Derek Chauvin moves for a new trial, two weeks after being convicted of George Floyd's murder

Derek Chauvin moves for a new trial, two weeks after being convicted of George Floyd’s murder

May 04, 2021

Former police officer Derek Chauvin has asked for a new trial, two weeks after he was found guilty of killing George Floyd.

In a series of motions filed to District Court Judge Peter Cahill, Chauvin’s lawyer, Eric Nelson, said his client was deprived of a fair trial, adding there was prosecutorial and jury misconduct, errors of law at trial and that the verdict was contrary to law.

Among the complaints was that a bid for a change in trial venue was denied, the court had refused to sequester the jury – a decision that resulted in their “exposure to prejudicial publicity”, and that prosecutors had committed misconduct by “disparaging the defence, improper vouching and failing to adequately prepare its witnesses”.

The complaint also alleges jurors “committed misconduct, felt threatened or intimidated, felt race-based pressure during the proceedings, and/or failed to adhere to instructions during deliberations”.

Former Minneapolis police officer Chauvin went on trial in April, accused of second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter – charges he denied.

The jurors had taken 10-and-a-half hours to convict the 45-year-old on all counts.

Mr Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, died while being restrained by Chauvin, who is white, during his arrest in the US city in May 2020.

Video filmed by bystanders showed Chauvin’s knee pressed into Mr Floyd’s neck and back for almost nine minutes as he gasped for breath.

The footage shocked the world and sparked global protests about racism and police brutality.

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