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Attempt to change trial is blocked

AJUDGE has denied a defence request to delay or move the trial of a former Minneapolis police officer charged over George Floyd’s death after the announcement of a $27 million (£20m) settlement for Floyd’s family raised concern about a tainted jury.

In a separate ruling, Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill said he would allow the jury to hear limited evidence from Floyd’s 2019 arrest, but only that pertaining to the cause of Floyd’s death in 2020.

He acknowledged there are similarities between the incidents, including that Floyd swallowed drugs after police confronted him.

Derek Chauvin’s defence lawyer, Eric Nelson, had sought to halt or move the trial due to concerns that the settlement announcement had tainted the jury pool.

Jury selection was halfway complete last week when the city of Minneapolis unanimously approved the payout to settle a civil lawsuit over Floyd’s death.

Nelson called the timing of the settlement deeply disturbing and unfair, and said it jeopardised

Chauvin’s chance for a fair trial. Chauvin is charged with murder and manslaughter.

But the judge, who called the timing “unfortunate”, said he thought a delay would do nothing to stem the problem of publicity.

As for moving the trial, he said there was no place in Minnesota that has not been touched by that publicity.

The judge had previously denied a defence attempt to allow the year-old arrest at trial.

But he heard fresh arguments this week because of drugs found in January in a second search of the police car in which the four officers attempted to put Floyd in 2020.

Opening statements will be heard on March 29 if the jury is complete.