WEATHER ALERT
Hawaii wildfire victims spared from testifying after last-minute deal over $4B settlement
Read full article: Hawaii wildfire victims spared from testifying after last-minute deal over $4B settlementLawyers representing victims of a deadly Hawaii wildfire have reached a last-minute deal, averting a trial to determine how to split a $4 billion settlement.
Hawaii Gov. Josh Green tells AP a $4 billion settlement for 2023 Maui wildfire could come next week
Read full article: Hawaii Gov. Josh Green tells AP a $4 billion settlement for 2023 Maui wildfire could come next weekHawaii Gov. Josh Green says the parties in Lahaina wildfire lawsuits against Hawaii, Maui County and utilities are close to a global settlement of claims that will be worth a little over $4 billion.
With cameras capturing every word, the pressure is on for the Georgia judge over Trumpโs indictment
Read full article: With cameras capturing every word, the pressure is on for the Georgia judge over Trumpโs indictmentPast high-profile trials suggest additional scrutiny and stress for the four judges overseeing the indictments against former President Donald Trump.
Ex-officer Tou Thao convicted of aiding George Floydโs killing
Read full article: Ex-officer Tou Thao convicted of aiding George Floydโs killingA judge has found a former Minneapolis police officer who held back bystanders while his colleagues restrained a dying George Floyd guilty of aiding and abetting manslaughter.
Fate of last ex-cop charged in Floyd murder lies with judge
Read full article: Fate of last ex-cop charged in Floyd murder lies with judgeA defense attorney says a former Minneapolis police officer who held back bystanders while his colleagues restrained a dying George Floyd is innocent of criminal wrongdoing and should be acquitted.
Judge resets trial to Oct. 24 for 2 ex-cops in Floyd killing
Read full article: Judge resets trial to Oct. 24 for 2 ex-cops in Floyd killingA judge has rescheduled the state trial for two former Minneapolis police officers in George Floydโs killing to Oct. 24 to resolve dueling requests for a new trial date.
Judge to hear requests to reset trial for 2 in Floyd killing
Read full article: Judge to hear requests to reset trial for 2 in Floyd killingMinnesota prosecutors and a defense attorney for one of two former Minneapolis police officers who still face a state trial in George Floydโs killing have made dueling requests for a new trial date.
Judge delays trial of 2 ex-cops in Floyd killing until 2023
Read full article: Judge delays trial of 2 ex-cops in Floyd killing until 2023The judge overseeing the remaining case against two former Minneapolis police officers charged in George Floydโs killing has ordered that the trial be delayed until January to improve prospects for a fair trial.
Trial of 3 ex-officers in Floyd death won't be livestreamed
Read full article: Trial of 3 ex-officers in Floyd death won't be livestreamedA Minnesota judge has ruled that the trial of three fired Minneapolis police officers charged with aiding and abetting George Floydโs killing will not be livestreamed.
Judge weighs cameras in next trial over George Floydโs death
Read full article: Judge weighs cameras in next trial over George Floydโs deathProsecutors have revealed that they offered plea deals to three former Minneapolis police officers charged with aiding and abetting the murder of George Floyd, but say the defendants rejected them.
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Minnesota court denies Chauvin's request for public defender
Read full article: Minnesota court denies Chauvin's request for public defenderThe Minnesota Supreme Court has denied former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvinโs request to have a public defender represent him as he appeals his murder conviction and sentence in the death of George Floyd.
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Chauvin pleads not guilty to alleged civil rights violation
Read full article: Chauvin pleads not guilty to alleged civil rights violationA former Minneapolis police officer convicted of murder in George Floyd's death has pleaded not guilty to allegedly violating a teenager's civil rights in a separate case that involved a restraint similar to the one used on Floyd.
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Hearing in Floyd death to debate broadcast of ex-copsโ trial
Read full article: Hearing in Floyd death to debate broadcast of ex-copsโ trialAttorneys for three former Minneapolis police officers charged in George Floyd's death asked a judge Thursday to bar their upcoming trial from being livestreamed, saying some witnesses wonโt testify if proceedings are broadcast.
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Judge explains reasoning behind Chauvinโs sentence for the murder of George Floyd
Read full article: Judge explains reasoning behind Chauvinโs sentence for the murder of George FloydJudge Peter Cahill told George Floydโs family members that โI acknowledge and hear the pain that youโre feeling,โ before sentencing a former Minneapolis police officer to 22.5 years in prison for murder.
