Nobody's disputing that. Were talking about representing people who are blatantly guilty. Everything that is presented in this case is completely secondary to the fact that there is a video of guy with a knee on his neck for 9 minutes ending up dead. There's no ambiguity in the video whatsoever.
There's a huge amount of ambiguity.
We're currently seeing the prosecution's witnesses, yet - for me - there's been nothing compelling so far in
proving premeditation or 'depraved heart' - which are needed to stick either of the murder charges.
There's also been nothing compelling to
prove that the knee is what led to Floyd's death...infact, at times over the past two days the prosecution almost seemed to be conceding that point and agreeing with the defences drug induced death claims - but decrying the negligence of the cops at the scene. The direction of the prosecution's questioning towards the paramedics was almost entirely towards the police's failure to administer Narcan or other first aid. Which I think is definitely fair.
We also had the paramedic saying that he was able to check Floyd's carotid artery while Chauvin was on top of him - which was obviously a blow to the prosecution...as well as the alternate angle photos presented by the defence of Chauvin's knee on Floyd's back rather than his neck.
I'd actually lean so far to strongly assuming Chauvin gets - at best - second degree manslaughter.
We've also still got the defence witnesses to come next week, which includes the Hennepin Country Coroner. The judge also ruled that
this 2019 arrest video of George Floyd will be permitted, which the prosecution fought tooth and nail against. In it, it shows Floyd swallowing all the pills he could when the police approached him. That's clearly not going to play well with the jury.
There are still many, many questions to be answered. It's certainly not an open and shut conviction or decision. I just worry about the after effects of whatever conclusion the jury reaches. I think it's going to get rough again for a while.