Thread by @PaulBlume_FOX9

CLOSING ARGUMENTS: Judge Cahill on the bench, instructing jurors right now. Closing arguments coming up shortly. Prosecutor Steve Schleicher will be up first. Followed by defense attorney Eric Nelson. Then prosecutor Jerry Blackwell will deliver state rebuttal. #DerekChauvinTrial

SUPERSEDING CAUSE: Judge Cahill instructing the jury on a potential superseding cause of death. "Defendant is not criminally liable if a superseding cause caused the death."

Prosecutor Steve Schleicher began his closing argument at 9:30am CT. He begins with a biography of #GeorgeFloyd. "His name is George Perry Floyd, Jr.. he died face down on the pavement.. a knee to the neck for nine minutes and 29 seconds." #DerekChauvinTrial

AUTHORIZED USE OF FORCE: Judge Peter Cahill instructing the jury, "the defendant is not guilty of a crime if he used force as authorized by law." #GeorgeFloyd #DerekChauvinTrial

Prosecutor Steve Schleicher while displaying the death certificate on courtroom video monitors, "what the defendant did to #GeorgeFloyd killed him. It was ruled a homicide." #DerekChauvinTrial

Steve Schleicher tells jury they have to set aside any biases that the police would ever hurt or kill someone. He explains policing is a noble career. Schleicher tells jurors, the case is "State of Minnesota versus #DerekChauvin.. It is not State of Minnesota vs. the police."

Schleicher: "This was not policing.. he did it on purpose.. this was not an accident. He did what he did on purpose and it killed #GeorgeFloyd.. He betrayed the badge and all it stood for. This is not an anti-police prosecution." #DerekChauvinTrial

Prosecutor Steve Schleicher: "#GeorgeFloyd is not on trial here." Schleicher asks the jury rhetorically about so-called non compliance. Displays this screenshot of a scared George Floyd as officer Thomas Lane holds a gun inches away. #DerekChauvinTrial

"HE WOULD NOT GET UP. HE WOULD NOT LET UP:" Prosecutor Steve Schleicher argues the defendant had to know what was right beneath him, an unresponsive & pulse-less #GeorgeFloyd. #DerekChauvinTrial

"WE TRUST THE POLICE:" During closing arguments, Steve Schleicher tells jury they have to set aside any biases that law enforcement isn't capable of hurting someone, "We believe the police are going to respond to our call for help, we believe they're going to listen to us."

Prosecutor Steve Schleicher is about 44 minutes into his closing argument. He just addressed the issue of "proof beyond a reasonable doubt" with this jury. Schleicher says, "believe your eyes" in this case. #DerekChauvinTrial #GeorgeFloyd

"COMPLETELY UNNECESSARY:" Prosecutor Steve Schleicher tells the jury, "this is where the excessive force begins" when they proned #GeorgeFloyd face down, handcuffed on the street. #DerekChauvinTrial

"IS THAT COMMON SENSE OR NONSENSE?" Prosecutor Steve Schleicher tells the jury during closing arguments, "You're not required to accept the proposition that the car did it, that the car killed #GeorgeFloyd." #DerekChauvinTrial

Schleicher just hit the 1-hour mark for his closing argument. Watch here as the prosecutor asks, "where did the critical thinking model go" for #DerekChauvin & the other officers as they arrested #GeorgeFloyd outside Cup Foods?

Schleicher using video clips from scene to demonstrate alleged crimes. Schleicher argues Chauvin could have listened to bystanders who were trying to help #GeorgeFloyd or he could have listened to fellow officers, playing body cam of Lane asking if they should roll Floyd on side.

"HE KNEW BETTER. HE DIDN'T DO BETTER:" Prosecutor Steve Schleicher tells jury, "in your custody means in your care." Blames #DerekChauvin for not providing CPR, medical assistance to #GeorgeFloyd. Schleicher just hit the 90-minute mark of his closing argument. #DerekChauvinTrial

Feels like Schleicher is wrapping up his closing argument. Argues #DerekChauvin use of force was excessive. Says #GeorgeFloyd died surrounded by strangers, but Schleicher says you can't say those strangers "didn't care... they bore witness.. tried to help."

Prosecutor Steve Schleicher closing argument ran 103 minutes. His final comment to the jury: "This wasn't policing, this was murder. " #DerekChauvinTrial #GeorgeFloyd

MUST WATCH: Prosecutor Steve Schleicher wrapping up his closing arguments a short time ago, "This case is exactly what you thought.. when you saw that video.. you can believe your eyes.. This wasn't policing, this was murder." #DerekChauvinTrial #GeorgeFloyd

#DerekChauvin defense attorney Eric Nelson began his closing argument at 11:36am CT. He thanked jury for their service & sacrifice, and then preemptively apologized for being "long winded," explaining he only gets one chance at this while the state gets a rebuttal. #GeorgeFloyd

NO MASK: #DerekChauvin is watching & listening to his attorney's closing argument without a mask. He is not taking notes.

Court pool reporters tell us both family supporter seats are occupied. Unidentified woman for #DerekChauvin. Brother Philonise Floyd on behalf of #GeorgeFloyd family. At lunch break, Rev Al Sharpton is hosting another prayer for Floyd & #DaunteWright families outside courthouse.

Defense attorney Eric Nelson tells jury, the state has focused on nine minutes & 29 seconds. He wants jurors to put the "totality of the circumstances" into context of what a reasonable officer would know & do from the start, based on all info & observations of #DerekChauvin.