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Judge acknowledges Floyd family pain, sentences Chauvin
Read full article: Judge acknowledges Floyd family pain, sentences ChauvinJudge Peter Cahill told George Floydโs family members that โI acknowledge and hear the pain that youโre feelingโ before sentencing a former Minneapolis police officer to 22 1/2 years in prison for murder.
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State seeks 30 years for Chauvin; defense wants time served
Read full article: State seeks 30 years for Chauvin; defense wants time servedProsecutors are seeking a 30-year sentence for the former Minneapolis police officer convicted of murder in the death of George Floyd, but a defense attorney is asking that Derek Chauvin be sentenced to probation and time already served.
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Derek Chauvinโs lawyer files motions to throw out guilty verdict, seeks new trial
Read full article: Derek Chauvinโs lawyer files motions to throw out guilty verdict, seeks new trialThe defense attorney for the former Minneapolis police officer convicted of killing George Floyd has requested a new trial, saying the court abused its discretion on several points and that the verdict should be impeached because of jury misconduct.
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Biden to America after Floyd verdict: 'We can't stop here'
Read full article: Biden to America after Floyd verdict: 'We can't stop here'President Joe Biden says the conviction of former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin in the killing of George Floyd โcan be a giant step forwardโ for the nation in the fight against systemic racism.
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President Biden says verdict in Floyd case can be โgiant stepโ
Read full article: President Biden says verdict in Floyd case can be โgiant stepโBefore Tuesdayโs guilty verdicts were read out, President Joe Biden said he was praying for โthe right verdictโ in the trial of former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin.
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President Biden praying for โright verdictโ in Chauvin trial
Read full article: President Biden praying for โright verdictโ in Chauvin trialPresident Joe Biden says the conviction of former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin in the killing of George Floyd โcan be a giant step forwardโ for the nation in the fight against systemic racism.
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Pigโs head left at former home of Chauvin defense witness
Read full article: Pigโs head left at former home of Chauvin defense witnessAuthorities say vandals left a pigโs head at the one-time California home of a use-of-force expert who testified on behalf of the officer accused of killing George Floyd.
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EXPLAINER: How is 'reasonableness' key to Chauvin's defense?
Read full article: EXPLAINER: How is 'reasonableness' key to Chauvin's defense?Attorneys and witnesses have frequently used the words โreasonableโ or โunreasonableโ during the trial of the former Minneapolis police officer charged with murder and manslaughter in George Floydโs death.
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Defense rests without Chauvin testimony at murder trial
Read full article: Defense rests without Chauvin testimony at murder trialThe defense at the murder trial of former Officer Derek Chauvin in the death of George Floyd has rested its case without putting Chauvin on the stand, wrapping up after two days of testimony to the prosecutionโs two weeks.
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EXPLAINER: Chauvin defense suggests prone position not risky
Read full article: EXPLAINER: Chauvin defense suggests prone position not riskyThe attorney for the officer on trial in George Floydโs death says several studies suggest police can safely use their bodyweight to hold a handcuffed suspect facedown on the ground, as Floyd was in the last minutes of his life.
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Chauvin did not take actions of โreasonable officer,โ expert said
Read full article: Chauvin did not take actions of โreasonable officer,โ expert saidProsecutorsโ case against former Officer Derek Chauvin drew toward a close Monday with tender memories from George Floydโs younger brother and testimony from a police use-of-force expert who said no โreasonableโ officer would have done what Chauvin did.
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EXPLAINER: Courtroom technology on display in Chauvin trial
Read full article: EXPLAINER: Courtroom technology on display in Chauvin trialThe foundation of the case against the former Minneapolis police officer charged with killing George Floyd is a mountain of video evidence, but presenting that to jurors isnโt as easy as pushing play.
