Derek Chauvin found guilty on all charges in George Floyd's death
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https://aninews.in/news/world/us/derek-chauvin-found-guilty-on-all-charges-in-george-floyds-death20210421030620/
No other inmates or prison staff were injured, and the situation was quickly contained…reports Asian Lite News
Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer who was convicted in the 2020 killing of George Floyd, which had sparked the massive ‘Black Lives Matter’ protest, was stabbed at a federal prison in Arizona, New York Times reported citing two people familiar with the situation.
The Federal Bureau of Prisons confirmed that an inmate at the Tucson prison was stabbed at 12:30 pm (local time) on Friday, though the agency’s statement did not identify Chauvin, 47, by name.
No other inmates or prison staff were injured, and the situation was quickly contained, NYT reported citing people familiar with the situation.
Emergency medical technicians “initiated lifesaving measures” before transporting the inmate to a local hospital “for further treatment and evaluation,” bureau officials said in a statement.
No details were immediately available on his condition, but one of the people with knowledge of the incident said that Chauvin survived the attack.
Chauvin was serving a sentence of just over two decades in federal prison after he was convicted of state murder charges and a federal charge of violating the constitutional rights of Floyd. Chauvin’s lawyers did not respond to requests for comment.
According to New York Times, Chauvin who is white in colour had knelt on Floyd, who is black in colour, for nine and a half minutes in May 2020 as Floyd lay handcuffed, face down, on a South Minneapolis street corner.
The killing of Floyd, 46, a security guard and former rapper, was captured on video by a teenager, and the footage ricocheted around the world while people were isolating amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
The killing set off the largest protests of a generation, against police violence and racism, and led to a high-profile, televised trial in which Chauvin was convicted of second-degree murder in April 2021.
Three other officers who were at the scene where Floyd was killed were also later convicted of violating Floyd’s rights.
Chauvin had sought to appeal his conviction, the Supreme Court had rejected his efforts this week, New York Times reported.
Notably, part of Chauvin’s plea deal with prosecutors in his federal case was that he would be allowed to serve his sentence in a federal prison, which is generally considered safer than a state prison.
However, there have been several other high-profile attacks on federal prisoners in recent years, including the stabbing earlier this year of Larry Nassar, who had been convicted of sexually abusing young gymnasts, and the killing in 2018 of James (Whitey) Bulger, the mobster who was murdered in a West Virginia prison.
According to New York Times, the Bureau of Prisons has been grappling with a widespread shortage of corrections officers and has relied on teachers, case managers, counselors, facilities workers and secretaries to fill shifts.
About 21 per cent of the 20,446 positions for corrections officers funded by Congress — 4,293 guards — were unfilled in September 2022, according to a report in March 2023 by the Justice Department’s inspector general’s office. (ANI)
Flowers are seen outside the church where George Floyd's funeral is held in Houston, Texas, the United States, on June 9, 2020. The funeral of African American George Floyd was held Tuesday in the southern U.S. city of Houston, where he was brought up and spent most of his life, two weeks after his tragic death in police custody in Minneapolis. (Photo by Chengyue Lao/Xinhua/IANS)
The former Minneapolis police officer J. Alexander Kueng serving three years in federal prison for violating Floyd’s civil rights.
A former Minneapolis police officer who knelt on George Floyd’s back has been sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison for his role in the latter’s murder in 2020.
On Friday, a Hennepin County Court judge sentenced J. Alexander Kueng to 42 months — 3.5 years — in prison for aiding and abetting manslaughter for a state charge, reports Xinhua news agency.
This sentence will run concurrently with Kueng’s federal sentence.
He is serving three years in federal prison for violating Floyd’s civil rights.
Floyd, a 46-year-old African-American man, died on May 25, 2020, after an encounter with the Minneapolis police, during which officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for more than nine minutes.
Kueng and two other responding officers, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao, were also present and on duty.
Video footage of the arrest shows Kueng and Lane assisting Chauvin by helping to hold Floyd down.
