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George Floyd family gets record $27 million settlement for lawsuit but where does Derek Chauvin's verdict stand?

Candace Owens recently called George Floyd a drug addict whose death happened from drug overdose and not police brutality

In a historic step, a record $27 million settlement has been approved by the Minneapolis City Council to George Floyd's family, marking the highest amount ever approved for settlement by the city. The settlement was unanimously agreed upon by the Council members for the civil lawsuit against Minneapolis city and four police officers involved with the wrongful death of George Floyd, reports ABC News.

George Floyd's brother Rodney Floyd referred to the settlement as "a necessary step for all of us to begin to get some closure." The Floyd family lawyer Ben Crump said in a statement, "That the largest pre-trial settlement in a wrongful death case ever would be for the life of a Black man sends a powerful message that Black lives do matter and police brutality against people of color must end."

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Will 'killer cop' Derek Chauvin be found 'not guilty'?

On May 25, 2020, former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin caused the death of 46-year-old George Floyd, by choking him under his knee. His death was deemed to be an instance of racial atrocity since Floyd was a Black man facing police brutality on trivial charges. A shocking video showed Chauvin, a white police officer, kneeling down inhumanly on Floyd's neck for over nine minutes, while he repeatedly gasped for help saying "I can't breathe."

The incident created an uproar across USA spurring the revolutionary Black Lives Matter movement. Millions took to the streets across the world demanding justice for George Floyd.

Meanwhile, the lead accused police officer Derek Chauvin faces an ongoing trial as Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill reinstated the third-degree murder charge against him. 

However, social media is abuzz with speculations that Chauvin stands ample chance of getting acquitted despite substantial evidence against him. After the settlement was announced, many questioned whether the step was a precursor to Chauvin's 'not guilty' verdict.

 "Does it seem odd to do this at the same time as the Derek Chauvin trial?? Is the city admitting guilt? Was Chauvin trained to restrain people on the neck? Do they expect he'll be found not guilty & they want only 1 round of riots?" a user asked on Twitter. 

Another tweeted, "#GeorgeFloyd $27million settlement. w/o admission of fault by Minneapolis PD). Not Guilty verdict next. At least one member of the guild is doing this jig right now. tax payer money WON’T STOP NEXT DEREK CHAUVIN!" A third user speculated, "Well, now we know they about find Derek Chauvin not guilty. "

What does the settlement signify?

The substantial settlement offered by the Minneapolis City Council to Floyd's family is being perceived by many as an unsaid 'admission of guilt' by the City. Nevertheless, they are still demanding justice for him through the conviction of arrested cop Derek Chauvin. 

"$27 MIL settlement for the family of #GeorgeFloyd. Admission of guilt. We need charges too," wrote a user. "Interesting. I think that assumes the guilt of Chauvin & the other officers for enabling his actions," believes another. "Chauvin has had jurors seated before the city announced a settlement for the family of George Floyd but before his trial began. Clear grounds for a mistrial," wrote another.

Post the settlement announcement, George Floyd's brothers and family lawyer Crump were spotted near 38th & Chicago, admittedly content with the settlement.  

"George’s legacy for those who loved him will always be his spirit of optimism that things can get better, and we hope this agreement does just that — that it makes things a little better in Minneapolis and holds up a light for communities around the country," his brother Rodney Floyd shared in a statement. His sister Bridgett Floyd shared how pleased she was "that this part of our tragic journey to justice for my brother George is resolved."

However, amid the increasing demands for #JusticeForGeorgeFloyd, there still appears to a section of people who believe Floyd did not die from police brutality, but succumbed to his own habit of drug overuse, as the autopsy indicated.

Conservative author Candace Owens tweeted, "George Floyd had multiple autopsies performed and they all concluded the same: he did not die from compression to his throat. He was a drug addict who had enough drugs in him to overdose. The facts are that Derek Chauvin did not cause his death." Her belief was reiterated by another user who wrote, "WHAT A S**T GEORGE FLOYD A LIFETIME FELON AND DRUG ABUSER FENTYNAL ENOUGH TO KILL 100 PEOPLE WAS GOING TO DIE ANYWAY."

"While hardworking Americans get $1,400 “crumbs,” Minneapolis is giving the Floyd family $27M for George Floyd doing drugs and breaking the law. Seems fair," another took a jibe at Joe Biden's stimulus checks.