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EXPLAINER: Pandemic shapes ex-officer's trial in Floyd death
Read full article: EXPLAINER: Pandemic shapes ex-officer's trial in Floyd deathThe biggest single difference is that the trial is televised, which is common in many states but not in Minnesota. But Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill ordered them anyway, citing intense interest in the trial, the limited courtroom space and the need for transparency. SIDEBARSAt ordinary trials, the judge and attorneys huddle around the judge's bench โ a nonstarter with the pandemic. Instead, the attorneys, the judge and Chauvin all put on headsets to talk over any legal or procedural issues out of the jury's hearing. ___Find APโs full coverage of the death of George Floyd: https://apnews.com/hub/death-of-george-floyd
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Key players in trial of ex-officer charged in Floydโs death
Read full article: Key players in trial of ex-officer charged in Floydโs deathJury selection begins Monday, March 8, 2021, for Derek Chauvin, a former Minneapolis police officer charged with murder and manslaughter in George Floyd's death. (AP Photo/Jim Mone, File)MINNEAPOLIS โ Opening statements are set for Monday in the trial of a former Minneapolis police officer charged with murder and manslaughter in George Floyd's death. THE JUDGEHennepin County Judge Peter Cahill is respected and has a reputation as a no-nonsense, fair judge. PROSECUTIONDays after Floyd's death, Minnesota's governor announced that Attorney General Keith Ellison would take the lead on prosecuting the case. He helped win an acquittal for a Minnesota man who was charged with fatally shooting his unarmed neighbor in 2017.
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EXPLAINER: How is officerโs duty relevant to Floyd case?
Read full article: EXPLAINER: How is officerโs duty relevant to Floyd case?Werenโt Derek Chauvin and other officers โduty bound to deal with the arrestee as they find them?โ Cahill asked. That duty could be key at the trial that starts with opening statements Monday, especially as the defense asserts that Floyd's swallowing of pills contributed to his death. The Minneapolis Police Department sought to train its officers to minimize violence in the years before Floyd died. Floyd's death indicates the 2016 reforms in Minneapolis didn't work, he said. The officers get Floyd to the ground and hold him there.
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End of jury selection near for ex-copโs trial in Floyd death
Read full article: End of jury selection near for ex-copโs trial in Floyd deathAdDerek Chauvin is charged with murder and manslaughter in the May 25 death of Floyd. The widely seen video set off street protests in Minneapolis, some violent, that spread across the U.S. and the world. He said Floydโs death sparked discussions about racism at work, and he decided to educate himself by reading a book about the subject. Throughout jury selection, the defense frequently struck people who told the court they already had strong feelings about Chauvinโs guilt. ___Find APโs full coverage of the death of George Floyd: https://apnews.com/hub/death-of-george-floyd
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Jury selection in 3rd week for ex-copโs trial in Floyd death
Read full article: Jury selection in 3rd week for ex-copโs trial in Floyd deathFloydโs death, captured on a widely seen bystander video, set off weeks of sometimes violent protests across the country and led to a national reckoning on racial justice. On Friday, Cahill declined a defense request to delay or move Chauvin's trial over concerns that a $27 million settlement for Floydโs family had tainted the jury pool. Legal experts said it's almost always the last people chosen, but the court said that wouldnโt necessarily be the case for Chauvinโs jury. He compared the events surrounding Floydโs death to a tussle with a brother, saying the wrestling should stop if someone says they give up. ___Find APโs full coverage of the death of George Floyd: https://apnews.com/hub/death-of-george-floyd
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Judge won't move trial in Floyd's death; 13th juror picked
Read full article: Judge won't move trial in Floyd's death; 13th juror pickedJury selection in the trial of Derek Chauvin will stretch into a third week after attorneys seated just one additional juror Friday. The 13th juror picked is a woman who said sheโd seen only clips of the video of Floydโs arrest and needs to learn more about what happened beforehand. Hennepin County Judge Pete Cahill said court would resume Monday to pick two more jurors -- for a total of 15, one more than expected. AdSeven jurors had been picked last week when the Minneapolis City Council announced it had unanimously approved the massive payout to settle a civil rights lawsuit over Floydโs death. Floydโs death, captured on a widely seen bystander video, set off weeks of sometimes violent protests across the country and led to a national reckoning on racial justice.
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With striking of Black juror, Floyd activists see racism
Read full article: With striking of Black juror, Floyd activists see racismโBecause me, as a Black man, you see a lot of Black people get killed and no oneโs held accountable for it, and you wonder why or what was the decisions,โ Juror No. AdโWe have a Black man who was probably in the best position to judge the case being excluded,โ said Nekima Levy Armstrong, a civil rights attorney and head of a community activism organization called Wayfinder Foundation. AdBut local activists like Levy Armstrong say that police brutality was rampant long before Floyd 's death. โI didnโt form an opinion on Mr. Chauvin because I didnโt know him,โ the juror said. Itโs another Black man being murdered in police hands.
