ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — Local legal observers say the case against former Minneapolis Police officer Derek Chauvin was extremely strong although they called it a bigger than expected victory for prosecutors.
“Little surprised they found him guilty on the top count,” admitted defense attorney Peter Pullano.
On Tuesday, a Minneapolis jury convicted Chauvin of second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter for the May 2020 death of George Floyd, who died after Chauvin held him down for more than 9 minutes with a knee on the back of Floyd’s neck.
Pullano says the conviction on second-degree murder, or what in New York might be called “felony murder” seemed a tough hurdle but that the video of Chauvin holding Floyd down was unstoppably persuasive.
