VOA慢速英语--美国陪审团听取弗洛伊德谋杀案庭审的结案陈词

US Jury Hears Closing Arguments of Floyd Murder Trial

The murder trial of a former police officer charged with George Floyd's death now rests with 12 jurors in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Steve Schleicher, a government lawyer asked the jurors to "believe your eyes" and to find former police officer Derek Chauvin guilty of the charges. He said, "This case is exactly what you thought when you saw it first, when you saw that video."

The government opened the trial showing video of Chauvin, a white man, with his knee on Floyd's neck for nine minutes and 29 seconds. In the video, Floyd, a Black man, could be heard repeatedly saying, "I can't breathe..."

"He did what he did on purpose, and it killed George Floyd," Schleicher told the jurors. "And the state does not need to prove its case beyond all doubt. It does not need to prove its case beyond what I call an unreasonable¹ doubt."

Eric Nelson was the defense² lawyer for Chauvin. He reminded jurors that the former police officer should have a "presumption³ of innocence⁴." That means jurors should not judge the case before they have heard all the evidence.

Nelson asked the jurors to consider the 17 minutes that came before the nine minutes and 29 seconds they saw on the video. He said the officer was answering an emergency call about a male suspect who used fake money and appeared to be "under the influence," in other words, using drugs. He said Chauvin arrived when Floyd was "actively⁵ resisting" other officers.

He played the video from the body camera of an officer showing the struggle. He said, "Three Minneapolis police officers were not able to get Mr. Floyd into the car." He asked the jurors to consider "what a reasonable officer would do." As for the use of force, placing a knee on the neck of a suspect, Nelson said, "All of the evidence shows that Mr. Chauvin thought he was following his training...He was following Minneapolis police department policies. He was trained this way."

Awaiting verdict

The government lawyers asked the jurors to find Chauvin guilty of one of three charges: second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.

Second-degree murder carries up to 40 years in prison, third-degree murder 25 years, and second-degree manslaughter 10 years. But a person could receive 12 years and six months in prison if found guilty of the murder charges.

Chauvin has pleaded not guilty to all charges. He chose not to give evidence at his trial.

Outside the courthouse, law enforcement officers and armed National Guard members stood watch on streets around Minneapolis. The soldiers were there because officials feared a repeat of last year's riots leading to burned buildings and stealing from businesses.

Just last week, another police officer was charged with the shooting and killing⁶ of Daunte Wright in Brooklyn Center, outside of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Wright, a 20-year-old Black man, was shot during a traffic stop. A police official said the officer mistakenly shot Wright and had meant to use a Taser against him. The incident led to several days of protests and riots in the area.

Across the U.S., people are closely watching the trial.

Speaking to reporters from the White House, Press Secretary Jen Psaki said the Biden administration is talking with local officials, mayors and governors. She said the aim is "to ensure there is a space for peaceful protest" in Minneapolis and other communities after a verdict.

The social media website Facebook said it would "limit content that could lead to civil unrest or violence. This includes identifying and removing calls to bring arms to areas in Minneapolis, which we have temporarily deemed to be a high-risk location."

Words in This Story

fake –n. meant to look real but not real or genuine

Taser –n. a weapon designed to give non-deadly electroshock to make a person unable to fight or move

1 unreasonable   

adj.不讲道理的，不合情理的，过度的

参考例句：

• I know that they made the most unreasonable demands on you.我知道他们对你提出了最不合理的要求。
• They spend an unreasonable amount of money on clothes.他们花在衣服上的钱太多了。

2 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

3 presumption   

n.推测，可能性，冒昧，放肆，[法律]推定

参考例句：

• Please pardon my presumption in writing to you.请原谅我很冒昧地写信给你。
• I don't think that's a false presumption.我认为那并不是错误的推测。

4 innocence   

n.无罪；天真；无害

参考例句：

• There was a touching air of innocence about the boy.这个男孩有一种令人感动的天真神情。
• The accused man proved his innocence of the crime.被告人经证实无罪。

5 actively   

adv.积极地，勤奋地

参考例句：

• During this period all the students were actively participating.在这节课中所有的学生都积极参加。
• We are actively intervening to settle a quarrel.我们正在积极调解争执。

6 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。