Derek Chauvin guilty in death of George Floyd

By Mike Hayes, Melissa Macaya, Melissa Mahtani, Meg Wagner, Veronica Rocha and Joshua Berlinger, CNN

Updated 12:06 AM ET, Wed April 21, 2021
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5:33 p.m. ET, April 20, 2021

Floyd's brother will be in court for reading of the verdict

From CNN’s Sara Sidner

George Floyd’s brother, Philonise Floyd, told CNN that he will be in court for the reading of the verdict.

Philonise Floyd told CNN that he hasn't been able to sleep "through much of this."

He said maybe this verdict will "finally help me get some sleep."

4:22 p.m. ET, April 20, 2021

What the scene is like near where George Floyd died

CNN
CNN

As Minneapolis and the country awaits the verdict, CNN's Omar Jimenez reported near the scene where George Floyd died on May 25, 2020.

"As we've been talking to people throughout here, there has been a combination of emotions. Some tenseness, some nervousness and some even fearful of what the verdict might bring, but at the end of the day one woman we spoke to said that no matter what happens, they are still going to be in the streets," Jimenez said of the mood is in the area right now.

"They are still going to remain in solidarity with each other because they believe that this moment is not just about George Floyd. It was sparked by him, but it means so much more, and it has the potential to send reverberations for generations to come," he continued.

The intersection across Cup Foods is now known as "George Floyd Square," and flowers, messages and photos of other Black Americans killed by police have been placed in the square, including images of Breonna Taylor and Philando Castile.

"People that have come here and visited here during the course of today feel that the verdict comes on the shoulders of these Black bodies that are now no longer here with us," Jimenez said.

"This moment means so much to the people here, and we can only imagine that once that comes down, no matter what it is, people are going to be in the streets either in solidarity or in anger, because as one activist put it to me earlier, when you keep getting pushed and you keep getting pushed, eventually you push back. They are hoping that at least for just a little bit, they don't have to push anymore," he said.

See Minneapolis while country waits for Chauvin verdict:

5:33 p.m. ET, April 20, 2021

Derek Chauvin has arrived to court

Derek Chauvin has arrived at the Hennepin County Government Center with his attorney Eric Nelson, according to a pool report.

4:20 p.m. ET, April 20, 2021

Van Jones: Many Americans believe their "humanity is on trial"

From CNN's Josiah Ryan

As the nation awaits the verdict in the trial of Derek Chauvin, CNN's Van Jones said many Americans feel their very humanity is on trial.

"People keep saying the system is on trial," said Jones shortly after learning that the jury had reached a verdict. "It's not just the system. They feel their humanity is on trial. Can this system ever truly respect Black life?"

"People want to know... does my life matter as a young person in this country?" Jones continued. 

"People are literally afraid to hope," he said. "They are holding their breath and preparing for another body blow. You have young people watching right now... 50 years from now they will remember today. This is how important this is to a whole generation of young Americans."

Watch the moment:

4:15 p.m. ET, April 20, 2021

"It's going to be alright," George Floyd's brother reacts to upcoming verdict announcement

From CNN's Sara Sidner / Written by CNN's Maureen Chowdhury

CNN's Sara Sidner said she informed Philonise Floyd, George Floyd's brother, that the jury had reached a verdict. Sidner said he was not aware until she asked him.

Sidner reported that he reacted with "calm."

"He was telling me, 'It's going to be alright,'" Sidner said.

She said he told her, "For the rest of the country, this will be an historic decision in this case. But for the family, this is a personal, a personal issue. An issue that is deeply, deeply, deeply personal for every single member of the Floyd family."

Philonise Floyd also told Sidner that he believes that the case is historic for the country and that "no matter what happens with this jury, that it will be historic."

"He also said something else about the fact that this case even came into the court, was even charged in the first place. He said, this is what should be happening and should have been happening in cases like theirs, with other situations between police and particularly police and African Americans in this country. He said, you know, in his mind, when the police do something incorrect, when the police take a life... In his mind, then they should be treated like everyone else in this country, every other citizen," Sidner said about her conversation with Philonise Floyd regarding the verdict.

Hear more from CNN's Sara Sidner:

4:00 p.m. ET, April 20, 2021

The jury's verdict will be read soon. Here are key things to know about the charges against Derek Chauvin.

From CNN's Eric Levenson and Aaron Cooper

A verdict has been reached in Derek Chauvin's trial in the death of George Floyd, according to a notice posted by the court on the Hennepin County Court's website.

The jurors' decision will be read in open court between 4:30 and 5 p.m. ET, the court said.

The jury of five men and seven women deliberated for four hours Monday afternoon and resumed deliberating Tuesday morning, according to the court. They are being sequestered from the public during deliberations.

Chauvin, 45, has pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.

