US city on edge as jury considers Chauvin verdict
The jury in the trial of Derek Chauvin, the ex-Minneapolis policeman accused of killing George Floyd this past year, has retired to consider its verdict.
The prosecution told jurors that Mr Chauvin had murdered Mr Floyd, but the defence said their client had appropriately followed police training.
The court has been protected by barbed wire, high barriers and armed soldiers from the National Guard.
Cities across the country are bracing for protests whatever the verdict.
On Monday, the prosecution and defence made their closing statements in a trial that lasted three weeks. The prosecution then had another opportunity to rebut defence arguments before the jury was delivered to deliberate.
Mr Chauvin's lawyer Eric Nelson argued that his client did what any "reasonable officer" could have done after finding himself in a "dynamic" and "fluid" situation involving a huge man scuffling with three officers.
He said Mr Chauvin's body camera and badge were knocked off his chest due to "the intensity of the struggle".
Mr Nelson also argued that Mr Floyd's drug use was "significant" for the reason that body reacts to opioid use, particularly in the case of someone who have been identified as having hypertension and high blood circulation pressure.
The attorney also argued that his client was unlikely to have intentionally violated use-of-force rules as he'd have already been aware that the complete interaction had been recorded. "Officers know that they are being videotaped," added Mr Nelson.
