By Prosecutors continued laying out their case today (Tuesday) against Derek Chauvin, the fired Minneapolis officer charged in the death of George Floyd.
Testimony began on Monday, after prosecutors and a defense attorney presented opening arguments.
Chauvin, who was seen in a disturbing video kneeling on the neck of the unarmed Black man, is charged with second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. He has pleaded not guilty.
The teen who filmed the widely-viewed cellphone video took the stand on Tuesday. Her testimony was broadcast via audio only. The teen, Darnella Frazier, became emotional as she described seeing Floyd “suffering” and begging for his life. “This was a cry for help, definitely,” Frazier said.
The trial began with Judge Peter Cahill reminding the jury that they should not seek out further information about the trial and warning that it would contain graphic footage.
The prosecution led the opening statements with attorney Jerry Blackwell playing a video from one of the bystanders to the jury, showing what Floyd’s family has branded as “torture.”
Blackwell said that Chauvin “betrayed the badge” when using the “excessive force” seen in the video while arresting Floyd on May 25 last year.
The first footage showed Chauvin continuing to kneel on Floyd despite both the father-of-one’s own pleas for help and those of the angered bystanders.
One murder trial witness says ‘I watched George Floyd slowly fade away like a fish in a bag’
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