I think that Chauvin was a bully who often abused the position he should no longer have held. The 18 prior complaints filed against him indicated that. As for Foster being helpless and being murdered, that was for the jury to decide. As a former police officer, had I been part of the arresting crew, Foster might have had a minor concussion and a scalp laceration from being whacked with my Kel Light, but he wouldn't have been dead. You certainly have the right to disagree and I still think the Prosecutor's refusal of a plea bargain was intended more for camera time than justice. Chauvin was pretty obviously guilty and likely to have been desperate enough to have copped a deal for a very long prison sentence, thus eliminating the need for a lengthy show trial.

Steve Schleicher, one of four attorneys on the prosecuting team against former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, made his closing argument Monday. Much like the rest of his team's case, it relied on a fantasy about what actually happened the day that G****e F***d died.

It's sort of ironic. Schleicher kept telling the jury over and over again that it was Chauvin's lawyer who was introducing "hypotheticals that don't apply," that there's a video that gives them all the reason they need to deliver a conviction. But it's Schleicher and the prosecution hoping the jury will imagine an alternate reality.

This fact is nowhere more evident than in the prosecution having brought in a parade of medical professionals, none of whom ever examined Floyd's body, to dream up a cause of death that contradicts the word of the only person who did examine Floyd's body.

The autopsy, conducted by Hennepin County medical examiner Dr. Andrew Baker, showed that Floyd died of a heart attack that was triggered by lethal amounts of drugs in his system and stress from the police restraint.

Yes, Floyd was pressed to the ground for close to 10 minutes after an absurdly long struggle with police. Chauvin had his leg against Floyd's upper-back and neck area to prevent him from moving as an angry crowd circled the scene. And yet Baker found no evidence of asphyxiation. There was nothing about asphyxiation in his report. He maintained during his testimony that Floyd died of a heart attack and that if police had not been involved, he would have otherwise concluded that he died of an overdose.

But what Baker did find remarkable was that despite Floyd having been held to the ground, there was no bruising or injury to his neck or tracheal pipe. He testified that he doesn't usually document findings that are normal unless it would be worth knowing that they are, in fact, normal. Knowing that Floyd had been held to the ground, a reasonable person might expect at least some mark to his neck. But Baker found nothing and was sure to make note of it.

With that information, what has the prosecution done? Why, they found doctors to say the exact opposite!

Pay no attention to the veteran medical examiner with a professional history that no one takes exception with. Listen to all these other people who weren't there, didn't see Floyd's body, and have no direct relation to the case at all, other than that they're being paid by the prosecuting team (the state) to be there.

In addition to concocting a theory about Floyd suffocating to death, Schleicher is also hoping that the jury watches the video of the crowd that gathered round Chauvin and sees not a very obviously hostile mob but instead a staid and concerned group of citizens.

Here's a sample of what that gathering of docile passersby were yelling on that day in 2020:

— "He's a f---ing bum, bro."

— "He's enjoying that s---."

— "You f---ing bum."

— "It's the w****s. They love messing with us."

— "I'm not scared of you, bro."

— "You're a f---ing p---y-ass dude."

I suspect that's not what comes to mind when we think about a peaceful assembly.

Schleicher and the prosecution pretend that the plain facts are on their side. They're not, and that's why they've tried to paint for the jury a completely different reality than the one they're living in.

Doesn't a plea deal usually have to originate from the prosecution's side, not the defendant's side?

The evidence was overwhelmingly against Chauvin, why should the prosecution opt for a single charge when they fought to get the 3rd degree murder charge re-admitted to the case!

Second degree unintentional murder - up to 40 years in prison

Third degree murder - up to 25 years in prison

Manslaughter - up to 10 years in prison

We'll find out in eight weeks just how much time Chauvin will be sentenced to.

