# Minnesota trial of Derek Chauvin (killer of George Floyd) reactions **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 30, 2021, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-trial-of-derek-chauvin-killer-of-george-floyd-reactions/939024 "2021-03-30T13:14:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 32
**Author:** ![StraightTalk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/straighttalk/32/9982_2.png) [@StraightTalk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StraightTalk)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2021, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-trial-of-derek-chauvin-killer-of-george-floyd-reactions/939024/621 "2021-04-20T21:25:32Z")
Can you all confirm the path to 2nd degree murder? What Chauvin did was excessive force. Excessive force = assault. Assault resulting in death = 2nd degree murder. ---
**Author:** ![Deeg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deeg/32/2955_2.png) [@Deeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deeg)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2021, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-trial-of-derek-chauvin-killer-of-george-floyd-reactions/939024/622 "2021-04-20T21:26:02Z")
Now we know why Chauvin tried to plead guilty. Justice was served in that verdict and I have some grim satisfaction. I can’t celebrate the result, as much as I wanted it. A man died a horrid death and this doesn’t bring him back but it does help. May Chauvin never see the light of day as a free man. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2021, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-trial-of-derek-chauvin-killer-of-george-floyd-reactions/939024/623 "2021-04-20T21:29:41Z")
Yeah, I hope this doesn’t get spun into “everything is fine, the system is great”. ---
**Author:** ![Deeg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deeg/32/2955_2.png) [@Deeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deeg)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2021, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-trial-of-derek-chauvin-killer-of-george-floyd-reactions/939024/624 "2021-04-20T21:30:24Z")
I was thinking the same thing: we still have a long ways to go. In a very small way Chauvin was let down by the system. He got away with lesser actions for a long time and should have been permanently fired years ago. If he had he’d be a free man and George Floyd would be alive. We need reform and police need to be held accountable for lesser crimes. ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2021, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-trial-of-derek-chauvin-killer-of-george-floyd-reactions/939024/625 "2021-04-20T21:30:42Z")
I don’t feel joyful at all. Just relieved a little bit. I expected to feel happier than I do. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2021, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-trial-of-derek-chauvin-killer-of-george-floyd-reactions/939024/626 "2021-04-20T21:32:35Z")
> [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](#): > > If so, then second-degree unintentional murder is appropriate. I didn’t realize it was that charge (“unintentional”). You’re right, in that case. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2021, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-trial-of-derek-chauvin-killer-of-george-floyd-reactions/939024/627 "2021-04-20T21:32:50Z")
I don’t feel happy. I doubt many of us do. I feel like for today, the world made sense. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2021, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-trial-of-derek-chauvin-killer-of-george-floyd-reactions/939024/628 "2021-04-20T21:34:28Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > I don’t think cops have changed much in the last decade or two, but maybe juries have It may well have made a difference that there were cops testifying against him. ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2021, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-trial-of-derek-chauvin-killer-of-george-floyd-reactions/939024/629 "2021-04-20T21:34:59Z")
A good outcome from this would be if racist asshole police officers now start thinking to themselves “I shouldn’t kill this guy just because he’s black and I feel like being an asshole today.” A better outcome from this would be if the racist assholes start thinking “I shouldn’t sign up to be a cop.” ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2021, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-trial-of-derek-chauvin-killer-of-george-floyd-reactions/939024/630 "2021-04-20T21:35:04Z")
> [@Locrian](#): > > It appears it was unanimous. Well, all verdicts are, aren’t they? 🙂 I don’t get how it works if you’re convicted of three different counts of killing the same person. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2021, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-trial-of-derek-chauvin-killer-of-george-floyd-reactions/939024/631 "2021-04-20T21:35:44Z")
He serves the sentences concurrently. ---
