‘I felt bad for being the one to tell him’: George Floyd’s family learn verdict was in from CNN

Mr Floyd’s brother, Philonise, said ‘It’s gonna be alright’ after told jury had reached decision

George Floyd’s family learned that the jury had reached their verdict in the Derek Chauvin murder trial from CNN.

Mr Floyd’s brother, Philonise, found out that a verdict was in on Tuesday afternoon in a phone call from CNN reporter Sara Sidner, she said on Twitter.

“Verdict reached. I spoke with George Floyd’s brother Philonise. He hadn’t heard a verdict was reached in the Derek Chauvin trial. I felt bad for being the 1 to tell him,” she tweeted.

“You know what he said? ‘It’s gonna be alright. It’s a historic case for America but a deeply personal case for us.’”

A jury later on Tuesday found Chauvin, 45, guilty of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. Chauvin was led from the courtroom in handcuffs.

Ahead of the verdict being read, Mr Floyd told Sidner that he hoped the verdict would help him finally get some rest.

“I have not ben able to sleep through much of this, maybe hearing this verdict will finally help me get some sleep,” he told her.

After being convicted, Chauvin could face up to 40 years in prison for second-degree murder, up to 25 years for third-degree murder, and up to 10 years for second-degree manslaughter.

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 was handed the case after closing arguments by the prosecution and Mr Chauvin’s defence attorney on Monday.

The jury, of which six are white, four are Black and two are multiracial, deliberated for around four hours on Monday before being sent home, and began their work again on Tuesday morning.

They deliberated for around 11 hours before telling the court they were ready to return their verdict.

Two of the jurors are in their 20s, three each are in their 30s, 40s and 50s and one juror is in her 60s.