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12th juror picked, lawyers clash over expert in Floyd trial
Read full article: 12th juror picked, lawyers clash over expert in Floyd trialSo far, the racial makeup of the jury is evenly split; six of the jurors are white, four are Black, and two are multiracial, according to the court. โThe defense is doing a full-on trial of George Floyd, who is not on trial, but that is what they're doing," said Blackwell, adding that the defense also planned to make arguments about Floyd's drug use. Floydโs death, captured on bystander video, set off weeks of sometimes-violent protests across the country and led to a national reckoning on racial justice. Three other former officers face an August trial in Floydโs death on charges of aiding and abetting second-degree murder and manslaughter. Ad___Find APโs full coverage of the death of George Floyd: https://apnews.com/hub/death-of-george-floyd
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2 jurors dropped from Chauvin trial after $27M settlement
Read full article: 2 jurors dropped from Chauvin trial after $27M settlementHennepin County Judge Peter Cahill recalled seven jurors who were seated before the settlement was announced last week, at the request of former officer Derek Chauvinโs attorney, Eric Nelson. Cahill questioned each about what they knew of the settlement and whether it would affect their ability to serve. The dismissal of only two jurors suggested the impact of the settlement on the jury pool was less than feared, likely reducing the chance of Cahill granting a defense request to delay the trial. Chauvin is charged with murder and manslaughter in the May 25 death of Floyd, a Black man who was declared dead after Chauvin, who is white, pressed his knee against his neck for about nine minutes. AdThree other former officers face an August trial in Floydโs death on charges of aiding and abetting second-degree murder and manslaughter.
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Battle over Floydโs 2019 arrest highlights key trial issue
Read full article: Battle over Floydโs 2019 arrest highlights key trial issueChauvin is charged with murder in the death of George Floyd during an arrest last may in Minneapolis. Floydโs death, captured on a widely seen bystander video, set off weeks of sometimes-violent protests across the country and led to a national reckoning on racial justice. AdThe judge previously rejected Chauvinโs attempt to tell the jury about Floydโs May 2019 arrest โ a year before his fatal encounter with Chauvin โ but heard fresh arguments Tuesday from both sides. But he said he would weigh the defense's argument that alleged drug use during the 2019 arrest that led to โa hypertensive emergencyโ is relevant to what may have caused Floyd's death in 2020. Three other former officers face an August trial in Floydโs death on charges of aiding and abetting second-degree murder and manslaughter.
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Defense in ex-cop's trial fears impact of $27M settlement
Read full article: Defense in ex-cop's trial fears impact of $27M settlementDefense attorney Eric Nelson also raised the possibility of renewing his previously unsuccessful motion to move Derek Chauvin's trial to another city. AdMayor Jacob Frey deferred questions about the timing of the settlement to City Attorney Jim Rowader, who declined to comment. Potential jurors questioned later didn't mention hearing of the settlement, and neither attorneys nor the judge directly asked if they were aware of it. At least four potential jurors dismissed Monday said they couldnโt be impartial. Three other former officers face an August trial on charges of aiding and abetting second-degree murder and manslaughter.
