Floyd’s family got $27m

Hennepin county judge Peter Cahill, who presided over the trial, will sentence Derek Chauvin on June 16.

The most serious charge, second-degree murder, carries a maximum penalty of 40 years. Some experts have argued the high level of media coverage, as well as a $27m (R385m) settlement reached by the city of Minneapolis with Floyd’s family just before the trial began, may give him grounds for an appeal.

A look of indifference

The prosecution focused on the look of indifference on Chauvin’s face as he casually squeezed the life out of George Floyd. That look was freeze-framed in what the prosecution called “Exhibit 17”. It shows Chauvin glancing at a crowd of onlookers while bearing down on an unconscious Floyd. Prosecutors said Chauvin and other officers at the scene talked about the smell of Floyd’s feet and idly picked stones from a vehicle’s tyre while Floyd died in front of them. — CNN

Aiding and abetting

Three of Chauvin’s former colleagues still face trial for their part in Floyd’s death.

Tou Thao, J Alexander Kueng and Thomas Lane face charges of aiding and abetting the murder and manslaughter of Floyd.

The three, who were fired from the Minneapolis police department the day after Floyd’s death, are scheduled to go on trial in August. People celebrating Chauvin’s conviction at George Floyd Square, the makeshift memorial built at the intersection where he was pinned down by the police, made their feelings clear about the three former officers still awaiting trial.

“One down, three to go!” they chanted.

Chauvins separated

Chauvin was married with two stepchildren before the video of the fatal arrest went viral. His ex-wife, Kellie May Xiong Chauvin, legally separated from Chauvin on May 28 2020 — just three days after Floyd’s death.