  • The second-degree unintentional murder charge alleges Chauvin caused Floyd's death "without intent" while committing or attempting to commit felony third-degree assault. In turn, third-degree assault is defined as the intentional infliction of substantial bodily harm.
  • The third-degree murder charge alleges Chauvin caused Floyd's death by "perpetrating an act eminently dangerous to others and evincing a depraved mind, without regard for human life."
  • The second-degree manslaughter charge alleges Chauvin caused Floyd's death by "culpable negligence whereby the person creates an unreasonable risk, and consciously takes chances of causing death or great bodily harm."

Each of the three charges requires prosecutors to prove that Chauvin's actions were not objectively reasonable and that they were a substantial cause of Floyd's death. But the charges differ primarily in how they interpret his intent and mindset during his restraint of Floyd.

Some of the terms in these charges have specific definitions. Others have been left up to the jury to interpret.

As in any criminal case, the prosecution has the burden of proof and must prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt. Any verdict the jury reaches must be unanimous.

Remember: The charges are to be considered separate, so he can be convicted of all, some or none of them. If convicted, Chauvin could face up to 40 years in prison for second-degree murder, up to 25 years for third-degree murder, and up to 10 years for second-degree manslaughter.

The actual sentences would likely be much lower, though, because Chauvin has no prior convictions. Minnesota's sentencing guidelines recommend about 12.5 years in prison for each murder charge and about four years for the manslaughter charge. The judge would ultimately decide the exact length and whether those would be served at the same time or back-to-back.

Read more about the charges against Chauvin here.

5:32 p.m. ET, April 20, 2021

Derek Chauvin jury reaches a verdict

From CNN’s Aaron Cooper in Minneapolis

Pool
Pool

A verdict has been reached in the trial of former Minneapolis Police officer Derek Chauvin, according to a notice posted on the Hennepin County Court's website. 

"A verdict has been reached and will be read between 3:30-4:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 20" (4:30-5:00 p.m. ET), according to the notice.

Jurors deliberated for four hours on Monday and resumed deliberating this morning at 8 a.m. CT (9 a.m. ET). The court did not specify in the notice when jurors stopped deliberating today.

Chauvin is charged with second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in George Floyd's death on May 25, 2020. He has pleaded not guilty.

1:53 p.m. ET, April 20, 2021

Biden was "not looking to influence" the Chauvin trial with comments on verdict, White House says

From CNN's Jason Hoffman

President Biden meets with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus on Tuesday.
President Biden meets with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus on Tuesday. Evan Vucci/AP

President Biden was not looking to influence the Derek Chauvin trial with his comments on the expected verdict Tuesday, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said, noting he felt it was appropriate to weigh in on the trial at this moment since the jury is sequestered.

Biden told reporters earlier in the Oval Office in response to a question from CNN’s Kaitlan Collins that he is “praying that the verdict is the right verdict, which is I think it’s overwhelming in my view. I wouldn’t say that unless the jury was sequestered now, not hear me say that.”

Psaki would not specify what Biden viewed as “overwhelming” in the Chauvin trial.

“As he also noted, the jury is sequestered which is why he spoke to this, but I would expect he will weigh in more – further once there is a verdict and I’m not going to provide additional analysis on what he meant,” Psaki said at Tuesday’s White House press briefing.

Asked if there is concern that the President’s words could add to potential unrest in Minneapolis and around the country if the “right verdict” is not reached, Psaki said that regardless of the outcome, Biden has consistently called for peace.

“Our focus, as we’re working with state and local authorities, is on providing the space for peaceful protest and that will be consistent regardless of what the outcome of this, of the verdict is,” she said.

Psaki said Biden is “not looking to influence” the case, which is why he only spoke out when the jury is sequestered, but the President “has been touched on the impact on the family, hence he called the family yesterday and had that discussion.” She reiterated that much of the conversation focused on the loss the Floyd family is dealing with, something the President knows first-hand.

Psaki also said she doesn’t think Biden felt as if he was “weighing in on the verdict,” in his comments, but rather conveying compassion towards the family.

1:36 p.m. ET, April 20, 2021

How police in Dallas are preparing for possible protests after the Chauvin verdict

From CNN’s Carma Hassan and Jeremy Grisham

The Dallas Police Department said they are preparing for possible demonstrations after a verdict is reached in Derek Chauvin’s trial. 

There currently aren’t any credible threats to the city or the North Texas region, but police are monitoring events for any potential threats, they said in a statement. 

“The Department will respect individuals expressing their first amendment rights, and our goal is for a peaceful and safe assembly for all individuals exercising their constitutional rights,” police said. 

Jurors have been deliberating the Chauvin case for more than eight hours now. It's not clear exactly when they could reach a verdict.