Fox News host Judge Jeanine Pirro praised the jury’s decision to convict former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin of murdering George Floyd.
The judge acknowledged that the verdict was based heavily on emotion, but argued that the “facts” supported the verdict, too. She also emphasized that the “American justice system works” and rioting for “justice” is not the answer.
“Clearly, the verdict is supported by the facts,” Pirro said on “The Five” (video below). “This case was extremely unusual. I’ve tried many murder cases and I’ve sat as a judge on murder cases. It is rare that you even get a picture of the victim in a murder case, other than maybe an autopsy photo. But, here, we had a living, breathing person that the jury was able to relate to every day, day after day, watching trauma of what he went through, begging for air, begging to breathe.”
“This was an emotional as well as an intellectual decision — and when I say that, make no mistake, the facts are solid on this verdict, this verdict will be held on appeal,” she said.
“But, right now, what people need to understand is that the American justice system works; it works, that people believe in Lady Justice, that if we give it a chance, it can work. And for all those people who want to burn down streets, just let the court do its job and it will survive,” Pirro concluded.
A jury on Tuesday found Chauvin guilty of all three charges he was facing: second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter in relation to the death of Floyd.
On May 25, Chauvin and three other officers arrested and detained Floyd after he allegedly used counterfeit money at a convenience store. Following a struggle to get Floyd into the back of a police cruiser, viral video shows that Chauvin knelt on Floyd’s neck and back for nearly nine minutes to detain Floyd while awaiting paramedics.
Chauvin’s attorney Eric Nelson argued during the trial that Floyd’s drug use and bad heart were crucial factors in his death and that Chauvin used reasonable force through an authorized prone hold. The Hennepin County medical examiner revealed that Floyd’s autopsy showed the deceased had potentially lethal levels of drugs in his system.
Nelson on Monday unsuccessfully asked Judge Peter Cahill for a mistrial. But during his discussion with the judge, Nelson referenced recent comments made by Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) that seemingly encouraged violence if Chauvin is not convicted. With regard to a mistrial, Judge Cahill dismissed the argument from the defense attorney, but he did blast the congresswoman and told Nelson she could have given him a lane for an appeal.
It’s expected that Chauvin’s defense team will appeal the verdict.
WATCH:
Judge Jeanine Pirro (yes, that Jeanine Pirro): "Clearly the verdict is supported by the facts… make no mistake, the facts are solid on this verdict, this verdict will be held on appeal." pic.twitter.com/AvaKMZxShH
— Justin Baragona (@justinbaragona) April 20, 2021
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