NEW YORK (AP) — A grand jury has begun deciding whether there should be criminal charges in the case of an unarmed man who died after being put in a chokehold by New York City police.

Police union officials said the grand jury began hearing evidence Monday in the death of 43-year-old Eric Garner.

The proceedings come five weeks after the medical examiner found that a banned chokehold used by Officer Daniel Pantaleo contributed to Garner's July death on Staten Island. The death was ruled a homicide.

Pantaleo's lawyer says he expects it will take at least a month for the panel to reach a decision. He says his client denies any wronging.

The Staten Island district attorney declined to comment.

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 (Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images)