Thao, meanwhile, kept concerned bystanders away.
Chauvin was sentenced in a federal court to 21 years in prison earlier this summer for violating Floyd’s civil rights.
The sentence is running concurrently with Chauvin’s state sentence of 22.5 years after he was convicted for second and third-degree murder, as well as second-degree manslaughter.
In February, Kueng, Lane and Thao were also found guilty on federal civil rights charges.
The officers were charged with showing “deliberate indifference to (Floyd’s) serious medical needs” during the attempted arrest.
Floyd’s death sparked outrage and protests across the US in the summer of 2020 against police brutality and systemic racism.
A sentencing date for the three has not yet been set. All of them could face up to life in prison…reports Asian Lite News
At least three former police officers of Minneapolis, the US state of Minnesota, accused of violating the civil rights of George Floyd, were found guilty by a federal jury on Thursday.
The jury found that Thomas Lane, J. Alexander Kueng, and Tou Thao all deprived Floyd of his right to medical care and that two of them failed to intervene as their colleague Derek Chauvin knelt on Floyd’s neck for more than nine minutes during an arrest, leading to the African American man’s death.
A sentencing date for the three has not yet been set. All of them could face up to life in prison, Xinhua news agency reported.
Chauvin’s state trial took place last year, and he was convicted of murdering Floyd. He is currently serving a 22-year prison sentence.
Floyd’s death in May 2020 sparked protests across the US against police brutality and systemic racism.
Derek Chauvin found guilty on all charges in George Floyd's death
Read more At:
https://aninews.in/news/world/us/derek-chauvin-found-guilty-on-all-charges-in-george-floyds-death20210421030620/
Chauvin was convicted in April of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter for the killing of Floyd…reports Asian Lite News
Derek Chauvin, former police officer in US city of Minneapolis, appeared for a change of plea hearing in St. Paul, Minnesota, at which he pleaded guilty to federal charges of violating George Floyd’s civil rights.
The federal charges accused Chauvin of depriving Floyd’s right to be free from “unreasonable seizure, which includes the right to be free from the use of unreasonable force by a police officer.”
“Guilty, your honor,” Chauvin, dressed in orange short-sleeve prison shirt, said in the court to confirm his pleas. He pleaded not guilty to those charges in September.
The federal civil case was on top of a state criminal case where Chauvin was convicted in April of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter for the killing of Floyd, Xinhua news agency reported.
He was sentenced to 22 and a half years in prison in the state murder case, but may serve only two-thirds of the jail term or 15 years, and be eligible for supervised release for the remaining seven and a half years, according to Minnesota sentencing guidance.
Sentencing for the federal case will be announced on another date, which has not been set by Judge Paul Magnuson of the US District Court in St. Paul, where Wednesday’s hearing was held. Federal prosecutors have recommended 300 months or 25 years in prison to be served concurrently with Chauvin’s sentence on state murder charges.
The former police officer at the hearing also admitted guilt in another case in which he was accused of assaulting a then 14-year-old boy during an arrest in 2017.
Video footage captured by bystanders showed Chauvin put his knee on Floyd’s neck for 9 minutes and 29 seconds on May 25, 2020, while the latter was pinned to the ground, gasping for air and saying “I can’t breathe.”
Three other former officers involved in Floyd’s death — Thomas Lane, J. Kueng and Tou Thao — were also indicted on federal charges. Their trial on those charges is scheduled for January 2022, with a state trial on aiding and abetting counts set for March 2022.
The brutal killing of Floyd sparked protests across the US against police brutality and racial injustice.
Demonstrators take part in a protest in London, Britain uk
The demonstrations are also being held as a way of calling for better action to tackle institutional racism within Britain…reports Asian Lite News
People across the UK will be taking the knee on Tuesday evening to mark the one-year death anniversary of George Floyd, the African-American who was killed in police custody in the US city of Minneapolis on this day last year.
It is part of events planned worldwide to commemorate his death, reports dpa news agency.
