The jury in Derek Chauvin’s murder case, which recently came to a verdict, weighs three charges against former Minneapolis police officer in George Floyd’s death: second degree accidental murder, third degree murder, and second degree manslaughter degree.
Chauvin could be convicted on all three charges, some of the charges, or none of the charges. They each relate to a different sense of Chauvin’s mindset at the time of his meeting with Floyd during a May 25, 2020 arrest.
“The state does not have to prove that it intended to kill George Floyd,” prosecutor Steve Schleicher said during his closing on Monday, explaining to jurors how to consider the charges.
So what do these allegations mean and how do they relate to Chauvin’s case?
Minnesota state law states that second-degree accidental murder includes incidents in which a person “causes the death of a human, with no intent to cause the death of any person, while committing or attempting to commit a crime …” and “causes. the death of a human being with no intention of effecting the death of a person, while the victim deliberately causes or attempts to cause bodily harm …”
“If you do something that hurts someone, and you know it,” Schleicher said yesterday to explain how Chauvin’s actions relate to this statute, “you’re doing it on purpose.”
He knew better. He just didn’t do better. “
Schleicher also argued that Chauvin’s restraint amounted to an “assault,” which is a crime and as such is governed by the first part of this law.
According to Minnesota law, third-degree murder includes: “One who, without intending to effect the death of one person, causes the death of another by committing an act exceedingly dangerous to others and showing a depraved spirit , without regard to human life … “
Schleicher said in conclusion that Chauvin’s actions showed “deliberate indifference” to Floyd’s life.
According to Minnesota law, second degree homicide includes “culpable negligence in which the person creates an unreasonable risk and knowingly takes the opportunity to cause death or major bodily harm to another …”
Schleicher argued that Chauvin’s actions posed a “high risk of injury to others,” culminating in Floyd’s death.
“You can see for yourself and see exactly what happened,” he told jurors.