Officer Charged with Murder and Manslaughter in Death of George Floyd

[Wandering Monk]

3rd degree murder and manslaughter. For charges against police, this was lightning fast. Not fast enough to prevent rioting.

The fact that he was charged with the lesser crime of manslaughter suggests to me that they think their case on murder is weak.

 

[metis]

The fact that he was charged with the lesser crime of manslaughter suggests to me that they think their case on murder is weak.

Terrible choice, imo. Instead, I believe 2nd degree is more appropriate, especially since there would be a chance for a plea deal down to manslaughter if push comes to shove.

 

[sun rise]

My understanding of the various murder charges is weak, but what happened did not seem to me to warrant "Murder 1". I believe the states have different laws, but to me a "premeditated" charge could be considered weak and give him a substantial defense.

 

[Kangaroo Feathers]

People are wondering why the Minneapolis police officers haven't been arrested yet, but I think you need to understand that an investigation takes time.

It takes time for investigators to look through George Floyd's past to find unrelated misdemeanor arrests (maybe if they're lucky with a mug shot to release to the media), to track down a neighbor of Floyd's from when he was 13 to call him a "punk" on camera, to detect malfunctions in body cams that coincidentally erased all the footage...

 

[Wandering Monk]

My understanding of the various murder charges is weak, but what happened did not seem to me to warrant "Murder 1". I believe the states have different laws, but to me a "premeditated" charge could be considered weak and give him a substantial defense.

The question is, will it mollify the protesters and rioters? I doubt it. George Floyd has been left behind; this is now another police versus blacks issue. This insures that it will spread beyond Minnesota as it has in Ohio and other states.

 

[Wandering Monk]

Something else to ponder: did they wait for autopsy results before filing?

The shop owner who called police and reported Floyd for attempted forgery said he was drunk.

What if Floyd died from something other than the officers knee?

Alcohol poisoning and stroke, diabetic shock could be causes. Both would appear to be drunken behavior.

 

[Terry Sampson]

https://nypost.com/2020/05/29/george-floyd-and-derek-chauvin-once-worked-overlapping-shifts/

George Floyd And Derek Chauvin Worked At The Same Nightclub—But May Not Have Known Each Other, Owner Says

Small world???

 

[BSM1]

3rd degree murder and manslaughter. For charges against police, this was lightning fast. Not fast enough to prevent rioting.

The fact that he was charged with the lesser crime of manslaughter suggests to me that they think their case on murder is weak.

Although the video was telling, I think they would have trouble proving intent. This might be the best they can do to get a conviction.

 

[Twilight Hue]

The question is, will it mollify the protesters and rioters? I doubt it. George Floyd has been left behind; this is now another police versus blacks issue. This insures that it will spread beyond Minnesota as it has in Ohio and other states.

Welcome back to Ferguson. All over again.

 

[Curious George]

My understanding of the various murder charges is weak, but what happened did not seem to me to warrant "Murder 1". I believe the states have different laws, but to me a "premeditated" charge could be considered weak and give him a substantial defense.

https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/609.195
https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/609.205

 

[epronovost]

3rd degree murder seems reasonnable. It's a charge that has basically no chance of not being demonstrated beyond reasonnable doubt. Trying to prove intent beyond reasonnable doubt is always difficult especially in cases of police brutality and, right now, trying to charge him with something bigger and failling at the trial level would be catastrophic for the people already crippled sense of justice and trust in the police.

 

[David1967]

3rd degree murder and manslaughter. For charges against police, this was lightning fast. Not fast enough to prevent rioting.

The fact that he was charged with the lesser crime of manslaughter suggests to me that they think their case on murder is weak.

It was murder pure and simple. He put his knee on the man's neck at the area of the carotid artery effectively cutting off blood flow to his brain, killing him. This officer knew what he was doing. They are warned about the dangers of this in police training. I know! And the other officers bear responsibility as well. How could anyone with a shred of humanity stand by and simply watch this man be slowly and deliberately killed?

 

[Wandering Monk]

It was murder pure and simple. He put his knee on the man's neck at the area of the carotid artery effectively cutting off blood flow to his brain, killing him. This officer knew what he was doing. They are warned about the dangers of this in police training. I know! And the other officers bear responsibility as well. How could anyone with a shred of humanity stand by and simply watch this man be slowly and deliberately killed?

For murder one you need to prove intent.

 

[David1967]

For murder one you need to prove intent.

true. And I think his intent was to kill this man.

 

[Revoltingest]

3rd degree murder and manslaughter. For charges against police, this was lightning fast. Not fast enough to prevent rioting.

The fact that he was charged with the lesser crime of manslaughter suggests to me that they think their case on murder is weak.

I think police should be immediately arrested when it appears they
committed a crime. This is one of those times. Certainly a civilian
who killed someone not in self defense would be arrested on the spot.
This policy change would go a long way toward keeping the peace.

 

[Terry Sampson]

Derek Chauvin history: Officer accused in George Floyd's death opened fire on 2 people, had 17 complaints

 

[Shadow Wolf]

3rd degree murder and manslaughter. For charges against police, this was lightning fast. Not fast enough to prevent rioting.

The fact that he was charged with the lesser crime of manslaughter suggests to me that they think their case on murder is weak.

1st degree. It was torture, it was excessive,it was wilful and deliberate. Unfortunately that can't be proven in court.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

My understanding of the various murder charges is weak, but what happened did not seem to me to warrant "Murder 1". I believe the states have different laws, but to me a "premeditated" charge could be considered weak and give him a substantial defense.

Premeditated isn't the only criteria, but I do believe 1st degree would be impossible to get in court because without basically downloading the giys brain to see his thoughts there is no way to legally satisfy guilty beyond reasonable doubt for 1st degree.

 

[Wandering Monk]

Premeditated isn't the only criteria, but I do believe 1st degree would be impossible to get in court because without basically downloading the giys brain to see his thoughts there is no way to legally satisfy guilty beyond reasonable doubt for 1st degree.

Thank you for making my point for me.

 

[Evangelicalhumanist]

Terrible choice, imo. Instead, I believe 2nd degree is more appropriate, especially since there would be a chance for a plea deal down to manslaughter if push comes to shove.

But Minnesota law is what it is. By the definitions, 2nd degree might be very tough to prove, but 3rd degree, which includes "not intending to cause death" but retains the sense of "ought to have known" might be easier.

I hesitate to say what I hope will happen, because the charge is now laid and due process must take its course, but I'm fairly sure that the state -- in this particular case, and at this particular time -- is rather hoping another jury doesn't decide to protect a cop and decide "not guilty."

 

[BSM1]

1st degree. It was torture, it was excessive,it was wilful and deliberate. Unfortunately that can't be proven in court.

That's they wisely went for 3rd degree murder. It will be easily to prove by the evidence.