Sacked US cop Derek Chauvin charged with murder of George Floyd after widespread riots
The officer was caught on camera pushing his knee down on his neck as Mr Floyd pleaded " I can't breathe"
by Sanjeeta Bains, https://www.facebook.com/sanjeetabainsbm/Sacked Minneapolis officer Derek Chauvin who was filmed kneeling on the neck of George Floyd moments before his death, has been charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter.
Mr Floyd died on Monday ( May 25) after the cop was filmed pushing him to the ground and kneeling on his neck for at least eight minutes while he was handcuffed.
Attorney Mike Freeman announced today ( May 29) that Chauvin is in police custody after been charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter.
The disturbing footage of the incident has sparked fury across Minneapolis, the US and the world.
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Millions of people fron Minneapolis residents to Hollywood A Listers have protested at the footage of the horrifying way Mr Floyd was treated by police - ultimately leading to his death.
Mr Freeman said: "We are in the process of continuing to review the evidence. There may be subsequent charges later."
A detailed criminal complaint will be released later today, he said. If convicted of murder in the third degree, Mr Chauvin faces up to 25 years in prison.
After Mr Floyd's death, Chauvin was sacked along with three other cops involved in the arrest. Mr Floyd was detained after allegedly using a fake $20 note in a shop.
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In the widely circulated footage the 46-year-old can be heard saying he could not breathe, before paramedics are seen lifting him on to a stretcher and into an ambulance.
He was later pronounced dead in hospital.
Today (May 29) Minnesota Public Safety Commissioner John Harrington confirmed the arrest of Chavin, having earlier described Mr Floyd's death as "murder".
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Minneapolis City Council Vice President Andrea Jenkins said Chavin and Mr Floyd both worked as bouncers at the same nightclub and knew each other.
It is understood there is no currently no action being taken against the three other officers involved in Mr Floyd's arrest - Thomas Lane, Tou Thao and J Alexander Kueng.
New footage which has emerged today appears to show three officers kneeling on his neck.
In a statement today former President Barack Obama called for the incident to be fully investigated.
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He wrote: "It can't be 'normal.' If we want our children to grow up in a nation that lives up to its highest ideals, we can and must be better."
Earlier this week, Mr Floyd's brother Philonise Floyd told news channel CNN: "These guys need to be arrested, convicted of murder, and given the death penalty. They need to. They took my brother's life."
Walz said he understood the protests and that the community had "lost faith" in the police force.
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Mr Floyd's death has caused widespread looting in Minneapolis.
The city's mayor Jacob Freyer said the victim would "be alive today if he were white."
Current President Donald Trump tweeted that the rioters "thugs", and warned "when the looting starts, the shooting starts".
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said today he expected "swift" justice for the officers involved.
The Police Officers Federation of Minneapolis, the union representing the city's police force, said it was "not time to rush to judgment."
"We must review all video. We must wait for the medical examiner's report," it said.