The trial of a former Minneapolis police officer accused of the murder of George Floyd has begun in the US.

Derek Chauvin is facing three charges of second and third degree murder and second degree manslaughter.

Prosecutor Jerry Blackwell opened the case by outlining what the badge of a Minneapolis police officer represents – including that the oath says they will “never employ unnecessary force of violence”.

Follow live updates here as the trial gets under way

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He also laid out a timeline of events that happened on the day – including that Mr Floyd said “I can’t breath” 27 times before he died.

Mr Floyd was filmed with Mr Chauvin’s knee on his neck for nearly nine minutes while he was handcuffed and pleading that he couldn’t breathe.

The video of the incident, which took place on on 25 May 2020, was shared around the world and sparked months of protests against racial injustice and police brutality.

The case has drawn international attention and continues to see regular protests in the city.

The courthouse has been heavily fortified and 2,000 members of the National Guard will mobilised by the time of the verdict.

Ben Crump, the lawyer representing the Floyd family, spoke in Minneapolis ahead of the trial, saying that “the world is watching”.

'George Floyd was living and breathing just fine until the police put a knee on his neck.'

Floyd family lawyer, Benjamin Crump says 'today starts a landmark trial that will be a referendum on how far America has come in its quest for equality'.

More: https://t.co/8rXwstvBOD pic.twitter.com/eOUwxNxTXV

The trial is expected to last around four weeks, which Mr Crump said would be a “long, four-week journey to justice” for the relatives of Mr Floyd.

He says the trial will show if the US lives up to the Declaration of Independence – that all men are created equal.

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