The demonstration, which has been organised by campaigners Stand Up To Racism and the UK’s Trade Union Congress, will see people in cities and towns across England, Scotland and Wales show their support for black lives.
A year on from the death of George Floyd, the fight for justice continues in the UK and across the world.
The demonstration involves people kneeling down on one knee at 5 p.m. in memory of Floyd, who died after police officer Derek Chauvin pressed his knee on his neck for almost nine minutes in an act of police brutality.
The demonstrations are also being held as a way of calling for better action to tackle institutional racism within Britain.
The act of taking a knee is inspired by former US football player Colin Kaepernick, who first took the knee during the US national anthem at a football game in 2016 in protest against racial injustice and how black people are treated by police in the US.
Floyd’s death prompted a wave of protests around the world and sparked conversations about how black people still face discrimination.
US President Joe Biden will meet Floyd’s family later Tuesday.
According to data from Mapping Police Violence, a further 140 black people died at the hands of police in the US after Floyd’s death last year.
The total was 248.
This year, 89 people have so far died at the hands of US police officers.
All through Wednesday, support and respect for Floyd continued pouring on social media from netizens and celebrities…reports Asian Lite News.
The brutal death of George Floyd really shocked people around the world. Hollywood celebrities hailed Wednesday’s verdict declaring former Minneapolis policeman Derek Chauvin guilty of killing African-American man George Floyd.
Chauvin went on trial for pinning Floyd to the pavement with his knee on May 25 last year for over nine minutes, which led to the latter’s death. The incident triggered the Black Lives Matter campaign.
Welcoming the court’s verdict, many Hollywood celebrities took to social media and paid respect to Floyd, echoing that justice had finally been served.
Singer Demi Lovato posted on Instagram: “Rest In Power, George Floyed #blacklivesmatter.”
Actress Viola Davis wrote: “GUILTY!!!! As it should!! Now….rest in peace George Floyd. Rest. You and your family have been vindicated. #SayHisName”
A guilty #verdict. But this fight for justice is not over. We have a lot of work to do. There is more fight ahead of us. But RIGHT NOW please take CARE of yourself. And let’s take care of each other. Prayers and love to the family of #GeorgeFloyd.
Singer Katy Perry tweeted: “Rest In Justice George Floyd” Whereas, Kerry Washington tweeted: “A guilty #verdict. But this fight for justice is not over. We have a lot of work to do. There is more fight ahead of us. But RIGHT NOW please take CARE of yourself. And let’s take care of each other. Prayers and love to the family of #GeorgeFloyd.”
Derek Chauvin found guilty on all charges in George Floyd's death
Read more At:
https://aninews.in/news/world/us/derek-chauvin-found-guilty-on-all-charges-in-george-floyds-death20210421030620/
The former police officer was charged with killing Floyd by kneeling on his neck for more than nine minutes, which was captured on video footage in May 2020…reports Asian Lite News
Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin has been found guilty on all charges in the murder trial of African-American George Floyd by a jury in the Hennepin County court.
The 12 jurors found Chauvin guilty of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in Floyd’s death in May 2020.
It further reported that the maximum sentence for second-degree unintentional murder is imprisonment of not more than 40 years. The maximum sentence for third-degree murder is imprisonment of not more than 25 years. The maximum sentence for second-degree manslaughter is 10 years and/or USD 20,000.
Chauvin was handcuffed in the courtroom and taken into custody by the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office.
Judge Peter Cahill said, “eight weeks from now we will have sentencing.” Cahill thanked the jurors for what he called “heavy duty” service in the case.
The former officer was charged with killing Floyd by kneeling on his neck for more than nine minutes, which was captured on video footage in May 2020 and triggered nationwide demonstrations for racial justice.
Attorney Ben Crump and Floyd’s family released a statement following the conviction of Chauvin, saying, “today’s verdict goes far beyond this city and has significant implications for the country and even the world,” CNN reported.
US President-Elect Joe Biden and Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris.
