Derek Chauvin was found guilty in April 2021 of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter. He was sentenced to 22-and-a-half years in prison. He later plead guilty to federal charges of violating Mr. Floyd's civil rights, which then led to a sentence of 21 years in prison (to run concurrently with the state sentence).
Derek Chauvin’s attorneys are appealing his case to the Supreme Court. The appeal is based on the legal claim that he was denied his right to a fair trial. This is because the trial judge refused to change the venue and the trial was allowed to continue in one of the most volatile environments imaginable. Local jurors reasonably feared that the city would literally burn to the ground if they did not come to the right decision. Also relevant was the timing of the city's settlement announcement during jury selection - where Minneapolis agreed to pay a $27 million settlement to Mr. Floyd's family.
As razor-wire fencing surrounded the courthouse, businesses boarded windows and closed their doors to the public - even those who despise Derek Chauvin should be able to acknowledge there was no possible way that he could have received a fair trial in Minneapolis.
New Evidence
Every few months the claim of “new evidence” in the George Floyd case goes viral on social media. However, it is generally nothing more than enticing clickbait for those who are interested in controversial police cases.
Recently the claim of “new evidence” manifested in the form of a “bombshell” from the George Floyd autopsy.
Unfortunately, the same “bombshell” hit social media about six months ago and then prior to that - it had actually been public information since 2020. The information is interesting and relevant - it just is not new.
Autopsy
Essentially, there is a single page in the autopsy report from Hennepin County that noted under the heading of “No life threatening injuries identified” - that there was no major bruising or damage to the muscles, cartilage, or bones in the neck found on Mr. Floyd.
This was addressed during Derek Chauvin’s trial and “expert” witnesses for the prosecution explained that this information does not mean that asphyxia did not occur - only that there were no signs of it on Mr. Floyd’s body.
The same page also indicated that Mr. Floyd had fentanyl, methamphetamine, and other drugs in his system.
But the image being shared online simply shows the second page of the autopsy report released three years ago by Hennepin County. It does not prove anything new about Mr. Floyd’s death, and conveniently ignores that the prior page stated that Mr. Floyd’s death was a homicide due to “cardiopulmonary arrest” from “law enforcement subdual, restraint, and neck compression.”
I am not giving a medical opinion on the proximate cause of Mr. Floyd’s death. I am merely pointing out that cherry-picking a single page in an autopsy report that semi-confirms a preferred narrative is exactly the type of dishonesty that anti-police activists engage in - that we are constantly battling.
On George Floyd
Mr. Floyd had three times the “lethal of dose” (the amount that would kill a “normal” person”) of fentanyl in his system.
Mr. Floyd had heart problems, Covid, and a history of prior drug overdoses that he had been hospitalized for.
Mr. Floyd was in medical distress BEFORE he threw himself on the street. He said, “I can’t breathe” over ten times before Derek Chauvin posed for the infamous photo.
The idea that police interaction was the only cause of his death is dishonest.
On Derek Chauvin
Mr. Floyd had resisted a lawful arrest and was in medical distress.
EMS was en route and the job of officers on scene was to control Mr. Floyd until medics arrived. The job of the on scene officers was to ensure that Mr. Floyd did not further harm or injure himself - by bashing his head inside of the police car or standing up and running into traffic. This is a simple job for cops. Merely holding someone in place who is already in handcuffs. That’s it. Very basic stuff.
There were four officers on scene. This is clearly enough to safely control one individual who was handcuffed.
Even though the knee on Mr. Floyd’s neck/shoulder likely did not kill him - it was an absolutely unnecessary and idiotic tactic. Ask yourself - have you ever controlled a combative handcuffed person by pressing your knee onto their shoulder/neck area? Of course not. Most police officers did not even do this before body cameras and citizen “journalists” made a living filming and harassing cops.
There were many ways to control the handcuffed Mr. Floyd. And with an angry mob swarming and yelling - why would Derek Chauvin keep his knee there?
Because he simply was in the middle of a pissing contest with the mob. He wanted to prove that the angry yelling from the crowd could not change his actions.
Well, congrats, you won, asshole.
On the Chauvin trial
The venue should have been changed.
The jury should have been sequestered.
Politicians publicly expressed their desire for a conviction and this was extremely problematic.
Minneapolis would have burned if he was found “not guilty”.
Derek Chauvin did NOT get a fair trial.
His legal team should be successful on these grounds for appeal.
Final Thoughts
Derek Chauvin used an unnecessary and excessive tactic to control Mr. Floyd and during the use of that tactic - Mr. Floyd lost his life.
The actions of Derek Chauvin were one of many causes that contributed to the death of Mr. Floyd. The fentanyl in his system, long-term heart problems, and Covid likely played at least an equal role. But no one riots or profits off of a drug overdose.
Two things can be true at the same time:
Derek Chauvin never should have put his knee anywhere near George Floyd’s neck.
Derek Chauvin did not receive a fair trial.
George Floyd and George Floyd alone is responsible for his death. He committed a crime, fraud/passing counterfeit bill. He ingested a drug cocktail of fentynal and methamphetamine. He resisted arrest physically. He had a bad heart.
I said it then and I'll say it now, Floyd died due to his own poor choices. That being said, i cannot explain and no one i know can explain the lack of action by Chauvin in that last three minutes when Floyd became unresponsive. I believe that he would have died regardless. The coroner even said so. But that lack of action, that failure to change tactics led to Chauvins conviction. The other officers were sacrificed for the sake of appeasing the mob.
Floyd died as a result of his own stupid & criminal actions! There was nothing that Chauvin could have done to save Floyd!! As a nurse, I know high doses of Fentanyl paralyzes the Respiratory system. Therefore, Chauvin would have needed to beable to intubate and put Floyd on a Ventilator almost immediately in order to even hope to save his life. Police Officers do not have that capability, knowledge, or skill.
Social injustice and mob rule by BLM took over & controlled this case! That was a grave injustice to Chauvin! There was no possible way he could have received a fair trial in Minnesota at that time!! He was railroaded in order to appease the terrorist mob of BLM!!!
I pray to God, Derek Chauvin wins his appeal and is given his total freedom!