Minneapolis City Council will pay George Floyd’s family $ 27 million (£ 19.4 million) to settle a civil lawsuit over his murder in police custody.
The settlement includes $ 500,000 for his neighborhood Mr. Floyd Council said.
The Floyd family filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the city in July, along with lawsuits against police officer Derek Chauvin and three others who were fired and charged with a criminal offense over his death.
Civil conflict separate from Criminal trial is underwayThe jury is chosen and Chauvin is accused of third and second degree murder, as well as manslaughter.
Former police officer Derek Chauvin is charged with several counts related to the death of George Floyd
In a press briefing in Minneapolis on Friday, the family’s lawyer, Ben Crump, described his death on May 25 last year as “a watershed moment for America” and the civil judgment as “historic and significant.”
Mr. Crump thanked the mayor and city councilor for “responsible leadership” and said that “history will judge them” based on their actions.
“George Floyd and I are very grateful to Mayor Fry and City Council not only for saying you care about George Floyd, but for showing you care about George Floyd,” he said.
“They showed that the life of George Floyd and the lives of blacks mattered.”
He also urged the demonstrators to remain calm and non-violent as the trial begins.
Mr. Chauvin, who was white, pressed his knee to the back of Mr. Floyd’s neck for more than eight minutes, causing him to scream “I can’t breathe, I can’t breathe” before announcing his death.
The civil case alleged that Chauvin and the three other officers violated Mr. Floyd’s rights when they restrained him, and that the city allowed a culture of excessive force, racism and impunity to flourish in the police force.
In the criminal case, prosecutors succeeded in bringing the charge of third-degree premeditated murder, despite attempts to overturn it.
Please use Chrome Browser for easy-to-access video player
Grade 3 killing is less serious than second degree murder and is described as unintentional and unintentional homicide – while Grade 2 killing can be intentional or unintentional.
Although second-degree murder may take longer in prison if Chauvin is found guilty, legal experts say that a third-degree premeditated murder charge will increase the chances of a homicide conviction because the burden of proof is lower.
To win a third-degree murder conviction, prosecutors will only have to show that Mr. Floyd’s death resulted from a clearly dangerous act, though not necessarily a felony. The maximum sentence may be up to 25 years.
Chauvin’s trial begins on Monday.