Buffalo, NY (WBEN) - The trial of a former Minneapolis police officer in George Floyd's death is expected to turn toward the officer's training on Monday after a first week that was dominated by emotional testimony from eyewitnesses and devastating video of Floyd's arrest.
Derek Chauvin, 45, is charged with murder and manslaughter in the May 25 death of Floyd. Chauvin, who is white, is accused of pinning his knee on the 46-year-old Black man's neck for 9 minutes, 29 seconds as Floyd lay face-down in handcuffs outside of a corner market.
Buffalo attorney John Elmore is watching as the pivotal trial unfolds and says the prosecution shined in the opening argument.
"They billboarded the case by saying believe your eyes, it's a homicide. They undermined the defense allegations of the death being caused by intoxication," says Elmore. "They showed the tape of (Floyd) dying from several angles, from several people who were pleading, from a 9 year old to a 61 year old, to an off-duty EMT firefighter saying 'you're killing him'," adding prosecutors showed a strong case calling for Chauvin's conviction.
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Elmore says the defense is trying to make it strictly a scientific case, and its best day last week was during the cross-examination of Floyd's girlfriend.
"She was put on as a prosecution witness to talk about their shared drug abuse and the hardships they've encountered in trying to overcome the drug abuse. But the cross-examination of the girlfriend talking about the overdose and her driving Mr. Floyd to the hospital is pretty consistent he died of an overdose," explains Elmore.
Elmore says the judge did an excellent job in screening potential jurors for prejudices, whether pro-police or pro-Black Lives Matter.
"Both sides had opportunities to strike jurors they felt were prejudicial. The jury has more minorities in it, very representative of the population of that county, so they've done their best to get a fair jury," says Elmore, hoping jurors will base their verdict based on the evidence.
Elmore says regardless of the verdict, the case has resulted in police reform.
"In New York, Governor Cuomo has issued an executive order directing all police departments across the state to review their police policies and submit written intentions on how they're going to reform their police departments. Many other departments across the country have increased sensitivity training for officers," says Elmore. State troopers were also ordered to wear body cams starting this week.
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The verdict is likely weeks away, but Elmore says as long as protesting is non-violent, it's a good thing regardless of the verdict.