(CMR) Derek Chauvin the former Minneapolis police officer involved in the death of George Floyd has been charged with second-degree murder. It was also announced this afternoon that the three other officers will now be facing aiding and abetting second-degree murder charges.
Chauvin was initially charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter after a video of him with his knee on Floyd’s neck went viral on May 25. He had his knee on Floyd's neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds. Two autopsy reports show that the cause of death was homicide; which is death at the hands of another.
Minnesota's Attorney General Keith Ellison made the announcement on Wednesday after some eight days of protesting and rioting across the United States. Ellison further shared that the other three now-fired Minneapolis police officers involved in the incident have been charged with aiding and abetting.
Ben Crump, the attorney representing George Floyd’s family, shared the family's reaction to the upgrade in the charges noting that “it is a bittersweet moment”.
“This is a bittersweet moment. We are deeply gratified that @AGEllison took decisive action, arresting & charging ALL the officers involved in #GeorgeFloyd's death & upgrading the charge against Derek Chauvin to felony second-degree murder. #JusticeForGeorge, “
said Crump in a Tweet.
According to the state sentencing guidelines, there are two different possibilities for the charge of second-degree murder; which is divided into “intentional” and “unintentional” second-degree murder.
Intentional second-degree murder carries a weight on conviction of 25 and a half years behind bars. While unintentional second-degree murder will amount to 12 and a half years in prison
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