George Floyd – The legal story Aadam Hashmi

actions were exceptionally brutal or malicious. 3. Third Degree Murder is similar to manslaughter, however the defendant commits an act “evincing a depraved mind without regard for human life.

As for the other three officers involved with Floyd’s arrest, (Tou Thao, J Alexander Kueng and Thomas Lane), they are all facing trial (charged with aiding and abetting 2nd degree murder and 2nd degree manslaughter). The trial shall be held on the 23rd of August 2021. To the vast majority, the case of George Floyd seems simple. Chauvin clearly knelt on Floyd’s neck for an unnecessary amount of time and during this event Floyd died. It would appear to many of us, that this indeed means that Chauvin is guilty beyond doubt. However, this case is a perfect example that demonstrates the complexity of the law. Despite the apparent ease of accusing Chauvin of murder, with the footage explicitly demonstrating so, the nature of the legal system means that this is by no means going to certainly result in Chauvin being sentenced for 1st degree murder or even 2nd . The defence of Chauvin actually appears to bear some degree of strength (according to the judge himself) and who knows, perhaps he will be relieved of some years, or maybe even released (and acquitted) if his appeal is successful. That there is so much uncertainty lingering around a case of such apparent simplicity, is testament to the sheer complexity of the current legal system.