USA TODAY
MINNEAPOLIS – The prosecution of Derek Chauvin in George Floyd s death has focused not only on its arguments that the former police officer is culpable but a more elementary issue: That he failed to carry out his duty to provide basic care when Floyd was in medical distress and became unresponsive.
Minneapolis Police Department officials testified Chauvin violated department policy by failing to move Floyd on his side to ease his breathing once he had been restrained
on the ground.
Prosecutors presented video showing Chauvin pressing his knee on Floyd s neck even after Floyd was face-down, hands cuffed behind his back.
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The Legal Rights Center, a nonprofit criminal defense law firm in Minneapolis, usually defends those whom Minneapolis police accuse of committing crimes.
But as Derek Chauvin stands trial for the death of George Floyd, a panel of the firm s attorneys are now finding themselves scrutinizing the defense of a police officer.
The proceedings are the first opportunity many people have had to watch a murder trial from gavel to gavel, with all its graphic evidence, legal jargon and esoteric codes of conduct.
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The Legal Rights Center has been demystifying the proceedings through weekly virtual discussions, making lawyers available on Zoom and Instagram.
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