Comments by "Michele Long" (@michelelong3205) on "What do you think were the strongest points of the prosecution's case? | COURT TV" video.

  1. Yeah. I think that was a mistake on the defense's part. No human can watch that video and not be effected by it.
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  2. IMO, Eric Nelson is a brilliant attorney and interesting to watch.
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  3. I believe in the American jury system, too. However, I feel those jurors should've been sequestered from the start. There was overwhelming media coverage of this case and I feel it was very probable that one or more were exposed to it. They might say they could still be objective and disregard all the chatter, but it's human nature to hold that in the back of our minds. The very fact that the civil settlement was reached and for such an exuberant amount BEFORE jurors had even been seated was preposterous alone. Darnella Frasier's YouTube video is very hard to watch. The first time I watched it I was appalled and angry, but like the rest of the world I did not know all the facts at the time. I prayed that a reasonable explanation would be forthcoming. I watched every moment of this trial LIVE, including the 3 weeks of juror selection with the presumption of innocense just as the jurors were instructed to do. After hearing all the testimony, I believe that murder is a stretch. I think public protests demanded the highest charge and the jury felt that pressure. Derek Chauvin is guilty of not rendering aid after George Floyd was nonresponsive. I believe he is guilty of 2nd degree manslaughter. I pray Judge Cahill does not give him the maximum sentence of all three charges he was found guilty of. I am also prayerful that police departments across our country will reexamine their training tactics on use of force, but just as importantly, their policies and procedures on handling suspects who are exhibiting a mental health crisis. I also believe that initially this was not a case about race, but in the aftermath became a catapult to voice the issue of racial injustice in our country. It is most certainly a conversation for change that needs to be had. I don't believe that racial profiling is a thing that the majority of law enforcement officers participate in and those that do are giving the rest a bad reputation. Our children should not grow up in fear of the police. They should be taught to obey the law and to comply when detained. LEOs put on that badge each day and leave their home and families knowing they may not come home. They are the first to be called when we the people cannot handle a situation on our own. They run toward danger and are willing to give their life for another. I am very concerned for the safety of our officers and the armchair judgments that every action they take in moments of crisis will be questioned and second-guessed. Are they accountable and held to a higher standard of behavior? Absolutely! But they are still human and subject to human error. I would not want to be an LEO in these times of unrest. Godspeed to all who continue to do it despite the negative image they've been given as a whole.
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