Defense closing in the Chauvin case

[wryter2000]

Is the defense's strategy to put the jury to sleep?

Maybe someone more knowledgeable can explain why this is supposed to be effective.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

1. He's working to establish doubt about whether these actions were unauthorized by law.

If one juror decides this is reasonable use of force for a police officer, that's all it takes. That's why he keeps saying "reasonable."

[Siwsan]

4. Can the prosecution have rebuttal closing arguments?

I've been without Court TV for so long, I've lost my armchair lawyer credentials.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

6. Yes, they will have a chance to do so.

[Shrike47]

8. Yes. The prosecution has the burden of proof so they go first and last in arguments.

[wryter2000]

5. Thanks

I don't know why how fast Chauvin got to the scene has anything to do with anything.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

7. If you keep in mind that "all" the defense has to do is find places to plant doubt that a

sympathetic juror might mistake for "reasonable," his tactics can make a little more sense.

[live love laugh]

19. I don't think his arrival time has any significance either but I notice that later-arriving officers

seem to act more aggressively. In Chicago’s Laquan McDonald shooting [16 times] the late-arriving officer is the one who killed him.

It seems there is a flaw in coordinating among police when multiple units are called.

Who’s in control?

[wryter2000]

22. I remember that

My recall is probably faulty, but I seem to remember several cops standing around with their arms crossed over their chests as if they were trying to figure out what to do. Then a second car pulled up and a cop got out and shot Laquan McDonald.

[live love laugh]

24. Yes. Police need to be required to coordinate on-the-scene responses. I hope they get sued for this.

[dflprincess]

9. Everytime he says "reasonable"

I scream at the T.V. that nothing Chauvin did was "reasonable".

[pazzyanne]

14. + 1 nt

[MoonRiver]

2. I never can follow defense's arguments, and I think that's by design.

Put everybody to sleep and they might dream you had a reasonable defense!

[marble falls]

3. They didn't rest so much as the Prosecution shut them down

[dflprincess]

10. A reasonable defense attorney

would have persuaded his client who murdered someone on camera to take a plea.

[earthside]

13. For any other person that is true ...

... but Chauvin is a cop.

[dflprincess]

15. Was a cop.nt

[WhiskeyGrinder]

17. Chauvin offered to take a plea. The DOJ via William Barr said no.

[dflprincess]

20. There were a number of reasons s deal with the Feds fell through

And it fell through early on before case was moved to Ellison's office. He might still have worked out sonething at the state level.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

21. I don't believe there was a deal; it was a routine offer that was denied.

[wryter2000]

23. I think Chauvin was going to take a plea for third degree murder

But he wanted a guarantee that wouldn't be followed by a federal charge (for civil rights?) and Barr wouldn't go along.

[dflprincess]

29. I just looked it up and that is correct

Along with the belief it was too early to make any promises about future charges. At the point this came up the state's case and charges hadn't been determined.

[uponit7771]

33. +1, I asked about this the other day. Why can't Chauvin beg for his life and not send everyone

... through this shit

[earthside]

11. Defense is terrible ... because they got nothing.

The Chauvin defense has got nothing.

Attorney Nelson is putting thoughts into Chauvin's mind, there was no testimony or evidence to 90% of what he is arguing. Chauvin should have testified if this was going to be the defense's approach; Nelson is asserting what Chauvin thought was "reasonable", but there isn't any testimony that backs that up.

Indeed, it is almost as if Nelson is making the case to convict Chauvin -- every time he plays a video excerpt it makes the whole situation look like cops out of control.

Of course, this is America so Chauvin might walk -- but I think this is a pretty open-and-shut case. I am expecting a guilty verdict late tomorrow or Wednesday.

[wryter2000]

25. IMHO, he couldn't have Chauvin testify

He would have been crucified under cross examination.

I expect guilty for the lowest charge, manslaughter. That will not be a good outcome.

[earthside]

30. Very true.

Which is why the defense attorney is being disingenuous in his argument.

[Jim__]

12. The witnesses did not have the right perspective.

May be true. But the bystanders he's calling out all perceived that Chauvin was killing Floyd. They were all right in that perception.

[kimbutgar]

16. His defense is the people who saw Chavin kill George Floyd to not believe what they see with their

Lying eyes. He uses this perception bs. I had to turn it off because I felt my blood pressure rising.

[Luciferous]

18. This blaming the crowd shit is ridiculous. Of course they were upset, they were watching a

man being murdered in the street and couldn't do anything about it.

[wryter2000]

26. He has tried to paint them to be a mob

He actually said they interfered with Chauvin's care of Floyd. Lord, please spare me from that kind of "care."

[Luciferous]

34. Right?! There was no care being provided. Absolutely ridiculous.

[StarfishSaver]

27. If Chauvin thought the crowd presented any threat, he could have immediately removed that threat

by removing his knee from George Floyd's neck.

[Luciferous]

32. Exactly

[SheltieLover]

28. incompetent legal defense on appeal?

Other than that, defense has NOTHING. This murderer's behavior is indefensible!

[wryter2000]

31. Paul Butler agrees with me

Just now on MSNBC. He calls it an "epic fail." Rambling and incoherent.

[Lettuce Be]

35. Nothing that happened that day was "reasonable." The jury should be out less than one day

There never was any defense. This was murder. Chauvin knew what he was doing and continued because he wanted to kill that day, and not just anyone but someone he knew.