CHAUVIN TRIAL - Week's Roundup

"George Floyd’s brother remembers him as a caring ‘leader’ in Chauvin trial testimony" PBS NewsHour 4/12/2021

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SUMMARY:  In the Derek Chauvin trial Monday, prosecutors wrapped up their case, with jurors hearing testimony from George Floyd's brother about Floyd's character, and his role as a "leader" in the family.  Special correspondent Fred De Sam Lazaro reports.

 

 

"George Floyd’s brother: ‘People want to see change, they want to see justice’" PBS NewsHour 4/13/2021

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SUMMARY:  The killings of Daunte Wright and George Floyd continue to reverberate, not only in Minnesota but around the U.S., on policing, use of force and race.  Philonise Floyd, George Floyd's younger brother who took the stand Monday in former police officer Derek Chauvin's trial, and Ben Crump, an attorney representing the Floyd family and Daunte Wright's mother, join Yamiche Alcindor to discuss.

 

 

"Medical witness for defense in Chauvin trial says Floyd’s manner of death ‘undetermined’" PBS NewsHour 4/14/2021

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SUMMARY:  The defense team for former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin has been making the case that George Floyd died for other reasons, and that Chauvin's kneeling on Floyd's neck was not the crucial factor.  Today, the defense focused on that question with its own expert testimony stating that instead of "homicide," Floyd's manner of death was "undetermined."  Yamiche Alcindor has our report.

 

 

"Derek Chauvin refuses to testify as murder trial heads into closing arguments" PBS NewsHour 4/15/2021

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SUMMARY:  The trial of former police officer Derek Chauvin, who is charged with murder in the death of George Floyd last May, is nearing its conclusion.  The trial is being watched closely all around the country and internationally.  The defense finished calling its witnesses Thursday, and Chauvin opted not to testify.  Special correspondent Fred De Sam Lazaro has our latest update on the case.

 

 

CLOSING COMMENT:  Our entire justice system is on trail here.  The question being, is law enforcement allowed to harm, even kill, citizens without being held to account.  Is any person's (especially LEOs) allowed to use deadly force just because they 'fear for their lives' without documented evidence that there was actual danger (i.e. can an unarmed person be a threat).  This is specially true when in involves non-white citizens (as historical evidence testifies) are always seen as a threat even while just walking down a street.