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US Jury to Hear Closing Arguments in Trial of Officer Charged with Killing
George Floyd

VOA News

   Jurors in the U.S. state of Minnesota are set to hear closing arguments
   Monday in the trial of a formerMinneapolispolice officer charged in the
   death of George Floyd.

   Derek Chauvin's defense wrapped up two days of questioning witnesses
   last week after two weeks of the prosecution presenting its case.

   After hearing final arguments from each side, the jurors will
   beisolateduntilthey reach a verdict.

   Prosecutors argued that Chauvin, who is white, caused Floyd's death by
   kneeling on his neck.Floyd, who is African American, was accused of
   using a counterfeit $20 bill, and bystander video of the police
   response last May sparked widespread protests in the United States and
   other parts of the world against police brutality and racial
   inequality.

   WATCH: Video report on Derek Chauvin trial

   Chauvin declined to take the witness stand during the trial.

   His defense lawyers argued Chauvin actedreasonably againsta suspect who
   wasstruggling,and that Floyd died because of an underlying heart
   condition and drug use.

   If convicted of the most serious charge against him, second-degree
   murder, Chauvin could face up to 40 years in prison, though state
   guidelines suggesta sentence of about 12 years for such a charge.

   The same issues raised by Floyd's death came to the forefront in the
   community again about a week ago when a now-resigned police officer in
   a Minneapolis suburb killed a 20-year-old African American man during a
   traffic stop.

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