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Negative impression of Derek Chauvin gets another juror tossed
Read full article: Negative impression of Derek Chauvin gets another juror tossedFILE - In this Feb. 8, 2021 file photo, A mural of George Floyd is seen in George Floyd Square in Minneapolis. Floydโs death sparked sometimes violent protests in Minneapolis and beyond and led to a national reckoning on racial justice. โI just want you to know how deeply we are with you,โ she said to Floyd's family members. Floydโs family filed the federal civil rights lawsuit in July against the city, Chauvin and three other fired officers charged in his death. ___Find APโs full coverage of the death of George Floyd: https://apnews.com/hub/death-of-george-floyd
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EXPLAINER: Ex-cop trial to include โspark of lifeโ on Floyd
Read full article: EXPLAINER: Ex-cop trial to include โspark of lifeโ on FloydDefense attorneys complain the doctrine allows prosecutors to play on jurors' emotions and has nothing to do with evidence. If Cahill allows prosecutors to go too far, he could hand Chauvin grounds for an appeal. WHAT IS THE โSPARK OF LIFEโ DOCTRINE? Frank told Cahill he plans to bring in photographs of Floyd at various stages of his life and present at least two witnesses. The smart defense attorneys will figure out how to use this.โ___Find AP's full coverage of the death of George Floyd: https://apnews.com/hub/death-of-george-floyd
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Judge approves 3rd-degree murder charge for ex-cop in Floyd death
Read full article: Judge approves 3rd-degree murder charge for ex-cop in Floyd deathHennepin County Judge Peter Cahill reinstated the charge after the former officer, Derek Chauvin, failed to get appellate courts to block it. Cahill had earlier rejected the charge as not warranted by the circumstances of Floydโs death, but an appellate court ruling in an unrelated case established new grounds. Legal experts say the additional charge helps prosecutors by giving jurors another option to find Chauvin guilty of murder. The dispute over the third-degree murder charge revolved around wording in the law that references an act โeminently dangerous to others.โ Cahill's initial decision to dismiss the charge noted that Chauvinโs conduct might be construed as not dangerous to anyone but Floyd. Floydโs death sparked sometimes violent protests in Minneapolis and beyond, leading to a nationwide reckoning on race.
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Minnesota Supreme Court declined to hear 3rd-degree murder charge appeal in Derek Chauvin case
Read full article: Minnesota Supreme Court declined to hear 3rd-degree murder charge appeal in Derek Chauvin caseJudge Peter Cahill seated two more jurors to go with the three picked Tuesday for Derek Chauvinโs trial on second-degree murder and manslaughter charges. In a separate development, the Minnesota Supreme Court declined to hear Chauvin's appeal to block a third-degree murder charge from being reinstated. AdThe new decision from the stateโs highest court left open the possibility that Cahill could add the charge back. Legal experts say giving the jury another option for convicting Chauvin of murder raises the chance of a conviction. โIn my community, I think when there is suspicious activity the police will stop by, they will ask a question,โ he said.
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Pandemic shapes trial of Minneapolis ex-cop in Floydโs death
Read full article: Pandemic shapes trial of Minneapolis ex-cop in Floydโs deathMINNEAPOLIS โ Because the trial of a former Minneapolis police officer charged in George Floydโs death is being held during the coronavirus pandemic, the courtroom has been overhauled for safety. The pandemic has upended court systems across the country, delaying jury trials and creating huge backlogs of cases. Many courts have installed barriers or moved jury orientation and even trials themselves to bigger spaces such as convention centers to get at least some jury trials going again. In Minnesota, in-person criminal jury trials have been mostly on hold since November. The constitutional requirement for a public trial is being satisfied by allowing gavel-to-gavel TV coverage, which is rare in Minnesota courts.
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At Chauvin trial, some in jury pool have sharp views on case
Read full article: At Chauvin trial, some in jury pool have sharp views on caseOne woman who saw the video said she doesn't understand why Chauvin didnโt get up when Floyd said he couldnโt breathe. The exchanges between potential jurors, attorneys and the judge illustrate the challenges in seating a jury in such a well-known case. Chauvin is charged with second-degree murder and manslaughter in Floydโs death, and jury selection is proceeding despite uncertainty over whether a third-degree murder charge will be added. Floydโs death sparked sometimes violent protests in Minneapolis and beyond, leading to a nationwide reckoning on race. The races of the second and third jurors selected were not made clear in court.
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Jury selection is 1st battleground at trial in Floydโs death
Read full article: Jury selection is 1st battleground at trial in Floydโs death(Court TV/Pool via AP)MINNEAPOLIS โ Jury selection for a former Minneapolis police officer charged in George Floydโs death was halted before it began Monday by the state's effort to add a third-degree murder charge. AdThere was no indication when that court will rule, but a hold could delay Chauvinโs trial for weeks. Chauvin is charged with second-degree murder and manslaughter in Floydโs death. For third-degree murder, they must prove that Chauvin's actions caused Floyd's death, and that his actions were reckless and without regard for human life. Floydโs death sparked sometimes violent protests in Minneapolis and beyond, and led to a nationwide reckoning on race.
