I am sitting here this afternoon, waiting for the Derek Chauvin verdict in the George Floyd case. I have prepared myself for “not guilty” on all counts, because that is how all (?) the similar cases have gone, when members of law enforcement have killed people of color for reasons that are or appear ludicrous.
Many of us will find it difficult to believe that Chauvin is not guilty of the death of George Floyd. We saw Chauvin hold Floyd down with his body and knee on Floyd’s body for nearly 10 minutes — more than three minutes after Floyd’s body stopped moving. If someone has died, how can one explain staying on the dead body for more than three minutes after the victim stops all movement and appears to stop breathing.
The verdict came back quickly. It came back faster than I prepared for. Truly, I thought that the jury would need to deliberate for days. I served on a jury, and I know what that experience is like, as have the many millions of us who serve on juries in serious criminal cases. It would have been so fascinating to be able to observe and listen to the jurors while they deliberated in this case.
I won’t be surprised if the jury finds Chauvin not guilty on all counts.