Subscribe Login
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup 2022
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obituaries
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup 2022
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obituaries
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
  • Home
  • News
    • International News
  • Latest
  • Business
  • Cartoon
  • Games
  • Food Awards
  • Health
  • Entertainment
    • Bookends
  • Regional
  • Sports
    • Sports
    • World Cup
    • World Champs
    • Olympics
  • All Woman
  • Career & Education
  • Environment
  • Webinars
  • More
    • Football
    • Elections
    • Letters
    • Advertorial
    • Columns
    • Editorial
    • Supplements
  • Epaper
  • Classifieds
  • Design Week
Chauvin juror says guilty verdicts could have come quicker
In this image from video provided by ABC News/Good Morning America, Brandon Mitchell, a juror who cast one of the unanimous votes to convict a white former Minneapolis police officer of killing George Floyd shared his experiences of being on the jury during the trial and deliberations on Wednesday, April 28, 2021.
Latest News
April 27, 2021

Chauvin juror says guilty verdicts could have come quicker

MINNEAPOLIS, United States (AP) — A juror who cast one of the unanimous votes to convict a white former Minneapolis police officer of killing George Floyd said deliberations were primarily spent trying to convince one person who was uncertain about part of the jury instructions.

Brandon Mitchell is the first juror that deliberated in Derek Chauvin’s trial to talk publicly about his experience. An alternate juror who was dismissed before deliberations, Lisa Christensen, spoke to reporters last week, saying she would have voted to convict Chauvin.

“I felt like it should have been 20 minutes,” Mitchell, 31, said of the deliberations, which led to Chauvin’s conviction April 20 on all counts: second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.

Mitchell, who is Black, told ABC’s “Good Morning America” on Wednesday that much of the time in deliberations was spent going over terminology and “making sure we understood what exactly was being asked.” The identities of jurors and alternates are protected under a judge’s order.

“I think the one juror that was kind of — I wouldn’t say slowing us down — but was being delicate with the process, more so, was just kind of hung up with a few words in the instructions. They wanted to make sure they got it right,” Mitchell said.

Mitchell, who first shared his story with gospel artist Erica Campbell on her podcast, wrote in his jury questionnaire he wanted to serve as a juror “because of all the protests and everything that happened after the event. This is the most historic case of my lifetime, and I would love to be a part of it.”

Mitchell speculated that he was picked for the jury because he was mild mannered. He said the images during the trial troubled him.

“It was just dark. It felt like every day was a funeral and watching someone die every day,” Mitchell told CNN. “It was tense every day. I wasn’t nervous, but it was stressful. It was a lot of pressure.”

Prosecutors said Chauvin pinned Floyd, a Black man, to the pavement outside Cup Foods in Minneapolis for 9 minutes, 29 seconds on May 25. Floyd had been accused of passing a counterfeit $20 bill at the store. Three other officers, since fired, face trial in August.

Prosecutors played a wide range of videos for the jury, including teenager Darnella Frazier’s bystander video that was seen worldwide in the hours after Floyd’s death. That video and the officers’ body camera video captured bystanders shouting at Chauvin and the other officers to get off Floyd, warning that they were cutting off his breathing and asking them to check for a pulse.

Mitchell told “Good Morning America” that he didn’t think the jury was affected by tensions in Minneapolis or concerns about what effect their verdicts would have. Floyd’s death triggered worldwide protests, violence at times and a furious reexamination of racism and policing in the US.

“We weren’t watching the news, so we don’t know what was going on. We were really just locked in on the case. There was so much stress coming through the case. Those things are so secondary because you’re literally, throughout the trial you’re watching someone die on a daily basis. That stress alone is enough to take your mind away from whatever’s going on outside of the four walls of the courtroom,” he said.

Mitchell also said he thought Chauvin hurt himself by choosing not to testify.

“It probably was to his detriment that he didn’t take the stand because people were curious on what his thoughts were throughout the entire incident,” he said.

In the wake of the attention and weighty deliberations, Mitchell said he has been decompressing.

“I’m starting to feel like the weight is lifted off my shoulders now,” Mitchell told Campbell.

