George Floyd’s brother to be in courtroom for Chauvin verdict: report

Philonise Floyd, the brother of George Floyd, will be present in the courtroom when the verdict is read in the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who is charged with the murder of Floyd, according to CNN.

CNN also reported that Floyd was not initially told that a verdict had been reached on Tuesday afternoon. Reporter Sara Sidner tweeted that she “felt bad for being the [one] to tell him.”

During a conversation shortly before the verdict was scheduled to be announced, Floyd reportedly told Sidner: “It’s gonna be alright”

Sidner said he added, “It’s a historic case for America but a deeply personal case for us.”

#Verdict reached. I spoke w #GeorgeFloyd’s brother Philonise. He hadn’t heard a verdict was reached in #DerekChauvintrial. I felt bad for being the 1 to tell him. You know what he said? “It’s gonna be alright.” “It’s a historic case for America but a deeply personal case for us”

— Sara Sidner (@sarasidnerCNN) April 20, 2021

The verdict is expected to be read between 4:30 pm and 5 p.m. EDT on Tuesday. According to The Associated Press, Chauvin has returned to the courthouse to hear the verdict in the trial.

The jury began deliberations Monday afternoon following closing arguments in the high-profile case, and began again Tuesday morning.

Chauvin, who was captured on video footage kneeling on George Floyd’s neck for more than nine minutes, faces three criminal counts: Second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.

Floyd’s death prompted mass protests throughout the U.S. over police brutality and the treatment of Black Americans last summer.

The Hennepin County medical examiner ruled Floyd’s death a homicide, but throughout the trial the defense has argued that Floyd’s drug use and underlying medical conditions contributed to his death.