‘No family in history got this far’: George Floyd’s family reacts as Chauvin led out of court in handcuffs

In this image from video, former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin, center, is taken into custody as his attorney, Eric Nelson, left, looks on, after the verdicts were read at Chauvin’s trial for the 2020 death of George Floyd, Tuesday, April 20, 2021, at the Hennepin County Courthouse in Minneapolis, Minn.

(Court TV via AP, Pool))

George Floyd’s family reacted emotionally to the three guilty verdicts handed to former police office Derek Chauvin, who was led out of court in handcuffs.

Mr Floyd’s brother, Rodney, said he had tears in his eyes as the jury returned its verdict in the murder trial and he saw Chauvin sent to prison.

“I mean, I’m feeling tears of joy, so emotional that no family in history ever got this far,” said Mr Floyd to MSNBC.

“You know, to get a guilty charge on all accounts, we got a chance to go to trial and he took it all away. So this right here is for everyone that’s been in this situation, everybody. Everybody.

“We are here. We stand in a unit. Thank you to Rev Al Sharpton for being with us from the very first day until the last. I know we’re not done yet.”

Rodney Floyd, George Floyd's brother, reacts to verdict: "No family in history ever got this far. We were able to get a guilty charge on all counts. We got a chance to go to trial and we took it all the way. This right here is for everyone that's been in this situation." pic.twitter.com/CmoB8UkW8z

— MSNBC (@MSNBC) April 20, 2021

Mr Floyd’s family watched the results come in together with their legal team, and punched the air and shouted in celebration when the verdict was read.

Mr Floyd’s brother, Philonise, fought back tears as he spoke of his relief at the verdict.

“I feel relieved today I finally have the opportunity for hopefully getting some sleep. Today we are able to breathe again,” he said.

“Today you have the cameras all around the world to see and show what happened to my brother. The world saw his life being extinguished and I could do nothing but watch, especially in that courtroom, over and over again as my brother was murdered.”

And he added: “I’m not just fighting for George any more, I’m fighting for everyone,”

Chauvin, 45, showed no emotion as he was found guilty of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.

The former police officer nodded towards the judge as his bail was revoked and he was handcuffed by law enforcement officers and walked out of the court room to be returned to prison.

Chauvin could face up to 40 years in prison for second-degree murder.

The Floyd family’s lawyer, Ben Crump, took to Twitter to welcome the verdicts.

“GUILTY! Painfully earned justice has finally arrived for George Floyd’s family,” tweeted Mr Crump.

“This verdict is a turning point in history and sends a clear message on the need for accountability of law enforcement. Justice for Black America is justice for all of America!”

Mr Floyd’s killing on a Minneapolis street last May, which was captured on video by bystanders and went viral, sparked weeks of racial justice protests across the United States.

The jury, of which six are white, four are Black and two are multiracial, deliberated for more than 10 hours on Monday and Tuesday before coming to their verdict.

Two of the jurors were in their 20s, three were in their 30s, 40s and 50s and one juror was in her 60s.

Chauvin will be sentenced in eight weeks.

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