Biden, Harris speaks to Floyd’s family
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday spoke to the family of George Floyd after a jury found former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin guilty of the African-American’s death.
“We’re all so relieved, not just one verdict but all three. Guilty on all three counts. It’s really important,” The Hill quoted Biden as saying. He said that “I’m anxious to see you guys. We’re going to get a lot more done. We’re going to do a lot. We’re going to stay at it until we get it done”.
Biden told the family he had been watching the verdict come in alongside senior adviser Cedric Richmond and Harris.
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who represents the Floyd family, expressed optimism that the outcome of the trial could spur action on the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. Biden said he would fly the family out to Washington DC, on Air Force One for the occasion, The Hill reported.
Harris praised the Floyd family as “real leaders” at a pivotal moment in history.
“In George’s name and memory we are going to make sure his legacy is intact and that history will look back at this moment,” The Hill quoted Harris as saying. “But we really do believe that with your leadership and the President that we have in the White House that we’re going to make something good come out of this tragedy.”
‘A giant step forward’
Nothing can ever bring George Floyd back but this can be a giant step forward on the march towards justice in America, President said after Chauvin’s conviction.
While addressing the nation, Biden said “Today, a jury in Minnesota found former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin guilty of murdering George Floyd. The verdict is a step forward. And while nothing can ever bring George Floyd back, this can be a giant step forward on the march towards justice in America.”
“No one should be above the law. Today’s verdict sends that message, but it is not enough. We can’t stop here. In order to deliver real change and reform, we can and we must do more to reduce the likelihood that tragedies like this ever occur.
“There’s meaningful police reform legislation in George Floyd’s name, but it shouldn’t take a year to get it done. I assured the Floyd family that we’re going to continue to fight for the passage of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act so I can sign it into law right away,” he added.
The US President further said: “‘I can’t breathe’ — those were George Floyd’s last words. We cannot let them die with him. We have to keep hearing them. We must not turn away. We cannot turn away.”
“This can be a moment of significant change.
“Let there be a legacy of peace, not violence. Those who see to exploit raw emotions of the moment, fan the flames of division, we can’t let them succeed. This is the time to unite as Americans and fight racial prejudice,” he added.
‘Right thing, but requires much more’
Hour after Derek Chauvin was found guilty on all charges in the murder trial of African-American George Floyd, former US President Barack Obama said the jury did the right thing but true justice requires much more.
Issuing a statement on Twitter, Obama said, “For almost a year, George Floyd’s death under the knee of a police officer has reverberated around the world inspiring murals and marches, sparking conversations in living rooms and new legislation. But a more basic question has always remained: would justice be done?
“In this case, at least, we have our answer. But if we’re being honest with ourselves, we know that true justice is about much more than a single verdict in a single trial.”
“True justice requires that we come to terms with the fact that Black Americans are treated differently, every day. While today’s verdict may have been a necessary step on the road to progress, it was far from a sufficient one. We cannot rest,” he added.
MINNEAPOLIS, May 30, 2020 (Xinhua) — Protesters hold their hands in the air during a protest in Minneapolis, the United States, May 29, 2020. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey announced on Friday a mandatory nighttime curfew following three straight nights of growing protests and violence in the biggest city in U.S. midwest state of Minnesota over the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man, in police custody. (Photo by Angus Alexander/Xinhua/IANS)
Obama further said: “We will need to follow through with the concrete reforms that will reduce and ultimately eliminate racial bias in our criminal justice system. We will need to redouble efforts to expand economic opportunity for those communities that have been too long marginalised.”
“And as we continue the fight, we can draw strength from the millions of people especially young people who have marched and protested and spoken up over the last year, shining a light on inequity and calling for change. Justice is closer today not simply because of this verdict, but because of their work,” his statement added.
Offering prayers to the Floyd family, the former US President said, “Michelle and I send our prayers to the Floyd family, and we stand with all those who are committed to guaranteeing every American the full measure of justice that George and so many others have been denied.”
