Derek Chauvin, 45, has been convicted of murder for killing African American George Floyd by kneeling on his neck for more than nine minutes.
The former police officer’s crime prompted a wave of protests in support of racial justice and excessive use of force by police in the US and across the world.
Chauvin was found guilty on all the charges he faced: second-degree murder, third-degree murder and manslaughter.
They concluded that the white former officer killed the 46-year-old black man in May through a criminal assault by pinning him to the ground so he could not breathe properly.
The 12-member jury took less than a day to reach their verdict, which followed a highly-charged, three-week trial that left Minneapolis on edge.
His bail was immediately revoked and he was placed in custody. Sentencing is likely to happen in two months, and Chauvin could spend decades in jail.
Chauvin is expected to appeal against the verdict.
Three other officers are due to face trial later this year on aiding-and-abetting charges.
Several hundred people cheered outside the court as the verdict was announced.
The Floyd family’s lawyer, Ben Crump, said it marked a “turning point in history” for the US.
Image source: BBC News