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Key players in trial of ex-officer charged in Floydโs death
Read full article: Key players in trial of ex-officer charged in Floydโs deathJury selection begins Monday, March 8, 2021, for Derek Chauvin, a former Minneapolis police officer charged with murder and manslaughter in George Floyd's death. (AP Photo/Jim Mone, File)MINNEAPOLIS โ Jury selection begins Monday for a former Minneapolis police officer charged with murder and manslaughter in George Floydโs death. City, county and state officials are preparing for any sort of reaction that trial testimony or a verdict might elicit. AdTHE JUDGEHennepin County Judge Peter Cahill is respected and has a reputation as a no-nonsense, fair judge. AdPROSECUTIONDays after Floyd's death, Minnesota's governor announced that Attorney General Keith Ellison would take the lead on prosecuting the case.
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3rd-degree murder count could be reinstated in Floyd's death
Read full article: 3rd-degree murder count could be reinstated in Floyd's deathAs the trial approaches for Chauvin, charged with murder in George Floyd's death, prosecutors are putting the time Chauvin's knee was on Floyd's neck at about nine minutes. A three-judge panel said Hennepin County District Judge Peter Cahill erred last fall when he rejected a prosecution motion to reinstate the third-degree murder charge against Derek Chauvin. A reinstated third-degree murder count could increase the prosecutionโs odds of getting a murder conviction. "We believe the charge of 3rd-degree murder, in addition to manslaughter and felony murder, reflects the gravity of the allegations against Mr. Chauvin. Prosecutors want to add charges of aiding and abetting third-degree murder against them, but that question will be resolved later.
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Officer with knee to George Floydโs neck to be tried alone
Read full article: Officer with knee to George Floydโs neck to be tried aloneChauvin, who held his knee to the neck of George Floyd for several minutes, will be tried separately from three other former officers accused in his death, according to scheduling orders filed Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021. (Hennepin County Sheriff's Office via AP, File)MINNEAPOLIS โ A former Minneapolis police officer who held his knee to George Floyd's neck for minutes will be tried separately from the three other former officers accused in his death, according to an order filed Tuesday that cites limited courtroom space due to COVID-19 restrictions. Derek Chauvin will stand trial alone in March while the other three former officers will be tried together in the summer. Former officers Lane, Tou Thao and J. Alexander Kueng are each charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder and aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter. Defense attorneys had argued last year that the officers should be tried separately, but prosecutors argued against it.
Video allowed in trial of officers charged in Floyd killing
Read full article: Video allowed in trial of officers charged in Floyd killingMINNEAPOLIS โ A judge upheld his decision to livestream the trial of four former Minneapolis police officers charged in the death of George Floyd. Judge Peter Cahill said in his order Friday that he would allow video coverage due to immense global interest in the case and limited courthouse space, the Star Tribune reported. Cahill dismissed concerns by state prosecutors, who argued last month that recording audio and visuals of the trial would violate court rules and scare away potential witnesses. Chauvin faces second-degree unintentional murder and manslaughter charges. Lane, J. Kueng, Tou Thao and Thomas Lane are charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder and manslaughter.
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Judge declines to move trial of officers in Floydโs death
Read full article: Judge declines to move trial of officers in Floydโs deathMINNEAPOLIS โ A judge on Thursday rejected defense requests to move the trial of four former Minneapolis police officers charged in George Floydโs death, and also ordered that all four will be tried together instead of separately. Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill ruled after defense attorneys had argued that pretrial publicity had made it impossible for the four men to get a fair trial in Minneapolis. Moving the trial away from Minneapolis to a less diverse area also likely would affect the makeup of the jury, though the judge didn't address that issue. Floydโs death sparked protests in Minneapolis and beyond, and led to a nationwide reckoning on race. So did Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci, attorneys for Floydโs family.
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5 things for Houstonians to know for Friday, Oct. 23
Read full article: 5 things for Houstonians to know for Friday, Oct. 23Here are things to know for Friday, Oct. 23:1. He is now facing several charges, including capital murder against a peace officer, attempted capital murder against a peace officer and aggravated assault. Mattress Mack converts part of Gallery Furniture into trade school, charter schoolHouston icon Jim โMattress Mackโ McIngvale has stepped up once again to help our community. On Thursday, Mattress Mack converted part of Gallery Furniture into a trade and a charter school complete with childcare and life coaches. The more serious second-degree murder charge against Derek Chauvin remains.
