As honest as I can be, watch the two body cam videos.
Floyd was combative, uncooperative and was acting/saying things that wasn't making sense - which we now know was the result of the drugs he had taken.
He was asked - "are you on something now?" - he answered no. At that point he could have said "I swallowed a bunch of drugs because I was afraid of getting caught". - Perhaps if he was honest and said that, he would have received medical care for that - and would be alive today.
When he was resisting going into the squad car, three police officers couldn't get him in the car. He was a big strong dude.
When they placed him on the ground, he kicked at the two officers... at that point... Chauvin pinned him to the ground.
Indeed, he said several times I can't breathe. But a person who can't breath, can't talk. He continued to talk, groan and shout out.
Plus you have to take into consideration - he was talking about dying, and breathing problems continuously BEFORE he was pinned.
All the officers wanted him to do was simply sit down in the squad car. That is all. And he wouldn't do it. He talked about dying, talked about not wanting to die today... BECAUSE HE KNEW HE TOOK THE HIGH DOSE... but throughout the whole time, he never mentions he did that.
It's not murder.
If by murder you mean
premeditated, I agree. I'm still not sure that he isn't guilty of negligent homicide, but then the latter also seems to go to inadequate training.
Negligent homicide seems a decent fit.
There is no reason why he kept him pinned down for 4-5 minutes after he was no longer resisting. To me, Chauvin was being a bit sadistic at that point. I don't think he thought for a moment he would die, but I wouldn't be surprised if he was rather enjoying what he was doing to him.
But, again, as far as Floyd's death - probably 80% fault is the lethal dose he took. And you cannot just discount that to fit a narrative you want. Which is what 80% of the folks in this thread are doing.
Comparing the legal definitions according to Minnesota law between Second-degree manslaughter (a.k.a. unintentional) and third-degree murder. Negligent homicide as you mentioned could fall back on insufficient training. Or, if it is revealed in the trial that Chauvin had sufficient training and his training did not include continuing to use a restraint maneuver beyond the point of any movement, words, or struggle, that’s going to fall back on him. Floyd’s criminal activity, including his resistance prior to being handcuffed and held down face first on the ground by three small cops, is on Floyd.
Chauvin’s overkill might not have happened had one of the other three cops intervened, particularly after there was no movement nor sound going on for several minutes. Chauvin has no business being a cop, but at this point I’m pretty sure that’s a non-issue. There are so many more good cops compared to cops like Chauvin who give the good ones a bad rap.
There is no doubt being a cop, most anywhere, is not an easy job...particularly in areas that have rough neighborhoods where crimes plays out by the hour. It takes a most unique individual to be a successful cop, particularly on the beat in crime-infested areas. I don’t envy a one of them, and have complete respect for all good cops.