For all you deniers on the Chauvin case: The reason you give 2/3 charges is because people like you might be on the jury and deny the guilt, but might go along with a lesser charge.
Two guys that might agree with me 1 or 2 times each and every millenium, FotoArtist and soba nailed this one. It was murder. The only time or evidence that matters is the 9 1/2 minutes. Nothing before was “material” to this case. Floyd was under their control - totally - once ‘cuffed and placed on the ground. Chauvin rejected pleas to lift and even EMT Orders; he had many minutes to think about what he was doing and to STOP it. He was told by Floyd that he couldn’t breathe more than 20 times. He had notice of what was t***spiring and time to correct his actions. From his refusal to do so, we can infer his intent was to k**l Floyd.

This was not a good cop. He had many complaints and had shot people before. He was cool, calm, collected, even arrogant as he was causing death. Floyd may not have been perfect, but he never shot or k**led anyone. His life was needlessly taken away from him.

NO GOOD COP COULD HONESTLY DEFEND THE ACTIONS TAKEN BY CHAUVIN. Imagine, if this had been a black cop who k**led a white G****e F***d, how different your assessments would be. From many of the statements I have read over the last several days, it is easily noted how race and r****m integrates into your thought processes. This was a clear case of murder, not even close to a case that would have deserved any acquittal. Not even close.

Steve Schleicher, one of four attorneys on the prosecuting team against former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, made his closing argument Monday. Much like the rest of his team's case, it relied on a fantasy about what actually happened the day that G****e F***d died.

It's sort of ironic. Schleicher kept telling the jury over and over again that it was Chauvin's lawyer who was introducing "hypotheticals that don't apply," that there's a video that gives them all the reason they need to deliver a conviction. But it's Schleicher and the prosecution hoping the jury will imagine an alternate reality.

This fact is nowhere more evident than in the prosecution having brought in a parade of medical professionals, none of whom ever examined Floyd's body, to dream up a cause of death that contradicts the word of the only person who did examine Floyd's body.

The autopsy, conducted by Hennepin County medical examiner Dr. Andrew Baker, showed that Floyd died of a heart attack that was triggered by lethal amounts of drugs in his system and stress from the police restraint.

Yes, Floyd was pressed to the ground for close to 10 minutes after an absurdly long struggle with police. Chauvin had his leg against Floyd's upper-back and neck area to prevent him from moving as an angry crowd circled the scene. And yet Baker found no evidence of asphyxiation. There was nothing about asphyxiation in his report. He maintained during his testimony that Floyd died of a heart attack and that if police had not been involved, he would have otherwise concluded that he died of an overdose.

But what Baker did find remarkable was that despite Floyd having been held to the ground, there was no bruising or injury to his neck or tracheal pipe. He testified that he doesn't usually document findings that are normal unless it would be worth knowing that they are, in fact, normal. Knowing that Floyd had been held to the ground, a reasonable person might expect at least some mark to his neck. But Baker found nothing and was sure to make note of it.

With that information, what has the prosecution done? Why, they found doctors to say the exact opposite!

Pay no attention to the veteran medical examiner with a professional history that no one takes exception with. Listen to all these other people who weren't there, didn't see Floyd's body, and have no direct relation to the case at all, other than that they're being paid by the prosecuting team (the state) to be there.

In addition to concocting a theory about Floyd suffocating to death, Schleicher is also hoping that the jury watches the video of the crowd that gathered round Chauvin and sees not a very obviously hostile mob but instead a staid and concerned group of citizens.

Here's a sample of what that gathering of docile passersby were yelling on that day in 2020:

— "He's a f---ing bum, bro."

— "He's enjoying that s---."

— "You f---ing bum."

— "It's the w****s. They love messing with us."

— "I'm not scared of you, bro."

— "You're a f---ing p---y-ass dude."

I suspect that's not what comes to mind when we think about a peaceful assembly.

Schleicher and the prosecution pretend that the plain facts are on their side. They're not, and that's why they've tried to paint for the jury a completely different reality than the one they're living in.