With the air around Minnesota intensifying ahead of the verdict of the George Floyd murder trial, the defense attorney for Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer, delivered his closing arguments on Monday, asked the bench to “review the entirety of the evidence” and said the prosecutors had failed to prove their case.

“The state has failed to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt,” said Eric Nelson, the attorney for Derek Chauvin.

Nelson wrapped up his presentation by arguing that it is “nonsense” that other factors like Floyd’s drug use and a heart condition didn’t play “any role” in his death.

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“When you review the entirety of the evidence. When you review the law, as written and you conclude it all within this, all within a thorough and honest analysis. The state has failed to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt,” Nelson said. “Therefore, Mr Chauvin should be found not guilty of all counts.”

Chauvin, 45, is charged with murder and manslaughter over Floyd’s May 25, 2020 death, which sparked global protests against racial injustice and police brutality. 

Chauvin was captured on video kneeling on the neck of Floyd, who was pinned facedown handcuffed on the ground for more than nine minutes complaining “I can’t breathe.”

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However, Nelson told the jury they need to look at Chauvin’s actions “from the perspective of a reasonable police officer.”

“He did not purposefully use unlawful force. These are officers doing their job,” Nelson said. “You have to take into account that officers are human beings capable of making mistakes.”

He defended the actions of Chauvin and the other officers who held Floyd down on the ground.

“This was not a neck restraint. This was not a chokehold,” he said.

Chauvin, a 19-year veteran of the Minneapolis Police Department, faces a maximum of 40 years in prison if convicted of the most serious charge — second-degree murder.