PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The jury has begun deliberations in the Derek Chauvin trial in Minneapolis.
A Temple University legal expert revealed the complicated decisions ahead of the 12 jury members after Monday's closing arguments in the case of the death of George Floyd in May 2020, for which Chauvin was fired from the Minneapolis Police Department.
"The jury is going to decide one of four things. Either they are going to convict him of second degree murder, third degree murder, involuntary (manslaughter) or find him not guilty," said Samuel Hodge Jr., a legal studies professor at Temple.
"If he’s convicted of second degree murder, (the sentence is) up to 40 years. If third degree, it could be 25 years, and if it's gross negligence, it drops down to really like 10 years."
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The jury has been sequestered, and will remain so until they reach a unanimous decision on each of the three charges.
"They are going to be put up in a hotel, and they are not going to be allowed out or talk to anybody," said Hodge.
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"Normally the first thing that happens is, you select a floor person to conduct the deliberations."
Then the jury deliberates and takes a straw vote to see where people stand. The burden of proof has been on the prosecution.
Hodge says to follow the length of deliberation.
"If they come back quickly, it’s going to be 2nd degree murder," Hodge predicts.
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"The longer they stay out, then that would indicate they are struggling with a verdict."
According to Hodge, another possibility would be a hung jury, where only 11 of the 12 agree. That would lead to negotiations before a verdict.
Either way, in Hodge's view, the jury has a tough job.