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Judge drops 3rd-degree murder charge against former cop in Floydโs death
Read full article: Judge drops 3rd-degree murder charge against former cop in Floydโs deathMINNEAPOLIS โ A Minnesota judge has dismissed a third-degree murder charge filed against the former Minneapolis police officer who pressed his knee against George Floyd's neck, saying there was not enough probable cause for that count to proceed to trial. Cahill also found probable cause to move forward with the aiding and abetting counts against three other former officers, Thomas Lane, J. Kueng and Tou Thao. He said prosecutors do not need to show Chauvin's actions were the sole cause of Floydโs death. โThis is not an appropriate case for a third-degree murder charge,โ he said. When the third-degree murder charge was filed, the Minnesota chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union asked the state to take over the case from Hennepin County, saying more serious charges were warranted.
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Court weighs allowing courtroom cameras in George Floyd case
Read full article: Court weighs allowing courtroom cameras in George Floyd caseThe judge overseeing the case has yet to decide whether cameras will be allowed. But the state attorney generalโs office, which is prosecuting the case, opposes them, saying cameras would only create more problems. The former officers have consented to cameras, but prosecutors have resisted, saying they may revisit the issue as the trial nears. Defense attorneys say cameras would help ensure the trial is fair and open during the pandemic, when courtroom attendance has been limited to allow for social distancing. Kirtley, who is part of the coalition, said any concerns that cameras would be disruptive can be managed by the judge.
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Coalition of media outlets demand body camera video in Floyd case should be made public
Read full article: Coalition of media outlets demand body camera video in Floyd case should be made publicAttorneys for the coalition of media organizations, including The Associated Press, are asking Judge Peter Cahill to immediately make the body camera videos of Thomas Lane and J. Kueng available for copying. Those videos were filed with the court last week by Lane's attorney, but only transcripts of the audio have been made public. Media attorney Leita Walker objected to the in-person, by-appointment viewing only, saying it violates the common law, rules of public access to records and the First Amendment. The body camera videos and transcripts were filed last week by Lane's attorney, Earl Gray, as part of a motion to have Lane's case dismissed. In addition, Walker said the transcripts of Lane and Keungs body camera videos differ during crucial moments of the encounter.
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4 ex-officers due back in court in George Floyd's death
Read full article: 4 ex-officers due back in court in George Floyd's deathChauvin is charged with second-degree murder of George Floyd, a black man who died after being restrained by him and the other Minneapolis police officers on May 25. (Hennepin County Sheriff's Office via AP)MINNEAPOLIS The four former Minneapolis police officers charged in the death of George Floyd are due in court Monday for a hearing that could deal with bail amounts and other issues. Its the second pretrial hearing for the men, who were fired after Floyds May 25 death. Second-degree murder carries a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison, third-degree murder carries up to 25 years and manslaughter up to 10. The other three former officers are charged with aiding and abetting both second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.
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Ex-cops Charged in George Floyd's Death Appear in Court as Judge Warns He May Move Trial
Read full article: Ex-cops Charged in George Floyd's Death Appear in Court as Judge Warns He May Move TrialFloyd's death was universally condemned in Minnesota, with elected officials including Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey calling for the officers to be charged. Disturbing video of Floyd's death triggered massive nationwide demonstrations protesting systemic racism and police brutality against Black and brown men and women. The charges against Chauvin are unintentional second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. Second-degree murder carries a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison, third-degree murder carries up to 25 years and manslaughter up to 10. The other three former officers are charged with aiding and abetting both second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.
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Judge rejects cameras for ex-cops' hearings in Floyd death
Read full article: Judge rejects cameras for ex-cops' hearings in Floyd deathMINNEAPOLIS A Minnesota judge on Friday rejected allowing cameras in the court for pretrial proceedings of four former Minneapolis police officers charged in the death of George Floyd. Minnesota rules allow the judge, prosecutors or defense attorneys to veto camera coverage during criminal court proceedings before a conviction. The judge will rule later on whether cameras will be allowed at trial. A defense attorney filed a motion Thursday on behalf of the ex-officers to allow recording of all pretrial and trial proceedings. Doing otherwise allows these public officials to geld the Constitution, wrote attorney Thomas Plunkett, representing J. Kueng, one of four fired officers charged in Floyd's death.