Derek Chauvin won’t be testifying in his own defense. This morning he invoked his 5th amendment. It was the first time he spoke in the courtroom. This was in no way a surprise, most legal analysts predicted he would not take the stand. The AP reports:
The risks were high: Testifying could have opened him up to devastating cross-examination, with prosecutors replaying the video of the arrest and forcing Chauvin to explain, one frame at a time, why he kept pressing down on Floyd.
WATCH: Derek Chauvin tells the court he will invoke his 5th Amendment right against self-incrimination, and not take the stand in his own defense. The defense rests. | LIVE: https://t.co/nHYrdo9ksK | UPDATES: https://t.co/1L54YofXh3 pic.twitter.com/OwWCi20nRD
— WCCO | CBS News Minnesota (@WCCO) April 15, 2021
This came shortly before the defense rested their case after calling just a handful of witnesses. NBC News reports:
Chauvin’s lawyer, Eric Nelson, has tried to prove Floyd died of illegal drug use and underlying health conditions. He has said Chauvin, a 19-year veteran of the Minneapolis Police Department, did what he was trained to do.
What we've all witnessed throughout the trial thus far confirmed what we saw in the video. Derek Chauvin murdered George Floyd. As we turn to closing arguments on Monday, the nation waits on justice.
— Derrick Johnson (@DerrickNAACP) April 15, 2021
Jurors will reportedly be sequestered during deliberations.
WATCH: Defense rests in Derek Chauvin trial and the judge sends the jury home for the weekend, after Chauvin decides not to take the stand. #MTPDaily
“You saw a very busy day in court today,” @ShaqBrewster reports. “Big headlines flew in very quickly.” pic.twitter.com/Fp5yDor6Ug— Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) April 15, 2021
