Former police officer Derek Chauvin accused of murdering George Floyd 'betrayed his badge'
Video report by ITV News US Correspondent Emma Murphy
The video of the death of George Floyd which shocked the world was shown at the opening of the trial of a former Minneapolis police officer who was accused of betraying his badge.
The video of Derek Chauvin pressing his knee on Mr Floyd's neck for several minutes as onlookers yelled at him repeatedly to get off was shown as part of the opening arguments of the prosecution in the case.
The death of Mr Floyd and the circulation of the video worldwide sparked a wave of protests in the US and beyond demanding justice and highlighting the unequal treatment of black people by the police in America.
Before the trial started one of the Floyd family's lawyers said "the whole world is watching" the case.
In opening statements, prosecutor Jerry Blackwell told the jury Chauvin "put his knees upon his neck and his back, grinding and crushing him, until the very breath - no, ladies and gentlemen - until the very life was squeezed out of him.”
He revealed Mr Floyd was pushed to the ground with so much force, his skin ripped from his shoulder.
The lawyer leading the defence said in his opening statement: "Derek Chauvin did exactly what he had been trained to do over his 19-year career."
Mr Blackwell, who is leading the prosecution, highlighted all police officers pledge to never employ unnecessary force or violence when enforcing the law.
He said Chauvin "betrayed his badge when he used excessive and unreasonable force on the body of Mr George Floyd."
During the video Mr Floyd said 27 times he could not breathe, which led to "I can't breathe" becoming a slogan for the protest movement which sprung up in the wake of his death.
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Mr Blackwell said so many onlookers were shocked by the treatment of Mr Floyd, several tried to call the police for their actions.
Eric Nelson, who is leading the defence of the former police officer, said "there is no political or social cause in this courtroom."
He pointed to the struggle between the first three officers who had arrived at the scene and failed to apprehend Mr Floyd due to his strength and size.
The police were initially called to the area after Mr Floyd attempted to use a fake $20 bill at a shop called Cup Foods.
After initially not cooperating with the police Mr Floyd was arrested and put into the back of the squad car.
Mr Blackwell said their evidence would be shown to the court of Chauvin putting his hands around Mr Floyd's neck while he was in the car.
As the officers were unable to restrain Mr Floyd in the car he was moved back outside and soon after Chauvin put his knee on his neck.
Chauvin is charged with unintentional second-degree murder, third-degree murder and manslaughter.
The defence pointed to the only post mortem carried out which found "none of the tell tale signs of asphyxiation."
Mr Nelson said the evidence will show the cause of death was cardiac arrhythmia as a result of hypertension, heart disease and ingestion of methamphetamine.
The first witness in the trial was 911 dispatcher Jena Scurry, who took the original call about the counterfeit note.
Ms Scurry said the officers were restraining Mr Floyd for so long she thought her screen froze.
The dispatch operator called her superior, a police sergeant over to view the footage as she was fearful over the use of force.
“My instincts were telling me that something’s wrong," Ms Scurry told court.
Before the trial began the family and legal team of Mr Floyd took the knee for eight minutes and 46 seconds - the amount of time Chauvin held his knee to Mr Floyd's neck.
The trial is expected to last four weeks at the courthouse in downtown Minneapolis, which has been fortified with concrete barriers, fencing, and barbed wire.City and state leaders are determined to prevent a repeat of damaging riots that followed Mr Floyd’s death and National Guard troops have already been mobilised.