Mitchell also said he doesn’t worry about his safety for breaking his silence.

“I’m a person that kind of thrives in the positives. So I’m not too much concerned about that. Nor do I dwell on negativity,” he told “CBS This Morning.”

{"website":"website"}{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
img img
0 Comments · Make a comment

ALSO ON JAMAICA OBSERVER

Jamaica stun Puerto Rico 92-90
Latest News, Sports
Jamaica stun Puerto Rico 92-90
November 28, 2025
Jamaica stunned Puerto Rico 92-90 as they kicked off their FIBA Basketball World Cup Americas Qualifiers on the back of 26 points and 15 rebounds from...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Butler gets red card as Manning Cup heats up
Latest News, Sports
Butler gets red card as Manning Cup heats up
November 28, 2025
KINGSTON, Jamaica — A fiery Craig Butler was red-carded on Friday after his team lost 0-1 to Eltham High in a heated game in which security had to ent...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Latest News
WATCH: BMW crashes into gully at Passagefort–Knutsford intersection in Portmore
November 28, 2025
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Police are now on the scene of a single-vehicle crash involving a black BMW sedan at the intersection of Passagefort and Knutsford...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Latest News
Market Bag: Scotch bonnet pepper surges to $3,000 per pound
November 28, 2025
KINGSTON, Jamaica — The price of scotch bonnet pepper continues to climb at the Coronation Market, with vendors selling the product for an eye-waterin...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Dr Reddy’s donates US$215,000 in medicines for hurricane recovery
Latest News
Dr Reddy’s donates US$215,000 in medicines for hurricane recovery
November 28, 2025
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Pharmaceutical company Dr Reddy’s Laboratory has donated essential medication valued at US$215,000 to bolster Jamaica’s ongoing re...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Bellefield councillor appeals to Windalco, Gov’t to assist in relocating Content residents
Latest News
Bellefield councillor appeals to Windalco, Gov’t to assist in relocating Content residents
November 28, 2025
MANCHESTER, Jamaica — Councillor Mario Mitchell (People’s National Party, Bellefield Division) says he has formally written to UC Rusal Alumina Jamaic...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
‘Tormenting’: Relatives search through images of the dead after Hong Kong blaze
International News, Latest News
‘Tormenting’: Relatives search through images of the dead after Hong Kong blaze
November 28, 2025
HONG KONG, China (AFP) — It has been two days since Fung lost contact with his mother-in-law, when the Hong Kong housing estate where the elderly woma...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
MLSS warns of fraudulent TikTok promoting fake Canadian farm work opportunities
Latest News, News
MLSS warns of fraudulent TikTok promoting fake Canadian farm work opportunities
November 28, 2025
KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MLSS) says it is alerting the public to the unauthorised and fraudulent use of the vid...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
❮ ❯

Polls

HOUSE RULES

  1. We welcome reader comments on the top stories of the day. Some comments may be republished on the website or in the newspaper; email addresses will not be published.
  2. Please understand that comments are moderated and it is not always possible to publish all that have been submitted. We will, however, try to publish comments that are representative of all received.
  3. We ask that comments are civil and free of libellous or hateful material. Also please stick to the topic under discussion.
  4. Please do not write in block capitals since this makes your comment hard to read.
  5. Please don't use the comments to advertise. However, our advertising department can be more than accommodating if emailed: advertising@jamaicaobserver.com.
  6. If readers wish to report offensive comments, suggest a correction or share a story then please email: community@jamaicaobserver.com.
  7. Lastly, read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy

Recent Posts

Archives

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Tweets

Polls

Recent Posts

Archives

Logo Jamaica Observer
Breaking news from the premier Jamaican newspaper, the Jamaica Observer. Follow Jamaican news online for free and stay informed on what's happening in the Caribbean
Featured Tags
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Health
  • Auto
  • Business
  • Letters
  • Page2
  • Football
Categories
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
Ads
img
Jamaica Observer, © All Rights Reserved
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • RSS Feeds
  • Feedback
  • Privacy Policy
  • Editorial Code of Conduct