Seeing George Floyd's Murder Police Allegations, Derek Chauvin

Illustrations (Munshots / Unsplash)

This article was previously entitled "Looking at the George Floyd Killer Police Indictment, Derek Chauvin is Lighter Than the Initial Charges". We are aware that there is an error in the translation of the legal sentences "Second Murder" and "Second Manslaughter" which have implications for the legal consequences for Derek Chauvin which should be heavier, not lighter as in the previous article. The editorial team apologized for this error.

JAKARTA - Former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin, who killed George Floyd with his knee, faces trial. He was charged with second degree murder. This indictment is heavier than ever.

The charges against Chauvin were revised because the court judged Chauvin to kill with specific intent. Then, what is the difference between Chauvin's indictment from the previous one?

On a murder in the second degree charge, under the Minnesota law, there must be evidence that the act was intentional. "Cause human death with the intention of killing the person, but without prior planning," it reads. People convicted of murder under these charges can be jailed for more than 40 years.

Whereas murder at the third level applies to a person who "causes the death of another by committing an act which is very dangerous to others and displays evil thoughts, regardless of human life," it is written. The penalty of the charges is 25 years in prison, plus a fine of up to 40 thousand US dollars.

On this charge, the prosecution need not prove that Chauvin had the intent to kill Floyd. They just have to show that the act of stomping on Floyd's neck for nearly nine minutes was extremely dangerous and proved his evil thoughts.

Apart from that previously, Chauvin was also charged with second-degree manslaughter. This law is different from the recently revised indictment. This bill is similar to a third degree murder charge, the prosecution need not prove Chauvin intended to kill Floyd.

"I firmly believe that this development is in the interests of justice for Floyd, his family, our community and our country," said Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison while announcing the indictment.

The amendments to the charges came out after more than a week of Floyd's death case and sparked demonstrations throughout the United States (US). They called for the police brutality, especially against blacks, to end.

Three of Chauvin's police colleagues

Meanwhile, two of Chauvin's colleagues, Thomas Lane (37) and J. Alexander Kueng (26) who helped arrest Floyd, and Tou Thao (34) who were standing near them, have also been named as defendants. They are accused of aiding and abetting the second degree murder case.

Chauvin was arrested last week and detained at the Minnesota Department of Corrections in Oak Park. Meanwhile, Lane, Kueng and Thao were arrested on Wednesday, June 3. Kueng's lawyer, Tom Plunkett confirmed the news.

Two autopsy results that suggested Floyd died of murder confirmed the charges. In addition, Minneapolis Police Chief, Medaria Arradondo, who fired the four officers, also said they were involved in Floyd's death.