Three more US police officers charged over Floyd murder
PROSECUTORS have charged a Minneapolis police officer accused of pressing his knee against George Floyd’s neck with second-degree murder, and for the first time levelled charges against three other officers at the scene, according to criminal complaints.
The upgraded charge against Derek Chauvin says the officer’s actions were a “substantial causal factor” in Mr Floyd’s death.
“Officer Chauvin’s restraint of Mr Floyd in this manner for a prolonged period was a substantial causal factor in Mr Floyd losing consciousness, constituting substantial bodily harm, and Mr Floyd’s death as well,” the criminal complaint said.
Widely seen bystander video showing Mr Floyd’s May 25 death has sparked protests nationwide and around the world.
The officer, Derek Chauvin, was fired on May 26 and initially charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. The three other officers were also fired, but were not immediately charged.
Minnesota attorney general Keith Ellison upgraded the charge against Chauvin to unintentional second-degree murder.
He also charged Thomas Lane, J Kueng and Tou Thao with aiding and abetting second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.
Lawyer Ben Crump tweeted that the Floyd family was “deeply gratified” by Mr Ellison’s action and called it “a source of peace for George’s family in this difficult time”.
He said Mr Ellison had told the family his office will continue to investigate and upgrade charges against Chauvin to first-degree murder if warranted.
Mr Floyd’s family and protesters have repeatedly called for criminal charges against all four officers as well as more serious charges for Chauvin, who held his knee to Mr Floyd’s neck.
Some of the rockiness of the days since Mr Floyd’s death dissipated on Tuesday night, with demonstrations continuing around the country, but without major reports of violence.
Curfews and efforts by protesters to contain earlier flareups of lawlessness were credited with preventing more widespread damage to businesses in New York and other cities overnight.
“Last night, we took a step forward in moving out of this difficult period we’ve had the last few days and moving to a better time,” New York mayor Bill de Blasio said.
New York police said they arrested about 280 people on protest-related charges on Tuesday night, compared with 700 a day earlier.
Nationwide, the number arrested in connection to the unrest rose to more than 9,000.
At least 12 deaths have been reported, though the circumstances in many cases are still being sorted out.
Some tense incidents continued on Tuesday night, but were far less prevalent than in preceding days.
Police and National Guard troops used tear gas, flash-bang grenades, nonlethal rounds and other means of dispersing crowds near a police precinct in Seattle, near Centennial Park in Atlanta and at demonstrations in Tampa and St Petersburg, Florida.
Meanwhile, protesters have clashed with police as thousands of people flooded into central London for a Black Lives Matter demonstration.
Activists chanted “black lives matter” and “we will not be silent” at Speakers’ Corner in Hyde Park yesterday, before tensions escalated outside Downing Street.
Star Wars actor John Boyega was among those to speak at the rally before protesters, many wearing masks and holding placards, marched on Westminster.
At the Downing Street coronavirus press conference yesterday, Boris Johnson said: “We mourn George Floyd and I was appalled and sickened to see what happened to him. And my message to President Trump, to everybody in the United States, from the UK is that I don’t think racism — it’s an opinion I’m sure is shared by the overwhelming majority of people around the world — racism, racist violence, has no place in our society.”