Judge: No delay, move in trial for Chauvin
MINNEAPOLIS – Jurors in the murder trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin will be allowed to hear evidence related to George Floyd’s arrest in 2019, a year before the fatal encounter with police, the presiding judge ruled Friday.
Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill also denied the defense’s request to move or delay the trial, a request made after the city settled a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Floyd’s family for $27 million. Chauvin’s attorneys argued the potential jury pool had been tainted by pretrial publicity and that the agreement might be interpreted as the city conceding it was at fault.
Thirteen jurors have been selected in the trial so far, and the court was interviewing potential jurors for the final spot Friday. The final two will serve as alternates, to be dismissed when deliberations begin.
One woman who said she had a strong emotional response to the video of Floyd’s death struggled to speak in the courtroom Friday morning. She said the incident was “so close to home.”
“I think it’s too much,” she said. The judge dismissed her.
Floyd, a Black man, died in police custody on May 25, 2020, when Chauvin, who is white, pressed his knee against Floyd’s neck for more than nine minutes. As he lay on the ground under Chauvin, Floyd cried out, “I can’t breathe” more than 20 times. The incident sparked protests worldwide.
Chauvin is charged with seconddegree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.
Opening arguments are scheduled to begin March 29.