Early and often. That is how much the jury will see this 8:46 video tape of George Floyd dying in a street in South Minneapolis. Expect the jury to see it in its entirety multiple times. This is the most power legal and visceral piece of evidence that the Prosecution has and they will use it like a club.

The Defense must respond and embrace this tape as their own. They have no choice and need to pick it apart where they can. They will talk about the drug residue on Floyd’s mouth as cause of death. They will use the line from the juror, “if you can speak you can breath.” They will show the knee on the back of the neck rather than on the windpipe. This tape will be their challenge in this case. 

Jack Rice, founder of Jack Rice Defense, will sit down with Newsweek to talk about opening statements, why they are so important and what to expect today.