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Perspectives By
Christopher Brown | April 18, 2021, 8:02 PM EDT
Christopher BrownAs the trial of Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer charged with the murder of George Floyd, nears closing arguments, public opinion might appear intent on a guilty verdict, but the prosecution still faces an uphill battle.
As an attorney who handles excessive force cases against police officers, I ve seen this happen before. What sets the case of State of Minnesota v. Derek Chauvin apart, however, is its potential to change the discourse on racial justice and policing.
The prosecution needs to make a strong closing argument that properly addresses the few strong points the defense will make in its closing.
A team of Minnesota National Guard members and Minneapolis police officers providing neighborhood security in the city was the target of a drive-by shooting on Sunday, authorities said.
Closing arguments are underway on Monday in the trial of Derek Chauvin amid heightened safety concerns after a National Guard and MinneapolisPolice Department neighborhood security team was fired upon over the weekend in a drive-by shooting.
Attorneys from both sides are seeking to distill three weeks of testimony in order to convince jurors to acquit or convict Chauvin on second- and third-degree murder and manslaughter charges in the death of George Floyd on May 25, 2020. Jurors in Hennepin County District Court first began hearing testimony in the case on March 29.
FAST FACTS
Second-degree murder requires prosecutors to prove Chauvin intended to harm Floyd.
Updated: Apr 19 2021, 17:42 ET
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JURORS in the trial of Derek Chauvin were shown graphic images of the injuries George Floyd suffered during his fatal arrest last year, as prosecutors accused the ex-cop of betraying the badge .
The pictures, which had previously been shown in court, were shared publicly for the first time on Monday morning as prosecuting attorney Steve Schleicher gave his closing arguments.
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The pictures, which had previously been shown in court, were shared publicly for the first time on Monday morningCredit: Reuters
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Schleicher s final appeal to the jury came on Monday after more than three weeks of testimony from 45 expert witnessesCredit: Reuters