Alternate Chauvin Juror: I Was Afraid of 'People Coming to My House' Over Verdict
Woman admits she feared she would be in danger unless ex-cop was found guilty
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An alternate juror for the trial of Derek Chauvin for George Floyd's murder has admitted that she feared there would be repercussions if the ex-police officer was not found guilty by the jury.
Lisa Christensen, who was selected as an alternate juror in Chauvin's trial, admitted that public pressure in the case made her unsure whether she even wanted to be on the jury.
Christensen told Lou Raguse of KARE 11 that she feared there would violent rioting and her home would be targeted if the public disagreed with her decision.
“I did not want to go through rioting and destruction again and I was concerned about people coming to my house if they were not happy with the verdict,” she said.
When the judge informed her she wouldn't sit on the primary jury, saying, “Number 96, you’re an alternate,” Christensen said that her heart “broke a little.”
"Did you want to be a juror?” Raguse asked Christensen.
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“I had mixed feelings," Christensen responded.
"There was a question on the questionnaire about it and I put I did not know.
"The reason, at that time, was I did not know what the outcome was going to be, so I felt like either way you are going to disappoint one group or the other.
"I did not want to go through rioting and destruction again and I was concerned about people coming to my house if they were not happy with the verdict.”
Christensen also stated that she "would have voted guilty," however.
"I feel like Chauvin is responsible for Mr. Floyd’s death.”
She said that prosecution witness Dr. Martin Tobin “broke it down to where we could understand it.
"He had us demonstrate," she explained.
"We were all in the jury touching our necks and we could feel what he was trying to make us feel.”
She said that was a turning point for her, but claimed, "I did consider the defense’s points about the enlarged heart, the narrowing of the arteries, the drug use.
"But regardless, I do not think he would have passed away on that day at that time."
Although she said “testimony by the experts, the forensics” mattered, she said, “the videos are what really nailed it.”
Raguse noted that later this summer the other three officers are scheduled to be on trial and asked, “How do you think that will go for them?”
"I think their trial is going to be impacted by this trial and the outcome of it," Christensen said.
"I think everybody played such a different role and everybody should be judged on their participation.”
Raguse persisted by asking: “When you say a tougher time, do you mean putting on the trial because of the publicity from this trial?”
"Yes," Christensen answered.
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Prior to the announcement of the jury’s verdict in the Chauvin trial, Joe Biden said he was “praying” for the jury to reach the “right verdict.”
He stated of a call he made to George Floyd’s family, “I can only imagine the pressure and anxiety they are feeling, and so I waited until the jury is sequestered and I called.
"I wasn’t going to say anything about it … it was a private conversation.
"They’re a good family and they are calling for peace and tranquility no matter what that verdict is.
"I’m praying the verdict is the right verdict, which is, I think it’s overwhelming, in my view.
"I wouldn’t say that unless the jury is sequestered.”
WATCH:
Joe Biden on the Chauvin trial: "I'm praying the verdict is the right verdict, which I think is overwhelming in my view."pic.twitter.com/aJDQlZGHO4
— Jerry Dunleavy (@JerryDunleavy) April 20, 2021
Meanwhile, legal experts have warned that public statements about the case by Biden and Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) as the jury considered their verdict may have handed Chauvin's defense ground for an appeal.