**Author:** ![nelliebly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nelliebly/32/5422_2.png) [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2021, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-trial-of-derek-chauvin-killer-of-george-floyd-reactions/939024/632 "2021-04-20T21:35:59Z")
I’m definitely not celebrating the verdict, as I don’t believe justice being served should be cause for celebration. It’s too solemn, and too much is at stake. Also, it’s _supposed_ to be the norm and for everyone. However, I am encouraged by the cracking of the Blue Wall, and I’m hopeful cops will see that the Wall hurts them and society as a whole. That won’t happen without a continued, concerted push by the rest of us. ---
**Author:** ![JohnM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/848f3c/32.png) [@JohnM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnM)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2021, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-trial-of-derek-chauvin-killer-of-george-floyd-reactions/939024/633 "2021-04-20T21:35:59Z")
It was the judge who read the verdict. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2021, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-trial-of-derek-chauvin-killer-of-george-floyd-reactions/939024/634 "2021-04-20T21:36:15Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > I don’t feel happy. I doubt many of us do. Relieved is more the feeling I have at the moment. I was not anticipating the level of anxiety I felt when I suddenly heard they had reached a verdict. ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2021, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-trial-of-derek-chauvin-killer-of-george-floyd-reactions/939024/635 "2021-04-20T21:38:42Z")
That’s not exactly right. It’s basically: 1. Was it a justified use of force by a police officer? If so, acquit. If not, go to step 2. 2. Were Chauvin’s actions a substantial cause of Floyd’s death. If no, acquit. If yes, go to step 3. 3. Did Chauvin intentionally assault George Floyd? If yes, then you have “unintentional felony murder” - he killed somebody due to his actions during the commission of a felony. That’s about it. Basically he didn’t have to mean to kill him, but he did have to mean to cause him pain, and it couldn’t be a use of force a reasonable police officer would have used. ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2021, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-trial-of-derek-chauvin-killer-of-george-floyd-reactions/939024/636 "2021-04-20T21:39:02Z")
Sooooo, had the verdict gone the other way, there would have been widespread expectations of unrest, along with pleas for peace and civil behavior. I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that I have concern that the Blue Lives Matter side might be feeling a little wound up right about now, and could act out. I hope someone is tracking any uptick in police overuse of force in the coming days/weeks/months. I also hope someone who is a respected voice on that side is loudly proclaiming pleas for peace and civil behavior. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2021, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-trial-of-derek-chauvin-killer-of-george-floyd-reactions/939024/637 "2021-04-20T21:40:17Z")
> [@JohnM](#): > > It was the judge who read the verdict. I was in the other room…I was too nervous to watch it! In my defense, every time I’ve been on jury duty (a bunch of times) the bailiff read the verdict. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2021, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-trial-of-derek-chauvin-killer-of-george-floyd-reactions/939024/638 "2021-04-20T21:41:04Z")
> [@carrps](#): > > In my defense, every time I’ve been on jury duty (a bunch of times) the bailiff read the verdict. In Michigan, I have served on two criminal trials and was the foreman in both. I read the verdicts in both. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2021, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-trial-of-derek-chauvin-killer-of-george-floyd-reactions/939024/639 "2021-04-20T21:43:38Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > I was not anticipating the level of anxiety I felt when I suddenly heard they had reached a verdict. I waited for more verdicts than I can count in my career, and it’s never different. Fraught with drama and dread. > [@carrps](#): > > In my defense, every time I’ve been on jury duty (a bunch of times) the bailiff read the verdict. It’s different everywhere. In California, I read the verdicts (judge’s assistant). This allows the judge to keep his eyes on the proceedings and the bailiff to keep his eyes on the defendant. To me, the only downside was I could never watch the reactions of the parties around the courtroom. I could always hear them, though. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2021, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-trial-of-derek-chauvin-killer-of-george-floyd-reactions/939024/640 "2021-04-20T21:45:05Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > I’m pretty sure he was thinking “die, fucker, die”. I was sad he wasn’t charged with murder 1. [https://statelaws.findlaw.com/minnesota-law/minnesota-first-degree-murder.html](https://statelaws.findlaw.com/minnesota-law/minnesota-first-degree-murder.html) The above is First Degree Murder in MN. I don’t think that it fits. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-trial-of-derek-chauvin-killer-of-george-floyd-reactions/939024.md?page=31) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-trial-of-derek-chauvin-killer-of-george-floyd-reactions/939024.md?page=33)