"JUST LIKE LIFE, THINGS CHANGE": Defense attorney Eric Nelson describing the situation outside Cup Foods as "dynamic.. it's fluid." Nelson is about a half-hour into his closing argument. #GeorgeFloyd #DerekChauvinTrial

Eric Nelson asking jury how a reasonable officer in Chauvin's position would assess the situation? Two rookie cops struggling w/ a subject who appears under the influence, observing active resistance, maybe active aggression.. Nelson displays MPD use of force options available.

Eric Nelson is now getting into the 9:29 of the restraint itself. He says it's not a fair analysis to boil down case analysis to the "9:29, the 9:29, 9:29.." Nelson says a reasonable officer is assessing the entirety of the situation based on the previous 16 minutes & 59 seconds.

MUST WATCH: #DerekChauvin defense attorney Eric Nelson: "A reasonable police officer would understand this situation, that Mr. Floyd was able to overcome the efforts of 3 police officers while handcuffed with his legs & his body strength." #GeorgeFloyd #DerekChauvinTrial

Eric Nelson has just hit the 65-minute mark for his closing argument. Watch Nelson tell this jury that "human behavior is unpredictable.. and nobody knows it better than a police officer." #DerekChauvinTrial #GeorgeFloyd

PERSPECTIVE VS PERCEPTION: #DerekChauvin defense attorney Eric Nelson explaining difference b/w perspective & perception. This is where Nelson points out 3 trial participants all went to same HS -- Nelson, MPD Chief Arradondo & Darnella Frazier, who filmed the deadly arrest.

Nelson told jury 3 critical things happened during deadly #GeorgeFloyd arrest at exact same time, influencing outcome. At 8:25:16, Floyd took his final breath. But Nelson says at that moment, Chauvin pulls out mace to deal w/ crowd & Genevieve Hansen walks into scene from behind.

8:25:16 - Defense Attorney Eric Nelson contends 3 critical things happen at that moment including #GeorgeFloyd taking his final breath & officer #DerekChauvin pulling out his mace to threaten the crowd. "And that changed officer Chauvin's perception of what was happening."

Defense Attorney Eric Nelson apologized again for being long winded, explains he has a lot to get to including "intent" and "cause of death." Worth noting here, Nelson has been speaking for 1-hour & 45 minutes already. More than prosecutor Steve Schleicher did for state closing.

"IT'S TRAGIC." Eric Nelson's closing argument has just hit the 2-hour mark. Here Nelson telling the jury, "these are officers doing their job in a highly stressful situation..." #DerekChauvinTrial #GeorgeFloyd @FOX9

Nelson now over 2 hours & 22 minutes for his closing argument. Tells jury, it's time to talk about the toxicology in the case. Nelson says he is "not suggesting this is an overdose death," but it's part of a "multi functional" situation related to #GeorgeFloyd cause of death.

RIGHT NOW: Judge Cahill has just cut off defense attorney Eric Nelson in the middle of his closing argument, in order to give the jury a 30-minute lunch break. By my stop watch, Nelson had spoken for more than 2 hours and 33 minutes. #DerekChauvinTrial #GeorgeFloyd

OUTSIDE THE COURTHOUSE: Spotted Rev Jesse Jackson arriving for a public prayer & media briefing w/ Rev Al Sharpton & families of #GeorgeFloyd and #DaunteWright

"I DON'T WANT TO INTERRUPT YOUR ARGUMENT:" Watch Judge cut off defense atty Eric Nelson to get the jury a lunch break. I spoke directly with our courtroom pool reporter. She reports some fidgeting & tune out from jurors, but "nothing over the top" during Nelson's 2+ hour close.

Nelson insists body cam footage shows #Mpls police squad car was on & running at time of deadly arrest. Claims Thomas Lane never touched keys after arriving. Whether the vehicle was running has become as issue, related to possible CO poisoning where Floyd was pinned near tailpipe

Eric Nelson has just wrapped up his closing argument at 3:00pm CT. By by stopwatch, I calculated a 2-hour, 45-minute closing argument. Jury has been sent out of the courtroom. Prosecutors have an issue they want to address about something Nelson said falsely during his arguments.

OTHER CONTRIBUTING FACTORS? Defense attorney Eric Nelson asks the court, "did Mr. Floyd die exclusively of asphyxia.. or were there other contributing factors that were not the natural result of Mr. Chauvin's acts?" Prosecutor Jerry Blackwell now up delivering state rebuttal.

Prosecutor Jerry Blackwell begins his rebuttal talking about the 46th witness in the case. 45 physically testified during #DerekChauvinTrial. The 46th is "common sense," says Blackwell who quickly casts aside any doubt about excited delirium. #GeorgeFloyd

Blackwell w/ a mic drop moment at end of his rebuttal. Paraphrasing here: this case isn't about #GeorgeFloyd having an enlarged, or too big of a heart, it's about the defendant, Mr. Chauvin having a heart that was "too small." Judge Cahill reading final instructions to jury now.

Judge Cahill just showed verdict forms to jury. They will soon begin deliberating. Cahill says eventual verdict will be read at a time TBD by the court. We've been told, court administration does NOT want a verdict read in evening hours out of concern of civil unrest. @FOX9

And Judge Cahill just made it official, dismissing Jurors #96 & 118, the last 2 jurors selected. They are the alternates - two white women, one in their 20s, the other in her 50s. #DerekChauvinTrial #GeorgeFloyd

Final jury:
#2: white male; 20s
#9: multi-race woman; 20s
#19: white male; 30s
#27: black male; 30s
#44: white woman; 50s
#52: black male; 30s
#55: white woman; 50s
#79: black male; 40s
#85: multi-race woman; 40s
#89: white woman; 50s
#91: black woman; 60s
#92: white woman; 40s