header-logo header-logo

The US: jury unanimity needed

45623
Michael Zander QC reports on the George Floyd case, now nearing its end
  • The trial of the officer accused of causing the death of George Floyd in May 2020 is coming to a close.
  • In the US, unlike the UK, a person can only be convicted of a serious criminal offence if the jury is unanimous.

Officer Derek Chauvin faces three counts under Minnesota’s homicide law:

  • Second-degree unintentional murder (40-year maximum sentence)—the defendant unintentionally caused George Floyd’s death while intentionally inflicting or attempting to inflict bodily harm.
  • Third-degree murder (25-year maximum sentence)—the defendant caused the death without regard for human life by an act that was eminently dangerous and evidenced a depraved mind.
  • Second-degree manslaughter (ten-year maximum sentence)—the defendant caused the death by knowingly taking an unreasonable risk and consciously taking the chance of causing death or great bodily harm.

The prosecution case

The prosecution opened its case with the nine minute and 29 second video that went viral at the time of the

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Birketts—trainee cohort

Birketts—trainee cohort

Firm welcomes new cohort of 29 trainee solicitors for 2025

Keoghs—four appointments

Keoghs—four appointments

Four partner hires expand legal expertise in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Real estate team in Yorkshire welcomes new partner

NEWS
Robert Taylor of 360 Law Services warns in this week's NLJ that adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) risks entrenching disadvantage for SME law firms, unless tools are tailored to their needs
From oligarchs to cosmetic clinics, strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) target journalists, activists and ordinary citizens with intimidating legal tactics. Writing in NLJ this week, Sadie Whittam of Lancaster University explores the weaponisation of litigation to silence critics
Delays and dysfunction continue to mount in the county court, as revealed in a scathing Justice Committee report and under discussion this week by NLJ columnist Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School. Bulk claims—especially from private parking firms—are overwhelming the system, with 8,000 cases filed weekly
Writing in NLJ this week, Thomas Rothwell and Kavish Shah of Falcon Chambers unpack the surprise inclusion of a ban on upwards-only rent reviews in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill
Charles Pigott of Mills & Reeve charts the turbulent progress of the Employment Rights Bill through the House of Lords, in this week's NLJ
back-to-top-scroll