Special Prosecutor Jerry Blackwell gave his opening statement in the trial against Derek Chauvin, accused of murdering George Floyd, in Minneapolis on Monday.

The prosecution seeks to "give Mr Chauvin a fair trial. Mr Chauvin has a presumption of innocence, he is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty."

Additionally, Blackwell will aim to prove "beyond a reasonable doubt, that Mr Chauvin was anything other than innocent."

The prosecution has pledged to show Mr Chauvin is guilty of applying "excessive force," and "engaging in behaviour that was imminently dangerous" to Floyd.

Blackwell opened the oath promises officers at Minneapolis police department give, in a bid to assert "Mr Derek Chauvin betrayed his badge."

Blackwell continued to state that "Mr Floyd was unarmed, that Mr Floyd had not threatened anyone, that Mr Floyd was in handcuffs, he was completely in the control of the police, he was defenceless."

The trial is expected to last two to four weeks. A jury selection took more than two weeks, having started on March 8. Jurors are to remain anonymous.

Derek Chauvin has been charged with second-degree murder and manslaughter and third-degree murder after being filmed kneeling on Floyd's neck for nearly nine minutes, leading to his death.