Later than originally planned, the case surrounding the death of the black American George Floyd started on Tuesday. The trial against the main suspect, the white cop Derek Chauvin, was actually supposed to start on Monday but was postponed because the prosecution wants to expand the charges against the agent.
The Minneapolis judge decided to start on Tuesday, despite the objections of the prosecutors. According to the judge, he has that power.
The prosecutors wanted to add to the charges against Chauvin third-degree murder. This means that someone commits an act that endangers others without taking human life into account. A court is still considering that request.
Very strict security measures have been taken in Minneapolis for fear of protests and disturbances. Parts of the city center are sealed off.
The process will take some time: just three weeks have been set aside for the selection of the jury, because the members have to start the process ‘impartially’. The difficulty in selecting this jury also lies in this impartiality, as the case caused so much uproar worldwide. The jurors are promised to remain anonymous during the trial.
Floyd’s death sparked worldwide protests
Floyd, 46, died on May 25, 2020, during an arrest in Minneapolis. He was accused of dealing with a counterfeit $ 20 note. Floyd was held to the ground by officers while Chauvin pressed his knee on Floyd’s neck for minutes. The 44-year-old officer was fired a day after the fatal arrest, as were three involved colleagues who are to be tried later this year.
Floyd’s death sparked massive Black Lives Matter protests against racism and police brutality. People took to the streets en masse not only in the United States, but also in various European countries. In the Netherlands, protests were made in Amsterdam and Rotterdam, among others.
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