After about 10 hours of deliberation, the jury at Derek Chauvin’s trial has found him guilty of the murder of George Floyd.
The decision was a unanimous one, with all 12 jury members agreeing to the charges against Chauvin, who was accused of kneeling on Floyd's neck for over nine minutes in May 2020. The incident sparked protests all around the world over police brutality and racism.
Chauvin was charged with second-degree murder, third-degree murder and manslaughter. He could be facing the rest of his life in prison, as the maximum sentence for second-degree unintentional murder is imprisonment of up to 40 years, the maximum sentence for third-degree murder is imprisonment of up to 25 years, and the maximum sentence for second-degree manslaughter is 10 years and/or $20,000.
Almost a year later, we finally have a decision on the killing of George Floyd. Even before the trial occurred, protesters took to the streets to bring attention to the issue of police brutality towards people of color. The protest lasted all summer and eventually led to Chauvin’s conviction.
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Along with those waiting outside the court, people around the world anxiously awaited the verdict, including President Joe Biden, who was reportedly watching the verdict live on TV. While this may be a win for those pushing for police reform, now we must wait and see how the trial will impact future legislation.
