body-worn camera.

    "The question is, was it an accident? Was it intentional? That remains to be determined by a full-blown investigation," he told reporters.

    "But in the meantime, I want to make it clear again, there is absolutely no justification, none, for looting. No justification for violence. Peaceful protests [are] understandable.

    "We do know that the anger, pain and trauma that exists in the black community, in that environment, is real. It is serious, and it’s consequential. But it will not justify violence and or looting."

    Biden called for "peace and calm", noting that Wright's mother was asking for the same.

    He added that the federal government is prepared to deploy further resources in the event of unrest.

  6. Use of force must be 'proportionate and reasonable'published at 20:24 British Summer Time 12 April 2021

    The next witness is Seth Stoughton: a former officer and a use-of-force legal expert.

    He says he has worked extensively on the issue of restoring trust in policing in the US.

    Stoughton tells the court he has reviewed the bystander videos and officer-worn body camera footage from the Floyd arrest to assess whether the officers' use of force was "proportionate and reasonable".

  7. Judge rules on testimony of Floyd's acquaintancepublished at 20:16 British Summer Time 12 April 2021

    While the jury was out on a lunch break, Judge Cahill announced more details on his decision to compel a man who was with Floyd in the moments before his death to appear in court.

    Earlier today, the judge ruled that Morries Hall will take the stand tomorrow.

    Hall has already said that he will invoke his Fifth Amendment right to refuse to testify on the grounds of possible self-incrimination in a crime.

    Chauvin's defence has argued that it was Floyd's drug use that killed him, and not Chauvin's actions.

    Hall has denied that he provided drugs to Floyd on the day of his death.

    An earlier Q&A form submitted by Hall will not be admissible, the judge also says, after the prosecution argued earlier today that Hall's statements are not credible.

    Judge Cahill also denied a request from the defence to force the state to give a reason as to why Hall has not been provided with immunity from prosecution in exchange for his testimony.

  8. Floyd's brother breaks down on standpublished at 20:04 British Summer Time 12 April 2021

    George Floyd and his mother were pictured in courtImage source, Pool
    Image caption,

    A photo of George Floyd and his mother that was shown in court

    "I miss both of them," Philonise said on the stand a few minutes ago, crying after a photo is shown of his family, including his mother and brother who both died within the same week last year.

    "He was so much of a leader to us in the household," he says about his big brother.

    "He loved her so dearly," he remembers, recalling memories of George crying at his mother's funeral last year.

    "I didn't know what to tell him 'cause I was in pain too. We were all hurting," Philonise says. "He didn't want to leave the casket."

    After the defence team declines to question him, Floyd's brother concludes and steps down from the stand.

  9. Next witness: a criminal law expertpublished at 19:55 British Summer Time 12 April 2021

    The next witness is Seth Stoughton, a law school professor from South Carolina.

    He is an expert in criminology and says he studies "multiple aspects of the regulation of policing".

    He also has previous training as a law enforcement officer in Florida.

  10. Why is Floyd's brother testifying?published at 19:47 British Summer Time 12 April 2021

    The state of Minnesota allows "spark of life" witnesses that are brought to the stand to show the jury that the victim is more than a faceless name.

    It is a chance for prosecutors to show the victim as a human being and create sympathy among members of the jury.

    Philonise Floyd is the second 'spark of life' witness to testify in the Derek Chauvin trial, after George Floyd's girlfriend Courteney Ross.

    Ross testified in week one of the trial about the man she had dated for three years.

  11. Who is Philonise Floyd?published at 19:41 British Summer Time 12 April 2021

    Philonise Floyd, 39, is the younger brother of George Floyd.

    He has spoken in public several times about his brother, including to the US Congress and to the United Nations.

    He told a United Nations human rights body: "I am my brother's keeper."

    In conversation with the BBC's Katty Kay last year, shortly after his brother's death, Philonise described George as "mild mannered".

    He said George would be "humbled" to see the change his death has brought.

    Media caption,

    Philonise Floyd: 'It's just a lot of pain right now'

  12. Floyd's brother recalls childhoodpublished at 19:34 British Summer Time 12 April 2021

    A photo of George Floyd studying was shown in courtImage source, Pool
    Image caption,

    A photo of George Floyd studying was shown in court

    "He was born in Fayetteville, North Carolina. But he left at a young age," Philonise, 39, says about his older brother, George.

    "We moved to Houston, Texas. I have two other sisters that are older than us."

    He is now giving his family biography, including the nickname of their mother.

    "It was low income. Poverty. We stayed with each other all the time. Me and George played video games all the time," he says.

    "I finally beat him in a game and I was just so happy thinking about that," he continues.

  13. Next witness: George Floyd's brotherpublished at 19:32 British Summer Time 12 April 2021

    Philonise FloydImage source, Getty Images

    Philonise Floyd, the younger brother of George Floyd, is now at the witness stand.

    He will speak as a 'Spark of Life' witness, testifying as somebody who knew Floyd.

  14. Afternoon session of Chauvin trial beginspublished at 19:27 British Summer Time 12 April 2021

    The lunch recess has ended and court is back in session.

  15. What do we know about Daunte Wright's death?published at 19:13 British Summer Time 12 April 2021

    Local officials just held a news conference about the fatal shooting of Daunte Wright, a black man, during a police traffic stop in the city of Brooklyn Center, near Minneapolis.

    Here's what we learned about the incident.

    • The police officer who shot 20-year-old Wright on Sunday accidentally confused her handgun with her Taser, said Brooklyn Center police chief Tim Gannon
    • Gannon showed reporters police body camera video of the shooting that sparked protests overnight
    • In the video, a struggle ensues before a police officer is heard shouting "Taser, Taser". "I shot him," the officer shouts as Wright, fatally wounded, drives away
    • The officer, whose name hasn't been released but who is described as "very senior", has been placed on administrative leave and is receiving counseling
    • Gannon defended the police force's response to the protests that followed Wright's death, saying his officers "responded in kind" to the launch of projectiles by protesters

    Read more here

  16. In pictures: Unrest in nearby Brooklyn Centerpublished at 18:59 British Summer Time 12 April 2021

    Protests broke out on Sunday in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, after police shot dead a 20-year-old black man who was allegedly fleeing a traffic stop.

    The suburb is only about 10 miles (16km) from downtown Minneapolis, where the Chauvin trial is taking place. The city has already been on heightened alert due to the high-profile trial.

    Read more about the shooting of Duante Wright.

    Police with a batonImage source, Getty Images
    Protesters jump on a police carImage source, Getty Images
    Protester link arms as they face off with policeImage source, Getty Images
    policeImage source, Getty Images
    Police eventually used tear gas to clear protesters from the streetsImage source, Getty Images
  17. 'We responded in kind' says police chiefpublished at 18:44 British Summer Time 12 April 2021

    Several activists have questioned Police Chief Tim Gannon over his response to the protests that unfolded in the wake of the Daunte Wright incident.

    Gannon appears close to tears and admits he is feeling quite emotional.

    On Sunday, police confronted protesters in riot gear, firing flash bangs and rubber bullets.

    Gannon insists people were given "plenty of time to disperse" and "were allowed to leave".

    "Once we got pelted, we responded in kind," he says.

    Gannon adds that his officers only arrested two people and also suffered injuries, including being hit with a brick in one instance.

    Attendees at the news conference can be heard insisting protesters were peaceful and that they hope to see a different response from police at protests planned for later today.

  18. Brooklyn Center police chief pressed for answerspublished at 18:37 British Summer Time 12 April 2021

    After appearing to leave the news conference over Daunte Wright's death, police chief Tim Gannon has returned to take some more questions from reporters about the incident.

    Attendees at the news conference - including a number of local activists - can be heard calling for both Gannon and the officer involved in the shooting to be fired.

    When pressed for more details, Chief Gannon shares that the officer involved is "very senior".

    He calls for patience while his colleague is "afforded due process".

  19. Daunte Wright died by 'accidental discharge'published at 18:27 British Summer Time 12 April 2021
    Breaking

    More now from the news conference about another police killing in a suburb of Minneapolis.

    The police officer who shot Daunte Wright meant to discharge her Taser, not her gun, according to Brooklyn Center authorities.

    In the newly released bodycam footage, the officer is seen accidentally discharging her weapon and exclaiming "I shot him".

    She is currently on administrative leave and is receiving counselling support, according to the police chief.

    Mayor Mike Elliott tells reporters at the briefing: "I fully support releasing the officer of her duties."

    Sunday's shooting is unrelated to the Chauvin trial.

  20. Body cam footage from Daunte Wright incident releasedpublished at 18:13 British Summer Time 12 April 2021

    In a suburb just 10 miles (16km) away from the courtroom where the Chauvin trial is taking place, a separate and unrelated police killing has stirred up the emotions of Minnesota residents.

    Officials in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, have just released new body camera footage of the fatal shooting of Daunte Wright, a 20-year-old black man, during a traffic stop yesterday.

    Wright died on the scene, sparking protests last night.